Jay Gibbons has earned opportunity at a repeat performance

There’s a new Gibby playing for the Dodgers.

Playing so well, he’ll be around again next season?

Could be. At this point, probably should be.

Jay Gibbons’ travels from seven-year major leaguer, to disgraced user of performance-enhancing drugs, back to bouncing around the minors for three seasons, to finally getting another chance with the Dodgers, has been well chronicled.

It’s what he’s done with his opportunity that’s now notable: In 43 at-bats, he’s hitting .349 with five home runs and 15 runs batted in.

If he had the same number of at-bats (155) as man he replaced as the Dodgers’ left-handed pinch-hitter, Garret Anderson, his numbers would project to 18 home runs and 54 RBIs. Anderson exited batting .181 with two home runs and 12 RBIs.

With Manny Ramirez waived, the Dodgers will be in need of a regular left fielder next season. The candidates? Every breathing outfielder. Particularly the inexpensive ones.

Which Gibbons will be. Although he should certainly listen to all offers, the Dodgers figure to have an edge, being the team that gave him another chance and his hometown team (he went to Mayfair High in Lakewood and Cal State Los Angeles).

The Dodgers have to determine if they want him back as a left-handed pinch-hitter, a platoon starter in left or as a regular left fielder.

The latter is the least likely. He’s 33, and defensively, not exactly Gold Glove material.

Still, there should be a role for him. For now, at least, he should start Wednesday against right-hander Matt Cain. Yet despite being left-handed, he’s hit righties and lefties about the same.

Sunday he hit a three-run homer into the upper deck, and Friday he hit a two-run homer.

"Right now, I’m seeing a player that gives you reason to look to him for more,’’ said Manager Joe Torre.

Scott Podsednik, who has been the Dodgers' regular left fielder since being acquired from the Royals on July 28, missed the last three games with inflammation in his left foot. Torre said he should be available when the Dodgers open their three-game series Tuesday in San Francisco.

"But with what Gibby has shown us, he certainly deserves more time out there and he'll probably get it,’’ Torre said.

And deserves an offer for next season.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Jay Gibbons connects for a three-run home run against the Giants on Sept. 4. Credit: Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Big Jim Slade]

Only in Dodgerland does replacing Manny Ramirez with Jay Gibbons make a modicum of sense.

Yet sadly for us fans, it does.

[Since '58]

Outside of Gibbon's homer and Lindsey's first major league hit, the best thing to come out of yesterday's game was that we won't have to listen to Eric Collins for the rest of the season. It's been a bad enough year without his insipid and bush league play-by-play descriptions making it even harder to bear. But, like everything else with the Dodgers, he'll probably be back next season because he's a marginal talent and he comes cheap. He makes Ross Porter, Jerry Doggett and Rick Monday seem like broadcasting legends. Thank God for the mute button!

[Garrett]

What I been sayin'.....

[Terry]

And another thing about Jay Gibbons, Los Doyers can keep him cheap. He will make less than one of the divorce attornies of the McCourts, probably less than the total power bill for all the McCourt's mansions. The gullible will get to pay $15.00 to park, $10 for a brew, and $8 for a Los Doyers dog and God knows how much for a far away seat in an aging facility to see a line up that includes:

Theriot
Carroll
Blake
Gibbons
Martin
Padilla

etc..

As they said in the Watergate scandal, and it applies now to Los Doyers: "Follow the Money"

[Garrett]

Here's a theory:

The young Dodgers have run through their narrative and cannot script another in its place. With Manny, they got to the playoffs twice and folded against the Phillies. The narratives of their youth were destroyed. Going back at it, they've nothing to replace it--it's as though they were middle-aged and hitting a crisis--Is this all there is? The ones who are gamers have a different narrative--Kuroda, particularly--as he's living in the latter days of a brilliant career spent in relative obscurity. Being in the big leagues is extremely important to him and he's out to prove something.

As with the gamers--they're each out to prove something. Gibbons has to come back from disgrace and being forgotten. Podsednick wants to get back to the post-season and his WS glory days. Padilla has to make a comeback from his ignominy in Texas. Lilly wants to be in LA and rise from being buried in Chicago. And Barajas? Same thing! Wants to play in his home town. It's his last chance in the big leagues.

