Andre Ethier doesn’t start for Dodgers
On Saturday, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre didn’t start Andre Either, the All-Star outfielder who is stuck in a four-for-35 slump since the All-Star break.
“I don’t think it’s any secret they’re trying to go around him, and he’s really got outside himself where he’s lost all his patience at the plate,” Torre said. “He’s just up there swinging the bat right now.”
Ethier pinch-hit late and was hitless in two at-bats in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win against the New York Mets.
He’s batting .300 with 16 home runs and 57 runs batted in. Is patience an issue? Yes, but Ethier said it goes both ways.
“Sometimes you’re too patient, going up there knowing the guys are not going to give you too much to hit,” he said before the game. “With that being said, you go up there thinking that and, all of the sudden, they throw one in there and that might be the only pitch you get.”
Ausmus returns
Veteran catcher Brad Ausmus returned to the Dodgers lineup for the first time since April 8 after a surprisingly quick recovery from back surgery for a herniated disk.
Ausmus, 41, said he was feeling good. He was one for four and drove in a run in the fourth inning, which he said was the best part.
He also caught 12 innings, with Russell Martin catching the 13th.
“They were trying to test me,” Ausmus joked.
Jansen debuts
In the seventh inning, Torre handed the ball to a 22-year-old who had never pitched in the major leagues and didn’t even become a pitcher until last season.
So Kenley Jansen, a former catcher, did his best to keep his head down Saturday. He didn’t want to get caught up in it all.
“All the players have been telling me, when you go out there, don’t look at the crowd,” he said. “Just go out there and just look at home plate and pitch.”
The youngster from Curacao did. His first three major league pitches were 93-, 94- and 97-mph fastballs, and they struck out right fielder Angel Pagan. Then Jansen struck out All-Star third baseman David Wright on a 97-mph fastball.
“The big question mark when you make the transition to pitching is, can you throw strikes?” Ausmus said. “Apparently, he can.”
With the bullpen tired after nine pitchers were used Saturday, Torre said it’s a possibility that Jansen might be used much more Sunday.
“We’ll see if we can retool,” Torre said. “A couple of guys are going to have to hitch it up. I know we have a 22-year-old who’s pretty strong.”
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