The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 8-6 Wednesday afternoon as they continue to play well without Manny Ramirez. Los Angeles held a 21-8 record after Manny’s last game, scoring 5.2 runs per game. Since he’s been gone, they’re 12-7, but the offense is scoring 6.6 runs per game. Of course, who would have thought that Juan Pierre, who went three for five today with a double would be hitting for average and getting on base better than Manny, and hitting for some power as well.
If he keeps this up, he’ll be great trade bait. I doubt, with LA’s outfielders, that he would win a starting job after Manny returns.
And if LA keeps him and uses him for pinch hitting, pinch running, late inning CF defense (that speed is undeniable)… Pierre could have a shot at getting a 2nd WS ring this decade. Not too many people have that goin’ for them.
Yep. I would have thought it absolutely impossible that Pierre’s contract would be anything but an albatross for the next two-and-a-half seasons, but if he stays remotely close to this pace for the five weeks until Manny comes back, *someone* will want to put him in their lineup in spite of the obvious large risk that he will turn back into the pumpkin, er offensive millstone that he’s been for years now. I’m almost sorry to see it happen in spite of the probable large benefits to the Dodgers–idiocies like the Pierre signing should have horrible, inescapable consequences that will make the grandchildren of those who were alive to see it happen shudder with terror at the thought of it happening to *their* team. Coletti will be getting off far too easily if he gets real value for Pierre in a trade without eating a lot of Pierre’s salary.