Dunn: Slump Is 'Most Frustrating Thing That Has Ever Happened To Me'
CHICAGO (AP) In the two games he played against the Chicago Cubs, Adam Dunn was 0-for-8 with five strikeouts. As Dunn struggles through the worst season of his career, the boos seem to be getting louder and louder.
Signed by the White Sox in the offseason to a four-year $56 million, Dunn's first season in Chicago has been a nightmare over the first three months.
Sidelined early after an appendectomy, he's still trying to adjust to both a new league and a new role as a hit-and-sit DH. Mainly he's struggling to make contact with the baseball.
His resume included five 100-RBIs seasons, four years of at least 40 homers and two more with 38 each time, including last season with the Nationals. And loads of strikeouts.
But instead of providing the left-handed power the White Sox expected, he's bogged down the lineup. And the fans are letting him have it.
Held out of Wednesday night's game with the Cubs' lefty Doug Davis pitching, Dunn was batting just .175 with seven homers, 29 RBIs and a whopping 91 strikeouts in 217 at-bats.
"I know how frustrated they are," he said of the fans. "My whole family is frustrated. I mean everyone. I don't even answer my phone anymore because I don't want to hear about what is wrong and this and that. I can't even put it into words.
"I've never been through anything like this in my life. It is the most frustrating thing that has ever happened to me."
Dunn, who said he did not take batting practice during the offseason, something he said he's eschewed in the past - even in his successful seasons - has tried everything to shake this monster of a slump. Early batting practice, increased video work, looking at tapes of this year and from previous ones when he was going well with the Reds or Nationals. He also played part a season in Arizona.
He can't figure it out. He does have 41 walks but acknowledged that he's swinging at pitches he usually would take in an effort to get going.
"That's the problem. If it was something I noticed, I would fix it. I would have fixed it three months ago," he said. "I don't know."
Manager Ozzie Guillen has for the most part stuck with Dunn, despite his performance. Against lefties, Dunn is just 1-for-48 this season.
Guillen said Dunn can't let the booing affect him mentally.
"Keep playing," Guillen said.
"You don't expect to have a standing ovation when you struggle like he does. That hurts him, that hurts me, that hurts everybody. These fans want him to do good. I don't care how tough you are mentally or who you are - when the fans get to you, it's in the back of your mind. You go to the plate and worry about the reaction of the fans, it's not going to be easy. Chicago fans forget pretty quick. Hit a couple home runs and drive in a couple runs and they'll be on your side. It's not only here, it's everywhere. If you have a tough time like he does, what do you expect?"
Dunn said he tries to put every performance - good or bad - behind him and start fresh the next day.
"You're not going to help your team, not going to help anybody sitting around pouting about it the next day," he said.
He said his teammates have been supportive through such trying times.
"I'm sure they are looking at me sometimes, `This guy is awful, he's terrible.' I agree right now," he said.
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