Seager hopes he's on verge of snapping slump
Mariners 3B, batting .196 in August, given rare off-day
CHICAGO -- Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager said he felt improved at the plate after he homered on Wednesday and drove multiple balls to center field. But he also admitted that he has a ways to go to return to where he was only a month ago.
The four-year veteran has batted .196 in August, while posting a .248 on-base percentage. Over his last six games, Seager has gone 2-for-27 with eight strikeouts.
"There's always things that can be improved on," Seager said. "Nothing earth shattering. This stuff happens all the time. It's just little things that get out of whack over the course of the season, and you try to get it fixed as quick as possible."
The problem, Seager says, has been minor mechanical issues, including his hand placement and drifting from his stance. Manager Lloyd McClendon agrees that the cause of the slump is likely a "combination of things," but he isn't worried about his funk.
Just one month ago, Seager posted his best batting average and on-base percentage this season while scoring 19 runs and walking 10 times.
Seager was out of the lineup for Thursday's 4-2 loss to the White Sox for the first time since June 18 -- and just third time this season. He did pinch-hit in the ninth inning and grounded out.
"He's no different than any other player," McClendon said. "During the course of the year you're going to go through a funk, and he's going through his funk at this particular point at this particular time.
"He doesn't get many [off days]. He deserves one now and then."
"It's a good time to recoup a little bit, do some rehab stuff and be ready to go whenever he [McClendon] calls my name to go out," Seager said.
He's still been one of the most important assets to Seattle's offense, boasting a .254 average and a .310 OBP.
McClendon said he thought Seager could be on the verge of a rebound for the last month of the season, having some of his best at-bats lately on Wednesday. Seager, too, admitted he felt better at the plate with his discipline, seeing the ball better.
"You work out and you train to be able to play every day," Seager said. "You wanna be in there to help everybody every day. I think that's our job ultimately."