Torre switches course, benches slumping Jones

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MILWAUKEE -- Slumping Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andruw Jones was out of the lineup for a second consecutive game, and Manager Joe Torre announced his decision Tuesday to bench Jones for a few games. Torre had previously said he was not considering a benching, preferring Jones play his way out of his struggles at the plate, but reversed course after witnessing Jones regress in his approach on the plate Saturday. In that game, Jones was out in front on pitches and struck out twice, dropping his average to .170. He has only six hits in his last 35 at-bats since April 26 and has only one RBI over that span."Once I saw that, timeout, I'm going to try something else," Torre said. "That changed my mind. I didn't say, 'What do you think?' I just told him." Jones has seen his batting average, home runs and RBI totals drop in each of the last three years while his strikeout totals have increased.Torre said he wasn't at the point with Jones where he might ask the five-time All-Star to accept a minor league assignment so he could work things out in an environment with less pressure. Jones is in the first year of a two-year, $36-million contract with Los Angeles."There's no question it's an ego deflator," Torre said. "It's just trying to clear his mind and relax him. The biggest thing for him is relaxing at the plate. I want him to go to sleep knowing he's not playing so he's not trying to form a game plan. I'm more concerned about his comfort level."According to MLB.com, Jones has been working with Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly on his footwork.Jones worked a walk as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's 5-3 loss to the Brewers.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)