Yes, the Dodgers are winning, and yes they’re managing to score some runs, but there is still a change that needs to be made.

Andre Ethier is supposed to be one of the Dodgers main run producers, not just now, but in the future, both near and (hopefully) distant. Since the team has managed to adjust to the loss of Manny Ramirez, it’s time to start focusing on helping Ethier to do the same.

Ethier needs to be hitting lower in the lineup, at least for awhile. In the last couple weeks, his average has plummetted to .257. Clearly he’s in the middle of a rather severe slump, and seeing as it started right around the time of Manny’s suspension, I’d say that’s probably part of the cause. He needs some time so settle down and find his groove again.

Luckily for the Dodgers, moving him down shouldn’t be that hard. Casey Blake now leads the team in home runs with nine, and is hitting a very respectable .283. Give the man a chance to hit fourth, move Ethier down to seventh and have Kemp hit eight.

That way, you can still have pop and production throughout the lineup and Ethier can have a chance to hit in a position with a little less pressure.

We all know he’s got it in him to be great, and he’s just having a little trouble right now, so the Dodgers should be doing everything they can to help get him out of it.

I’m sure some will say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” True, the lineup is doing fine with him hitting fourth, but it could do better.

The Dodgers have a 7.5 game lead on the Giants. It couldn’t hurt to give it a try.