No doubt when Dunn homers
The slugger is leading the major leagues in home runs and is on pace to hit 45 this year.
Comment: Can he do it?
By Matt O'Donnell
Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
CINCINNATI — David Weathers has enjoyed every home run he's seen Adam Dunn hit.
Except one.
When Weathers was pitching for the New York Mets in 2003, Dunn hit a two-run homer off him after the Mets had closed within one in the previous inning. The Reds eventually won 8-5.
"He's got some serious thunder in his bat," Weathers said. "A lot of these guys want to talk about average and getting on base and stuff like that, but guys like Adam Dunn, one swing of the bat and they change the course of the game."
The Reds will decide exactly how valuable Dunn is to them after the season when the slugger files for free agency. Until then, there is history to chase.
Entering the game Tuesday night, Aug. 5, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Dunn led the major leagues with 32 home runs (Ryan Howard of the Phillies had 31). He is on course for 45, one short of his career high. If Dunn continues at his current pace, he would produce 40 or more home runs for the fifth consecutive season.
Dunn ranks sixth on the Reds' all-time home run list with 238, six away from George Foster. He is second only to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols (282) in home runs among active players under age 28.
Despite all that, Dunn has never led the majors (or the National League) in homers. If he were able to lead the majors this year, it would be the first time a Red has accomplished the feat since Foster hit 52 in 1977. Foster led the NL with 40 homers in 1978.
"I don't pay attention to it until the end of the year," Dunn said. "If that happens at the end of the year, that'd be cool."
It's not just the fact that Dunn hits them; it's the way he does it.
In 2004, Dunn hit a 535-foot homer off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jose Lima that bounced off Mehring Way and landed on a piece of driftwood in the Ohio River. It is the longest home run at Great American Ball Park.
"(His home run power) is definitely at the top," Milwaukee Brewers power-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder said. "He has just as much or more power than anyone else in the league."
"He hits them and you just laugh," teammate Jay Bruce said. "The ones he hits are no doubters. It doesn't matter where he's at."
The only chink in Dunn's armor as a power hitter is that his production falls off late in the season. In September, he's a career .219 hitter with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs, about half of his production in other months.
"When you get into September you've got more matchups," Dunn said. "You've got more pitchers getting called up that you haven't faced. There's obviously a lot more lefties. It's just a variety of things that have contributed to that."
Packing A Punch
Entering Tuesday's game, Adam Dunn led the National League in home runs (32) and had the best HR ratio (at-bats for every homer):
Player Ratio
1. Adam Dunn, Reds 10.9
2. Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals 13.3
3. Ryan Howard, Phillies 13.6
3. Pat Burrell, Phillies 13.6
5. Dan Uggla, Marlins 13.8
Source: mlb.com
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/con...608spdunn.html
This is a new article but the information is old. Dunn now has 270 career homeruns and is fourth all-time on the Reds homerun list.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Matt700wlw
