Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Adam Dunn ditches “stupid, stubborn ways” to beat shift

Cleveland Indians v Chicago White Sox

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 24: Adam Dunn #32 of the Chicago White Sox follows through on a three-run home run scoring Jordan Danks #7 and Kevin Youkilis #20 during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field on September 24, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Indians 5-4. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Adam Dunn looked headed for another miserable season like his 2011 campaign when he was hitting .156 as of June 7. But the White Sox had no choice but to stick with Dunn thanks to his big contract and he’s been on fire since then.

In his last 62 games Dunn has hit .316 with 15 homers and a .988 OPS, bringing his overall batting average from .156 to .239 in two months. How has he done it?

Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com reports that Dunn made adjustments at the plate in an effort to pull the ball less and in doing so convinced some teams to stop using extreme shifts against him defensively. Or, as Dunn put it, he ditched his “stupid, stubborn ways” at the urging of third base coach Joe McEwing and the viewing of spray charts.

Hayes’ whole article about Dunn’s change in approach is definitely worth checking out.

Follow @AaronGleeman