Can't we all get along? Kemp, Torre talk things over

SAN FRANCISCO -- Slumping Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp was benched for a third straight game Tuesday night, and he approached manager Joe Torre to discuss it. But Kemp was quickly called into duty Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants when slugger Manny Ramirez got injured running the bases in the top of the first. He replaced Ramirez at second base, then went to center field on defense in the bottom of the first. Torre said Kemp came to his office for a meeting that lasted about 20 minutes before Los Angeles played the middle game of its series with the rival Giants. Torre appreciated the gesture and said Kemp would start Wednesday, when right fielder Andre Ethier is scheduled to have a day off. After that, Torre was noncommittal about Kemp's status. "I thought the talk went well," Torre said. "He's been struggling and I'm hoping these couple days give him a chance to breathe a little bit." Torre has insisted his decision is based on keeping the most productive players on the field, saying, "I'm just going to ride this thing a little bit." The 25-year-old Kemp is batting .196 in 25 games in June with only two home runs for the month. "I don't make the lineup," Kemp said. "I just come ready to play every day. If I'm in there, I'm ready. If I'm not, I'm still ready to go." In 14 plate appearances starting with Thursday's series finale against the Angels then the first two games with the Yankees last weekend, Kemp struck out eight times. That after he was picked off in Wednesday's 2-1 loss with the Dodgers down by a run after heads-up baserunning had been stressed entering the series against the Angels. "I just think he's been frustrated he hasn't been hitting as well as he probably expected," Torre said of the fifth-year major leaguer the Dodgers had considered a budding star. So, what's next? There's already speculation general manager Ned Colletti might try to trade Kemp considering the club is looking for a front-line starting pitcher to carry the load in the second half. "It's not my decision, long-term or whatever," Kemp said. "That's not up to me. My job is to come out here and be a good teammate and play hard." Kemp said he was happy Los Angeles was able to bounce back from a tough 10-inning loss to the Yankees on Sunday -- the Dodgers blew a late four-run lead -- to beat the Giants on Monday. Still, he wants to play. Kemp has been studying video each day and taking early hitting in the cage. "Everything's great," he said. "It's frustrating, but it's baseball. I wish I could hit every day and do good. I know I'm a good baseball player. I've played this game for a while. I'll get my swag back." Torre didn't tell Kemp in advance he wouldn't play Sunday's series finale against New York, but said that's not how he manages. "It doesn't mean you're mad at them if you don't write their name in the lineup," Torre said. "I thought he needed a rest. ... I get the chance to write the lineup every day. I get to choose who I want to put in."