SP: Adam Dunn Looking to Get His Season on the Right Track After .160 Start

[valpo04]

Good stuff from Sports Pickle:

Chicago White Sox slugger Adam Dunn said today that he is dedicated to turning his 2011 season around, which has so far gotten off to a rough start. Dunn, who signed a 4-year, $56 million deal with Chicago before the season, is hitting just .160 with a .294 OBP, 11 home runs and 174 strikeouts through the season's first 160 games.

"I've always been a slow starter," said Dunn. "Like, last year with the Nationals I hit only .225 in April. The only difference now is that it's 65 points lower and it's through April, May, June, July, August and the majority of September. But I feel my swing starting to come."

Dunn has seen his plate appearances drop off in the second half of the season as his production stayed low, a fact he admits angered him.

"I'm just trying to shake those spring training cobwebs off and they pull the plug on me after 350 or so at-bats?" he said. "I mean, what's the big rush?"

With two games left in the season, Dunn hopes to get his average up close to his previous career mark of .250.

"I think a couple of 2-hit games should do it," he said. "I think that's reasonable."

Told that two 2-for-4 games would only increase his average to .166, Dunn sighed and said, "Well, I guess I better hope they go extra innings."

[vu72]

If you think that's bad remember us Twins fans.  Joe Mauer has an 8 year deal at $184 million.  that's $23 million per year.  He is hitting .287 with a massive 296 at bats and a whopping 3 home runs.

Then there's Justin Morneau who has an $80 million 6 year deal.  He managed to get to the plate 264 times, hit .227 and got 4 home runs.

So, on a combined basis the two cost the Twins just over $36 million this year and produced a combined 560 at bats, an average batting average of .257 and a combined 7 home runs.  Wow!  Think what Willie Mays could command!!    

[sectionee]

MLB is full of aweful contracts.  Soriano, Dunn, Zambrano, Mauer, Zito....and the list goes on.  Some of these deals seemed right on the money when they were signed.  At least Dunn has kept a sense of humor throughout this record setting season of his (most games with 3 or more K's and no hits).

[valpofan56]

MLB is full of aweful contracts.  Soriano, Dunn, Zambrano, Mauer, Zito....and the list goes on.  Some of these deals seemed right on the money when they were signed.  At least Dunn has kept a sense of humor throughout this record setting season of his (most games with 3 or more K's and no hits).

Take it easy on my boy Joe Mauer.  I'm not saying his contract is not going to end up being horrendous, but he's only 1 year into it; let's give it at least a few years before it's deemed a complete failure.

[valporun]

So much for trying to improve the batting average in the last two days. Dunn finished his season batting .159 with 177Ks, 11HRs, and 42 RBIs. Hope the new White Sox hitting coach can find that flaw in his brain that tells Dunn when to swing at a good pitch, instead of swinging at every pitch.

[vuweathernerd]

So much for trying to improve the batting average in the last two days. Dunn finished his season batting .159 with 177Ks, 11HRs, and 42 RBIs. Hope the new White Sox hitting coach can find that flaw in his brain that tells Dunn when to swing at a good pitch, instead of swinging at every pitch.

that's been exactly his problem since his early days with cincinnati. great power, but downright idiotic about balls and strikes.