July 7, 200323 yr Bill is working with him and trying to see what is wrong. I hope he doesnt drop again to .250 like the past 2 seasons... Slumping Gonzalez to receive extra help By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Monday, July 7, 2003 PHILADELPHIA -- Slumping shortstop Alex Gonzalez wasn't named to the All-Star team, but few dispute he's having an All-Star season for the Marlins. Gonzalez has been a key to Florida's offense by providing steady production from the bottom of the order most of the season. While batting seventh, he has 12 home runs and 53 RBI. But Gonzalez will spend extra time during the next week working with hitting coach Bill Robinson to help break out of a funk. Gonzalez enters tonight's game in Chicago in an 11-for-72 slide (.154) dating to June 16. After going 0-for-4 Sunday, Gonzalez's averaged dipped to.291 after hitting well above.300 most of the season. "He's hitting too many balls in the air. He was swinging too hard, and when you swing too hard, you drop your back shoulder. It doesn't make you as selective,'' Robinson said. "We'll get him straightened out. With day games Tuesday and Wednesday, Gonzalez won't be able to take extra batting practice until the team arrives in Montreal for a three-game series that starts Friday. "He's had his first half. Now all he has to do is be average his second half,'' Robinson said. "We've sat and talked. He's trying to do too much. He needs to be more selective.'' Pearl jammed: Rock singer Eddie Vedder took batting practice with the Phillies before Sunday's game and signed a guitar for catcher Mike Lieberthal. Vedder's band, Pearl Jam, performed in Camden, N.J., on Saturday and Sunday. "It's kind of amazing,'' Lieberthal said, "that after a 2 1/2 -hour concert, he's out here hitting and shagging balls. Based on his hitting, I think he's better in the musical department Link
July 7, 200323 yr I don't think A-Gon is a half season wonder...hes still hitting the ball hard, but fielders are making great plays and hes hitting liners right at people. I see him breaking the slump soon.
July 7, 200323 yr At least he is not SO with those balls in the dirt and completely out of the strike zone as he used to last year. He will get it fixed. The only thing that worries me is that his defense might suffer the consequences of the slump... :banghead
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