How does Manny's suspension effect Furcal and Kemp?

[TheGhost]

I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how Manny's suspension will effect the other players on the Dodgers?

I have Matt Kemp and Rafael Furcal. Kemp will probably move up in the order but will probably not see as many good pitches. Thoughts?

[Sekrah]

The entire lineup gets affected. Furcal, Hudson, Ethier, Kemp, Martin. All these guys see a combo of less guys in scoring position, and tougher pitching without Manny in the middle.

Manny was the "Liquid Schwartz" in that batting lineup.

[BitterDodgerFan]

may help kemp if he moves up to a better spot.

[bazzy_51]

may help kemp if he moves up to a better spot.

doesn't really matter if your hitting 7th, 5th, 3rd or any spot inbetween there without Manny...

it effects Andre Ethier the most of anyone imo...

[BJSFAN123]

Well, it hurt Furcal since he doesn't have manny to drive him in..but maybe he will steal more now?

[da bears]

last season Kemp's numbers without Manny in the lineup were much better don't have them at the moment but definitely remember that. They still have a lot of talented hitters and Torre will likely run more. This team with Pierre now in the line up has speed like the St Louis team in rbi baseball

[Montana168]

the biggest guy that will impact from this is juan pierre. the dodgers called up xavier paul to take manny's roster spot, but i'm pretty sure pierre will see the majority of starts in LF with manny out. pierre has been hitting .355 in limited duty this year. he is a year removed from stealing 60+ bags. the biggest change from this dodgers lineup, is that now they have weak power (especially because martin and loney have 0 home runs, and kemp has been in a power slump)...their only source of power is ethier RIGHT NOW, that could change if kemp, loney, and martin step up...but the dodgers now have A LOT of speed with furcal/hudson at the top and pierre at the bottom (assuming).

[auclairkeithbc]

The new lineup could be interesting. The Dodgers likely will move Kemp up, since he has been hitting much better than Loney and Martin, and they will need a RH batter that can hit in the middle of the lineup. That could mean 3rd or 4th if they keep furcal and hudson at 1 and 2, and bat Pierre 8th (or 9th?). It could mean 5th if they go with Pierre in the 2 hole, move Hudson down to 3, and keep Either in the 4 hole. Worst case scenario, they stick Pierre in the 2 hole, move Hudson down, and keep everything else the same. I think this is Torre's chance to move up Kemp without risking messing up chemistry.

[auclairkeithbc]

Kemp is batting 4th tonight, but they are facing a lefty so that might just be a matchup thing. Pierre is batting 9th, and Billingsley 8th, so it looks like Torre has that part right at least.

[MasterX1918]

If Kemp end up batting cleanup it could boost his value. As a Kemp owner I was happy when I learned about Manny's suspension.