Wanting Matt Kemp to hit in the middle of the order

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Ah, Tevye, I can hear you now.

Tradition.

Old-school tells us this: Matt Kemp (pictured at left) batting second is a bad idea.

Too often a waste of his power. He’s not going to move a runner along, at least not in the traditional sense.

Kemp has 30-plus home-run potential. And if you have someone with power, you normally want runners on base in front of him. I want him moved back.

Historically, of course, No. 2 hitters were little guys who bunted the leadoff hitter over. Apparently a semi-archaic idea.

But little ball is not the way Dodgers new-school manager Joe Torre typically approaches the game. Normal, or at least old rules, no longer apply.

‘What is an ideal No.2 hitter anymore? I’m not trying to be sarcastic, I’m just asking, because over the years that’s changed,’ Torre said. ‘Years ago it used to be Phil Rizzuto and Pee Wee Reese and those guys used to bunt the guy over. That stuff has disappeared.

‘[Don] Mattingly batted second. Mark Grace, Alex Rodriguez, guys like that. You sort of stack your guys anymore now, more so than trying to figure out what role they play.’

Actually, this new age batting order doesn’t have that much history.

Mattingly batted second in 245 of the 1,785 games he played. He batted third 1,195 times. Grace hit second in only 143 of 2,245 games and Rodriguez has batted second in 502 of his 2,166 games.

It’s not uncommon to find someone with power in the second spot these days, but it’s usually not one of the top three power hitters on the team.

There are only three other teams in the majors who are scheduled to have a No. 2 hitter who has ever hit at least 25 home runs in a season: Grady Sizemore with the Indians, Aaron Hill with the Blue Jays, and get this, bunt-happy Mike Scioscia with Bobby Abreu and the Angels.

Twenty teams will use more of a traditional-style, table-setter in the second spot, while five will use someone with medium-power ability.

But truth is, Dodgers have no ideal No. 2 hitter. In some ways it’s Kemp’s spot by default. And Kemp has speed, of course, having stolen 34 bases last year. He has a respectable .346 career on-base percentage.

‘Matt Kemp is very important for us,’’ Torre said. ‘He has some electrifying speed up top. He’s going to be protected from behind and ahead of him. [Leadoff hitter Rafael] Furcal is going to be important. We’d like to get pitches for him to hit.’

I’d rather see Kemp closer to the middle of the order, but unless Russell Martin returns to form, there isn’t really any other candidate. Defined roles are seemingly passé.

So for now, Torre stacks his lineup in impressive fashion, while getting good use of left-handed hitters following right-handed hitters. Tradition and the Dodgers batting order have taken a detour.

‘Well, he’s not going to bunt,’ Torre said. ‘He’s still going to swing the way he swings.’

Yes, but, the Tevye in me says, from the middle of the order.

-- Steve Dilbeck