In a move that took entirely too long to happen....

Brewers sit Jenkins to look at youngsters
Associated Press
ATLANTA -- Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost benched veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins Friday and said he would look at prospects Gabe Gross and Corey Hart the rest of the season.

Jenkins, a 1995 first-round pick, ranks fourth on the team's all-time home-run list and has the longest active service with the Brewers. He made his seventh Opening Day start this season, his eighth full season with the team.

Yost said Jenkins' status made the decision more difficult.

"That's probably why it took me so long to do it," Yost said. "It was very hard. It wasn't a decision that I took lightly."

Jenkins, 32, is hitting .254 with 10 homers and 57 RBI in 397 at-bats. He hit .292 with 25 homers and 86 RBI last season.

Jenkins went 142 at-bats between homers this season, from May 20 to July 5, the longest drought of his career.

He has 184 career homers, trailing only Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas and Cecil Cooper on the team's career list.

Jenkins, who has been booed by Milwaukee fans this season, had only six hits in his last 43 at-bats this year before Friday's decision by Yost.

"He's been pressing," Yost said. "The booing at home has been affecting him. Players say it doesn't but it does."

Yost referred to Jenkins' status as being given "time off."

"He doesn't like the decision but I think he understands why I made it," Yost said. "I think he knows he's struggled this year and he also knows that he's very capable of putting up big numbers."

Yost said he would give Gross playing time in all three outfield positions and Hart would play more in right field.

In Friday night's game at Atlanta, Yost started Gross in right field, Brady Clark in center and Kevin Mench in left field. Gross went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts as the Brewers lost 2-1.
Gross is hitting .265 with nine homers and 32 RBI in 162 at-bats. Hart is hitting .299 with one homer and eight RBI in 67 at-bats.

"We've got six weeks left in the season," Yost said. "We need to find out where we're at. Neither one of those guys has had extended playing time this year."

Jenkins was not immediately available for comment.

Yost said the decision is not an "end-all" for Jenkins' future in Milwaukee, but he said Jenkins needs to work on his swing.

"It's a timing issue and that's something that he's going to have to work out in his swing," Yost said. "But this isn't the end-all. I think Jenks will make adjustment."

Yost said he could not say what playing time Jenkins will receive the rest of this season.

"I can't give you an honest answer about how I'm going to use him because I don't know," he said.

Jenkins, making $7.8 million this season, is signed to earn $7 million in 2007 with a club option for $9 million in 2008 with a $500,000 buyout.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press