OnBaseMachine
03-14-2007, 07:58 PM
Dunn learning on the fly
Slugger making progress on defense, and the coaches are noticing.
Click-2-Listen
By Hal McCoy
Dayton Daily News
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. — Adam Dunn, carrying a glove instead of a bat, was told that Cincinnati Reds outfield coach Billy Hatcher piled praise on Dunn's defensive progress this spring.
"Billy Hatcher? Impossible," said Dunn. "He never says good things about anybody."
If that's true, and it isn't because Hatcher is an affable fellow, then the praise for Dunn was doubly meaningful.
When Dunn came to camp, he told everybody his mission this spring — and this season — was to not only be a good outfielder, but a great outfielder, this from a guy who last year couldn't carry his glove through an airport metal detector without lights, bells and whistles exploding.
Dunn is proving he is sincere, and Hatcher notices.
"He is serious about getting better," said Hatcher. "He wants to play defense and realizes it is a matter of putting the time in, going out there to work, and that's what he is doing.
"He believes he can do it, and he is getting better by shagging fly balls, and as a result he is tracking the ball better, throwing the ball better — all of it coming from effort," Hatcher added. "He is willing himself to become a better ballplayer. Adam Dunn is a good athlete, so it's just getting his mindset right, and he wants to do it. It's easy to do when it is something you want to do, and I'd never bet against Adam Dunn, in any capacity."
Dunn wishes he'd get more fly balls this spring, something that hasn't happened yet. He knows that if you can track and chase down fly balls under the difficult high Florida sky, you can do it easily in Great American Ball Park, a place that was a nightmare on Opening Day last year when Dunn did more pirouettes than Baryshnikov chasing fly balls on a wind-swept afternoon.
"Hatcher said that? That's good," said Dunn. "I do know so far that I'm getting a lot better jumps on balls. Defensively, I'm happy with the way it's going. Not many opportunities, but I'm pleased with those that I've had."
Manager Jerry Narron notices, too, but he is paid to notice and paid to push players to eradicate shortcomings.
"Adam is taking defensive outfield improvement seriously, working the Hatcher and Nappy (coach Ed Napoleon)," said Narron. "He can make our defense that much better."
Defense, as a whole, has been on Narron's mind.
"We've been able at times this spring to play outstanding defensive teams," he said. "When you talk about Alex Gonzalez at short and Brandon Phillips at second, then put Juan Castro at third to go with those two guys.
"In the outfield, Dewayne Wise is as good as there is, with Ryan Freel and Josh Hamilton and Chris Denorfia and Norris Hopper, there is some athleticism."
Although Dunn says there are still some kinks, his bat in functioning potently, spraying line drives to all corners in addition to plugging a couple of home runs.
"I'm trying to see a lot of pitches, and it isn't happening," he said. "I take pitches and it's 0-and-2 and that's when I strikeout. But that's why I keep taking pitches. I want to get my timing down."
Dunn is hitting .474 with two homers, six RBI and seven strikeouts in 19 at-bats — and no errors.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/reds/2007/03/13/ddn031407redswebnew.html
Slugger making progress on defense, and the coaches are noticing.
Click-2-Listen
By Hal McCoy
Dayton Daily News
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. — Adam Dunn, carrying a glove instead of a bat, was told that Cincinnati Reds outfield coach Billy Hatcher piled praise on Dunn's defensive progress this spring.
"Billy Hatcher? Impossible," said Dunn. "He never says good things about anybody."
If that's true, and it isn't because Hatcher is an affable fellow, then the praise for Dunn was doubly meaningful.
When Dunn came to camp, he told everybody his mission this spring — and this season — was to not only be a good outfielder, but a great outfielder, this from a guy who last year couldn't carry his glove through an airport metal detector without lights, bells and whistles exploding.
Dunn is proving he is sincere, and Hatcher notices.
"He is serious about getting better," said Hatcher. "He wants to play defense and realizes it is a matter of putting the time in, going out there to work, and that's what he is doing.
"He believes he can do it, and he is getting better by shagging fly balls, and as a result he is tracking the ball better, throwing the ball better — all of it coming from effort," Hatcher added. "He is willing himself to become a better ballplayer. Adam Dunn is a good athlete, so it's just getting his mindset right, and he wants to do it. It's easy to do when it is something you want to do, and I'd never bet against Adam Dunn, in any capacity."
Dunn wishes he'd get more fly balls this spring, something that hasn't happened yet. He knows that if you can track and chase down fly balls under the difficult high Florida sky, you can do it easily in Great American Ball Park, a place that was a nightmare on Opening Day last year when Dunn did more pirouettes than Baryshnikov chasing fly balls on a wind-swept afternoon.
"Hatcher said that? That's good," said Dunn. "I do know so far that I'm getting a lot better jumps on balls. Defensively, I'm happy with the way it's going. Not many opportunities, but I'm pleased with those that I've had."
Manager Jerry Narron notices, too, but he is paid to notice and paid to push players to eradicate shortcomings.
"Adam is taking defensive outfield improvement seriously, working the Hatcher and Nappy (coach Ed Napoleon)," said Narron. "He can make our defense that much better."
Defense, as a whole, has been on Narron's mind.
"We've been able at times this spring to play outstanding defensive teams," he said. "When you talk about Alex Gonzalez at short and Brandon Phillips at second, then put Juan Castro at third to go with those two guys.
"In the outfield, Dewayne Wise is as good as there is, with Ryan Freel and Josh Hamilton and Chris Denorfia and Norris Hopper, there is some athleticism."
Although Dunn says there are still some kinks, his bat in functioning potently, spraying line drives to all corners in addition to plugging a couple of home runs.
"I'm trying to see a lot of pitches, and it isn't happening," he said. "I take pitches and it's 0-and-2 and that's when I strikeout. But that's why I keep taking pitches. I want to get my timing down."
Dunn is hitting .474 with two homers, six RBI and seven strikeouts in 19 at-bats — and no errors.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/reds/2007/03/13/ddn031407redswebnew.html