This one drives me crazy, because from what I've seen over the years, about 90 percent of the switch-hitters would be better off focusing 100 percent on one side of the plate, if for no other reason than there aren't enough hours in the day for a player to refine two different batting styles when other players focus on only one. That said, the reason players attempt it often is to improve their chances of playing full-time and eliminate a manager's reluctance to platoon based on righty/lefty matchups. Generally, the best switch-hitters are speed guys who can take advantage of the few steps toward first base saved when batting left-handed. In Betemit's case, the hope was that batting coach Eddie Murray, having been a Hall of Fame switch-hitting power hitter, would be ideally suited to get through to Betemit. So far, it hasn't happened.

If Wilson Betemit is not going to be playing, why are the Dodgers not moving Nomar Garciaparra over to third and bringing up James Loney to play first?
-- Charlie Z., Waverly, N.Y.

Because management is convinced that Garciaparra would break down physically, particularly his throwing arm, if asked to do more on defense than play first base.

With a slow start from Betemit, what are the chances we could see Tony Abreu play some third base for the Dodgers?
-- Brian V., Visalia, Calif.

Abreu already has played some third base at Triple-A Las Vegas, and the way he's been hitting down there (.400 territory), I'd say the Dodgers must be considering it. I'm guessing as to why management is appearing so patient with Betemit, but it's probably because if a move is made with him, it could be permanent -- meaning, to send him to the Minor Leagues involves the risk of losing him completely to another club via waivers. You don't make that move based on one bad month, but rather on the belief that the player is not likely to ever get it together. That's not so easy to do with a player who hit 18 home runs in the Major Leagues last season. So the issue isn't whether they have confidence in Abreu, but whether they've totally and permanently lost confidence in Betemit.

I often read about Juan Pierre being a hard worker. At the same time, he seems a poor judge of fly balls. Why doesn't that improve through hard work?
-- Charlie A., Los Angeles

Theoretically, if hard work alone could address every player's deficiencies, maybe you or I would be out there. Every player has a different skill set. This isn't very scientific, but some players just have an instinctive ability to judge balls off the bat and some don't and there's only so much improvement possible through hard work. Among other factors, and I'm not referring specifically to Pierre, but a lot of outfielders play tentatively, either for fear of misjudging a ball on the first step or for safety reasons to avoid collisions with fences or teammates.

Why is Chad Billingsley not in the starting rotation instead of Mark Hendrickson?
-- Bryan V., Long Beach, Calif.

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To be fair, you e-mailed before Friday's game, in which Hendrickson pitched five strong innings and left a 1-1 tie, only for Billingsley to immediately give up three runs. Nonetheless, it's hard to make a case for Billingsley over Hendrickson from what we've seen so far this year. Long term, Billingsley has the stuff to be a legitimate starting pitcher. But where he's struggled making the transition from starter to reliever, Hendrickson has already filled both roles this year in fine fashion. Don't underestimate experience, especially now that Hendrickson has his psyche under control. And don't overestimate throwing hard. Billingsley will have a more important role when his performance earns it.

We see coaches and mangers tinkering with pitchers trying to change their mechanics, etc. Now it seems like players are being forced to play out of their natural positions (Andy LaRoche and James Loney) which I believe affects their hitting because of the pressure of trying to learn to play a different position. Could we be seeing too much of this in the Dodgers organization?
-- Tommy O., Logan, W.Va.

I think so, particularly in the case of Loney. It's one thing when a player doesn't have a true defensive position, but Loney was an outstanding first baseman and management has sent him to the outfield in hopes that it creates more Major League at-bats for him which, so far, it hasn't. The Dodgers did this 25 years ago to Mike Marshall, also a first baseman, who was coming off a triple-crown season at Triple-A and was sent back to be an outfielder. Marshall said that decision set back his development several years. You would think that just taking your game, as is, to the next level would be hard enough, but then to also ask a player to learn a new position is asking a lot. Maybe that's why Loney is hitting about 125 points lower at Las Vegas this year than he did last year.

Does Mitch Jones have a shot of being called up if there is an injury? He looks like a possible power source.
-- David S., Altadena, Calif.

Jones has power (171 home runs in seven-plus Minor League seasons, including six this month), but he's 30 years old without a day of Major League service and he has a .245 lifetime Minor League average, both red flags. The Yankees let him leave their organization as a free agent after he hit 21 home runs at Triple-A last year.