Here we are, less than three weeks into the major league baseball season, and you're seeing talented youngsters losing at-bats to veterans on various major league teams.

The Dodgers? Juan Pierre has speed, period, and no other skills. Worst throwing arm in the majors. No plate discipline. But he's playing 3-4 days a week while Matt Kemp, who hit .340-plus last year with good power at 22 years old, sits. You'd think Joe Torre would know better.

Giants? A sub-.200 hitting first baseman in Rich Aurilia playing instead of a 24-year-old named Daniel Ortmeier. Ortmeier was given the chance to win the job in spring training and didn't hit. So Aurilia plays every day. Aurilia is 37 or 38 years old, probably in his last big league season because he can't hit. Let Ortmeier play. It's not like the Giants are going anywhere. Same thing with 2B Ray Durham playing several days a week ahead of rookie Velez. Crazy. You'd think Bruce Bochty would know better.

In Cincy, it's Dusty Baker naming Scott Hatteberg the starting 1B over rookie Joey Votto. Votto has torn up Triple-A pitching and hit decently late last season when called up. At least Votto seems to be wrestling at-bats from Hatteberg in recent games.

If veterans are producing, fine. But it they aren't, let the youngsters get the majority of playing time. How do you know if they'll develop into anything beyond the journeyman level otherwise?