And Kuo? EVERYBODY knows he's already an angel on the mound, living his afterlife.

What about Theriot and Carroll? I don't know their stories as well, but they play like professional big leaguers to me. Same with Furcal.

What's Loney's story? What's Kemp's? What's Ethier's?

Broxton is dumb as rocks and has no story. He just throws and that's it. Nothing upstairs.

Beginningsley is gun shy and hiding. He needs a pitcher or two ahead of him in the rotation and can't be a #1.

Kershaw is developing and will arrive very soon.

The thing here is that Loney, Kemp, and Ethier don't have a new story. That's what Lasorda brought the young Dodgers when he arrived. His corny "the fruits of victory" and "the Fall Classic" speeches, but they, dumb as he was (except for Sutton, Sutcliffe, and Billy Buck), all bought into it.

Our youngsters need a new narrative. Only a veteran or a new manager can bring it to them.

Mattingly ain't the answer. It's obvious he's in over his head already. Torre couldn't do it. He was brought to manage the young team that was "cresting" and now is crestfallen.

We need a guy with some vision. I don't know if that's Wallach. But we need someone who can re-instill some fire, pride, and perseverance into our Terrible Three--Loney, Kemp, and Ethier.

[Joe the Plumber]

That's Bobby Valentine! If not him, then Wallach. An inexperienced Mattingly should not lead this team.

[neoncactus]

I'm all for giving him a shot, but wouldn't outright hand him the starting spot. Last year, we had a guy come in and go an a hitting streak by the name of Belliard. We re-signed him and that didn't turn out so well over the course of a full season.

The problem of replacing Manny is...who can? Werth puts up good numbers but take him out of the Phillies lineup and he may be no better than Ethier. Crawford is a solid hitter and defender, but let's face it, the only way we're getting him is if no other team bids on him. If the Yankees or Angels want him, they'll outbid the Dodgers for him.

[16blows]

"a repeat performance"

- yes... and maybe it is?

[HI Dodger Fan]

Hey, I like that. Bobby V. Coming home to the Dodgers where his career started. A favorite of Lasorda. Perfect. Will he be able to motivate the veteran "kids," Kemp, Loney, Ethier and(?) Martin?

As for Gibbons, it is amazing that he was not given a better shot these past few months. This team is power deficient, full of singles-hitters and underachievers. We need a power hitting over-achiever and that is Gibbons. I hope he plays everyday till the end of the season and gets a shot to play regularly in 2011. If not here, then somewhere. He's been a class act.

[Jim McVeigh]

Eric Collins stated yesterday that shortstop Hu was a minor league player of the year. NOT TRUE. He was MVP of a minor league all star game a few years back. This guy has to start doing his homework, hopefully in Ogden, of the pioneer league. He does not have one iota of VINNY`S DNA. Also imagine if Gibbon had been playing first base instead of Mark GRace Loney, we might have a 25 homerun man at one of the corners. Priority one get some real good pitching and then go and get 25 homerun men at the corners. The bums probably still will be losers but they might be more fun to watch and spend money on. Of course I`m pipe dreaming, but it could be the gas pipe..... FRANK MUST GO!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

[West Coast Ram]

If the Dodgers weren't owned by a dope, he would have had the stones to fire Torre in July and get Buck Sholwalter. If you look at his track record he can restructure even the most out-of-control organization.

[Tom Thompson]

If he can fill a role for close to the MLB minimum for a guy with his years of service, he's in. I too believe he deserves a second chance to play major league ball, because he's earned it. Nonetheless, next years payroll will be all about bang for the buck and he provides it. The McCourts have spent pretty close to nothing over the last 6 years on scouting and development and it's really starting to show in the teams minor league system. Since they don't have many good prospects they can bring up on the cheap, if they want to even pretend to compete they are going to have to look for guys just like Gibbons. Not great.... but willing to work their butts off just for a final shot at the bigs.

[humidorjunkie]

Please put Steve Lyons and Eric Collins on the radio. (if u have to keep them) Bring Steiner and Monday on TV when they travel East. Also put Eric Collins back on ESPN 7 where he was doing the Mens slowpitch softball USA vs Canada game. (seriously). Also Steve Lyons is not funny. He thinks he is, but he isn't. My mute button is worn out from these clowns.