Little Moves Kemp to Shake His Slump

By Bill Shaikin

June 29, 2006 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

MINNEAPOLIS — In Tuesday’s game, rookie outfielder Matt Kemp batted seventh and struck out three times. In Wednesday’s game, Kemp batted third, against Johan Santana, the 2004 American League Cy Young Award winner.

“We haven’t been in too much of a habit of repeating what hasn’t been successful,” Dodgers Manager Grady Little said. “Maybe a change in the lineup will help him out a little bit.”

As Nomar Garciaparra and J.D. Drew got the day off, Kemp struck out twice. He went hitless in 10 at-bats in the series, striking out six times.

In his first 45 major league at-bats, he hit .366, with seven home runs and 11 strikeouts. In 40 at-bats since then, he is hitting .225, with no home runs and 19 strikeouts, suggesting teams might have figured out how to pitch to him.

“I’m not being pitched any differently,” Kemp said.

“I’m just chasing bad pitches and getting myself into holes. I’ve just got to swing at better pitches, and I’ll be all right.”

At first glance, Toby Hall doesn’t seem to fit. The Dodgers wanted left-hander Mark Hendrickson and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays wanted triple-A catcher Dioner Navarro, but did the Rays demand the Dodgers take Hall and his $2.25-million salary as part of Tuesday’s trade? Or did the Dodgers get Hall so they could trade him to another team?

No and no, according to Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti.

“I needed Hall,” Colletti said. “If it wasn’t going to be Toby Hall, I was going to need a catcher from a third team.”

Hall, the Rays’ starting catcher, will back up rookie Russell Martin. Colletti said he would not count on Sandy Alomar Jr., 40, to play every day in case of an injury to Martin.

Alomar has nine hits in 18 at-bats against left-handers, and Little said he plans to use him as a pinch-hitter. But Little said earlier this month he would not want three catchers if none could play another position. That’s the situation now, so Alomar’s status could be tenuous.

Alomar had one of the Dodgers’ two hits off Santana on Wednesday. He’s batting .345, and he said he is not yet ready to follow his father into coaching.

“I still can play,” he said. “I’m not saying I’m an everyday player. But, if I can still perform, I want to play.

“I want to win a ring as a player, not a coach.”

Joe Mauer, the Twins’ catcher, had 11 hits in 13 at-bats in the series. He leads the major leagues in hitting at .392, and he’s hitting .456 in June.

“Everyone has their own theory,” Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Mine is he’s dating Miss America.”

No joke. Mauer, 23, is dating the 2005 Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley.