Dodgers aren't promising that Jerry Sands won't be sent down when Marcus Thames is activated

Has Jerry Sands done enough to stick?

It’s a tough one for the Dodgers, but it's a looming decision with outfielder Marcus Thames expected to come off the disabled list next week.

Someone is going to have to go, and if it’s easy to see Juan Castro being returned to the minors when Juan Uribe comes off the disabled list in the next few days, there is no obvious outfielder to make room for Thames.

The highly-touted Sands has neither blown people away nor proven a major disappointment (.220 average, .317 slugging, .367 on-base) since being called up April 18.

He has shown enough to keep faith in the Dodgers’ reigning minor league player of the year, but that is far from making him a lock to remain when Thames is activated.

"We’ll see," said Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti. "I reserve judgment until I have to make that decision."

There is, of course, a difference between being the future and the immediate future.

If there is no obvious candidate to go down, then Sands has that one great thing going against him that all young players on the bubble have -- he has options left.

Sands is a right-handed bat, as is Thames and center-fielder Matt Kemp. Andre Ethier, Jay Gibbons and Tony Gwynn Jr. all bat left-handed.

Manager Don Mattingly plans to play Thames when he returns, which may not bode well for Sands. The rookie also needs regular playing time. Remember, he started last season in lower Class A.

"I’d like to get Marcus back in there, back in the mix," Mattingly said. "Give him a shot at where we started the season against left-handers. He gives us some pop out of the outfield.

"At that point with Jerry, he could possibly play some first base against a lefty, or if it’s a lefty Dre [Ethier] struggles against, Jerry could play right field. Again the combination of guys as they come back really gives you a lot more options left and right, days off for different guys at different times."

Swell, assuming Sands is around to be in the mix. No one is promising anything, which may be telling.

"I can’t say there’s no possibility of anything at this point," Mattingly said. "Decisions will have to be made as guys get healthy."

If they keep Sands, can they get him enough playing time if Thames is mostly starting against left-handers?

If he does remain, then the Dodgers have to do something with Gwynn or Gibbons, or elect to go with six relievers. In limited playing Gwynn is not hitting (.193), which is to be expected, but is their best defensive outfielder, also expected. Gibbons, after battling vision troubles, is hitting all right (.245) but thus far without the hoped-for power (one home run, two doubles in 53 at-bats).

Having options could yet prove the decisive factor. Of course, even if sent back to triple-A, he would likely return the next time an outfielder was injured.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Photo: Dodgers left fielder Jerry Sands makes a diving attempt to catch a deep fly ball hit by San Diego's Jason Bartlett during a game in April at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

Where have you gone Scott Posednick - a nation turns its lonely eyes to you - ooo, ooo, ooo.

[Mark Michie]

Jerry Sands is the highlight of a dismal beginning to this season. Marcus Thames???? I can't bare to watch this guy play O/F, maybe in Rancho Cucamonga.

[16blows]

"if it’s a lefty Dre [Ethier] struggles against, Jerry could play right field."

- 'if'/as if... another time & different circumstances, there's a good chance slappy 'e' would have sat out an entire 3-game series rather than facing the troika of Osteen, Podres and Koufax... Drysdale would have owned him too for that matter. jerry WOULD play right field, ned - not could.

loney is the odd man out (or should be) - sands, gibbons, slappy 'e', thames, blake - even a barajas - all can play/have played 1st base to varying degrees. dudgers will not (should not) resign loney for 2012. They are going nowhere post season 2011 except home. Move loney for whatever they might finagle and let the future be not stunted. sands will be the starter at 1st 2012 anyway...do not tarry.

"Of course, even if sent back to triple-A, he (sands) would likely return the next time an outfielder was injured."

- rather than a matter 'if' in this case, 'when'... thames, gibbons, uribe, furcal, blake, navarro, barajas - even carroll & slappy 'e' - all veterans, all injured at some point 2011, one or more almost certain to be again at some point. Alas, to save face as it were ned/mcfrank continue to perpetuate the charade that they are 'in it' & have a good chance to make post season when their veteran players get healthy all at once (12th of never/back to as 'if' again.) Yup, look out NL West/the rest - dudgers are comin' back.

An even greater magician & escapologist than ned or frank named Houdini said he was coming back too, some 85 years ago. Then there's that guy from Nazareth also said he'd be coming back, 2000+ years ago...

[Labeldude]

And so will start (or keep going) Neddy's love for worthless PVLs over young talent. Gibbons or Thames over Sands? PUH-LEASE. Not that Sands is knocking the snot out of anything, but at least he HAS an upside. Thibbons doesn't even have a side to go up OR down. And Gwynn? Gwynn's a luxury that good teams can afford to keep as strictly a defensive (5th) OFer... And no one's ever accused this team of being good, save Frank.
.
And since when is hitting .245 "alright"? I find that "all wrong", especially in light of the fact its with 2 doubles and 1 HR. My how our standards have fallen.
.
But then that's Frank & Furter's motto: Increased success through lowered expectations.

[A Team With No Direction Known]

{yawn}
Former Fan.

[NorCal Dodger]

Sands has extra-base hits in over 10% of his at bats, second on the team only to Kemp. Similar weighted RBI per at bat (behind Kemp and Uribe). His batting average may only be .220 so far but Thames is .176. Sands plays good defense, has a strong arm, and can run a bit. Drives the ball well in gaps. Keep playing the kid. He will only continue to get better and has huge upside. Thames might be the right guy to pinch hit sometimes when you are desperate for a rightly pinch hit homer late in game, and Gwynn if you need a stolen base or lock-down late inning glove. Gibbons is a decent overall backup, and lefty bat for the nastiest right handed pitchers, but it is when Sands is up that I make sure to watch and see a bright future.

Sure he still strikes out too much like most rookies, but he battles pitchers well. Guys like Justin Upton, Chris Young, Mike Stanton, and others have not been much different in their early stages. They are considered among the elite young players and even this year Young is hitting .235, Upton was at .241 a week ago, and Stanton has been between .230 and .250 most of the year. Would their teams have brought them up, seen a decent start, and then replaced them with Thames or Gibbons? Get real Dodgers, and take a look around the league to see how other teams recognize and develop young talent.

[These Dodgers Suck!]

Sands is nothing special ...

trust me ~

[DodgerInSFog]

I am back to really wishing 16Blows aka "1900" would go away. All you ever talk about is Drysdale and Koufax. It's getting old, my friend. Besides, you spend far too much time attempting to articulate something intelligent - while saying nothing but dribble.

[16blows]

Oh shiznit... now garland has been placed on the DL - AGAIN.

That "when all of our guys get healthy - all at the same time - we'll make a run" party line of ned's takes it in the shorts - AGAIN.

Give up, cry uncle, wave the dudger flag of surrender... it is OVER for 2011, if in fact it ever e'en had breath.

Whoever hasn't yet been hurt in 2011 will be... it's just a matter of time.

[California Son]

The Dodgers aren't going to contend with Thames and Gibbons in left. Let Sands continue to improve. Once he's seen the pitchers a few times his numbers should see a nice pop.

[N.P.Krohn]

Spot on Norcal. And it's not just about the top-tier kids. We have had a ton of better than avg. kids go through the system in the last decade get traded away for marginal veteran talent. Something has to change, hopefully ned. The A's are alittle extreme with there constant shuffling as young players enter unrestricted free agency but Marlins, Rangers, and Brewers have done a really good job the last 5yrs of development.

I may rarely agree with '16' but always look forward to reading whatever crazy soliloquy he pens, and I don't think we should ever forget Sandy, Big D, little D, Osteen, the Davis', Maury, Mota, Roseboro, CY Marshall(he's crazier than "16"), LeFevre, Gilliam, Moon,and so many more of those 60's Dodgers because as long as the Dodgers play at Dodger Stadium(even with less foul territory) those 60's teams are a road map, too often ignored back to success. It's been 23 yrs since the Dodgers won the Pennant. We are fast becoming the fanbase of the 20's and 30's. Forced to appreciate the feats of Zack Wheat and Dazzy Vance because October is when we start paying attention to football.

[HI Dodger Fan]

What is 16Blows obsession with andre? did he refuse an autograph request or something? as for sands, he will, and should, be sent down. In his quest to make contact at this level, he's lost his power swing. Same as Andre. Trying to keep the streak alive, his swing became a singles hitter's swing. While Andre has been around long enough to get himself right, Sands would do much better at Alb. where he can again start teeing off. I'll bet he comes back a much better hitter in September.

[Rich]

Go away Marcus Thames- keep Sands!!!

[tede51]

Jerry Sands should be starting for the Dodgers because this team is not going anywhere for a long time. It is refreshing to see a new young talent playing rather than these over the hill journeyman ballplayers. The Los Angeles Dodgers as a team as of now, need new young blood playing for them rather than the over the hill gang.

[lets cut to the chase]

After Ethier and Kemp leave, they'll need Sands out there just to generate some fan interest

[Native Angeleno]

If they're going to rush Thames back, as they have with other not-great-producers upon arrival, why bother??

Colletti/Mattingly act like this guy is the 2nd coming of Mickey Mantle.

What has Thames shown that makes him the preferred choice to Sands? We know he can't play the outfield. They expect him to hit home runs, based on previous years, not 2011.

If they bring him up, it would be best they trade him immediately to the AL as the DH he is, instead of being just another never-was retread taking playing time away from a Dodger who is in this for the long-term, which Thankes is not.

With Colletti making this decision, whatever it is, expect a bad and/or dumb outcome.

[Eric]

@A Team With No Direction Known:

Until they start winning again, right? It's strange that you spend your time reading articles about things that used to be of interest to you but aren't any longer.

[Scott]

@These Dodgers Suck!

Just think how much more special Sands already is than you'll ever be?

[Barry Golden]

The Dodgers have enuf 32 years of age or older ballplayers. Release Thames ? Can't afford it I'd guess ! Thames promise is gone, not Sands ! Keep Mr. Sands. Thames hasn't produced, has he ?