While I was watching the Dodgers clinch the National League Division Series, my boy Turley pointed out that the Dodgers are doing what they are doing (they're doing it big) while they have Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones, and Juan Pierre all riding the pine for them.
The former all-stars are taking a back seat to players who make considerably less money than they do, but play much better. The craziest part is that ESPN doesn't even have another second baseman listed on the Dodgers other than Jeff Kent. That means that manager Joe Torre converted a third baseman (Blake DeWitt) to second base instead of playing Kent. Ouch.
Here's a look at who's playing over who, and how much money they're making.
1B: Starter - James Loney ($411k); Bench - Nomar Garciaparra ($9.5 million)
2B: Starter - Blake DeWitt ($390k); Bench - Jeff Kent ($9 million)
CF: Starter - Matt Kemp ($406k); Bench - Andruw Jones ($15 million)
RF: Starter - Andrew Ethier ($424.5k); Bench - Juan Pierre ($8 million)
I took a deeper look at the Dodgers entire roster and found that not only do they have these over-the-hill underachievers on their bench, but they have a couple of starting pitchers that make a combined $25 million that aren't even on the active roster.
So let's add in that Chad Billingsly, who is starting in the playoffs for the Dodgers and makes $415k this season, is replacing Brad Penny ($9.25 million) and Jason Schmidt ($15.2 million).
The combined payroll for those five positions?
Two million dollars for the starters (combined) versus SIXTY-FIVE million for the guys that are sitting on the wood watching.
At least Manny is making $20 million. But then again, the Red Sox are paying his salary.
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