Dunn unimpressed with .304 batting average

ARLINGTON -- Adam Dunn probably cares less about a .300 average than any player in baseball.

The .238 career hitter certainly has the skills to reach that level, as he entered Sunday's series finale with the Rangers batting .304. It's just that average as a statistic has and always will rank low on the priority list for the middle-of-the-order run producer.

"I could care less about it [average]," Dunn said. "Getting on base, I don't care how I do it or what not, as long as I'm getting on base. I need to drive in more runs obviously, but hopefully that will come.

"I've been feeling good all year. I'm probably finding holes, probably staying up the middle a little more. I'm not doing anything mechanically or anything different than I have for a couple of years."

Dunn entered this season knowing that he could be part of a designated-hitter platoon with Paul Konerko or at the very least, receive less at-bats against left-handed pitchers. But with Dunn hitting .417 with nine walks in his last seven games, he was in the lineup against southpaw Robbie Ross Jr.

Taking the approach of viewing every day as a start, regardless of the pitching probable, has helped keep Dunn steady at the plate.

"I'll do whatever," Dunn said. "But I come in every day expecting to play and adjust accordingly when I'm not."

"People don't understand what he brings to the table," said Rangers outfielder and former teammate Alex Rios of Dunn. "His base hits are walks. He's going to walk a lot, he's going to hit homers and he's going to bring runs in. That's his job. That's the reason people criticize him is they don't see a higher batting average and he doesn't need that. He does what he has to do and I think people don't get what his role is."