In Reply to: better question, why is Ethier batting in front of Kemp? posted by BruinSteveII on July 23, 2009 at 10:27:21
... in that he has power, can drive in runs, but the average suffers a little, like many other clean-up hitters throughout history.
He also provides that left handed bat after a right handed Manny and right before a right-handed Blake, whereas Kemp would not.
The Dodger line-up is so deep, that there is value in Kemp batting 8th, with runners still on for him to drive in. And, while we lose a few at bats per year because of that, someone has to be 8th. The Dodgers have also done some other non-typical things, like batting Pierre 9th (to get the 3-rabbits-in-a-row after the first time around.
It's working, so I wouldn't tamper with it. But, I also don't expect him to be 8th next year. Kemp's attributes (average, power, and speed) are PROTOTYPICAL #3 numbers. But, we already have a 3-guy in Manny.