Manny Who?: With Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, the Dodgers Have Power Aplenty

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Dodgers are in the midst of a series with the Cincinnati Reds after a long week battling the Colorado Rockies. Winning the second game in the series against the Reds, the Dodgers began to create more distance between their rival division foes this weekend, and the momentum is not only coming from the power of Manny Ramirez.

The majority of the power this season has actually been coming from the other Dodgers outfielders—Andre Either and Matt Kemp.

These two young stars are beginning to make a name for themselves with or without Manny in the lineup; they have each made tremendous contributions to the Dodgers' production this season.

The Dodgers acquired Ethier from the Oakland A's in 2005, for Milton Bradley. Ethier beat out Juan Pierre to become the Dodgers' starting left fielder for the start of the 2008 season.

When the Dodgers acquired Ramirez from the Red Sox later that season, Ethier moved to his more natural position of right field, with Kemp playing center field. In 2008, Ethier played in 141 games, had 525 at-bats, scored 90 runs, had 160 hits, and hit .305 with 20 homers and 77 RBI. His OBP was .375.

This season, he is posting even better statistics all around by adding the punch to the lineup when Manny and others are not able to produce. His batting average is .286 with 27 home runs and 83 RBI, and currently his OBP is .371

The other power hitter is the young Kemp, who made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 28, 2006; just days later, he slugged his first major league homer—June 1, in his second Dodger Stadium at-bat, off the Philadelphia Phillies' Gavin Floyd.

He then homered in each of the next two games against the Phillies and homered twice on June 11 off Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook. He became the first Dodger and fifth major leaguer to hit four homers in his first 10 days with the team. Quite the first impression.

Last season, after a knee injury to Andruw Jones, Kemp became the Dodgers' regular center fielder. During the course of the season, Kemp managed to cut down his high strikeout rate and develop his speed. Kemp finished the year second on the Dodgers in stolen bases, with 35.

Currently, Kemp is posting career-high numbers and playing incredible defense out in center field. This season he is batting .315 with 20 home runs and 83 RBI, not to an OBP of .373.

As these two present young stars continue to improve and become true power hitters of their own, the Dodgers are developing—if not already boasting—a very powerful lineup, providing the team, players, and fans something exciting to watch during the pennant race and hopefully many years to come.

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