Pierre Shines in Leading Dodgers While Manny Sits

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

May 7: A day Dodgers fans would like to try and forget. 

Manny Ramirez, immediately embraced by the Dodger Stadium faithful after coming from the Boston Red Sox in a trade last July 31, found out he was forced to sit out the next 50 games for his actions.

With all the questions about the steroids issue and Manny's character aside, Dodgers fans had a few pressing questions about the team itself:

How would all of the talented young hitters fare in his absence?  How much of a drop in run production would the team suffer?  Would any teams in the NL West be able to gain significant ground on the Dodgers in the division race?

A more simple question:  Who would replace Manny in left field? 

A simple answer:  Juan Pierre.

Pierre, the one who became the odd man out in the Dodgers' outfield last year after the trade for Ramirez would now have his chance to spark the Dodgers offense in his own way. 

He would also have the chance to remind everyone just how good a player can be, and of the one we have seen do some pretty impressive things throughout this decade.  

In eight seasons in the Major Leagues before 2008, Pierre had established himself as one of the premier leadoff hitters in baseball.  He tallied over 200 hits in four different seasons (2001, 2003, 2004, and 2006), over 100 runs in three ('01, '03, '04), and over 50 stolen bases in four ('03, '04, '06, and '07).  He also hit finished the season batting over .300 three times ('01, '03, and '04). 

However, after appearing in 821 consecutive games between 2002 and 2008, Pierre was forced into a role completely unknown to him throughout his nine-year career.  He had not only played in, but started all 162 games in the outfield in both 2004 and 2006, with the Florida Marlins and Chicago Cubs, respectively.

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