Lineup:

1. Pierre, LF
2. Jones, CF
3. Kemp, RF
4. Kent, 2B
5. Martin, C
6. Loney, 1B
7. DeWitt, 3B
8. Hu, SS
9. Kuroda, P

Someone (Vold) once told me “Respect Blake DeWitt.” As you all know, I have called Andre’s hitting “soft” and although almost everyone has disagreed with me, I still believe that. I do root for Andre Ethier while I believe that his hitting could be more “timley.” But, I digress, this is about what kind of man Andre Ethier is, what kind of teammate he is and will be.

In spring training, my son and I got Andre’s autograph and chatted with him for a minute. We wished him good luck on the season and he thanked us. I could see the appreciation in his eyes. A few weeks ago, we were in Cincinnati watching batting practice and Andre walked by, obviously on his way to the batting cage, but he looked over and made eye contact with my son and I, nodded and tossed us a ball. He remembered us. Now, I read an article by Ben Bloch in the LA TIMES today about Andre and I am even more impressed. Here’s a guy who could be complaining. After all he’s hitting .300 with 3 HR and 15 RBI in limited action. He’s been displaced by “punch-and-judy” hitter Juan Pierre. Most twenty-something guys would be complaining long and loud, but read what Bloch writes:

The Dodgers’ opening-day left fielder has been out of the starting lineup for three of the last four games, but Andre Ethier wasn’t about to raise a ruckus about it.

“I am not in a position to say anything about it,” Ethier said before the Dodgers played the New York Mets on Monday at Dodger Stadium. “Whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to do it. “I accept whatever decision’s made,” he said. “If I’m in, I’m in. If I’m not, I’m not.”

Take one for the team. Andre Ethier is doing just that. He is being patient, knowing that his time will come, here or somewhere else, but he’s the kind of teammate you want. Read the rest of this entry »