Bucs' Sanchez working way out of slump

By Jim Rodenbush
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, May 3, 2007


Pirates hitting coach Jeff Manto thinks Freddy Sanchez is getting back on track.
The second baseman showed why with his first at-bat Wednesday afternoon.

Just minutes after Tuesday night's suspended game resumed, Sanchez lined a 3-2 pitch from Chicago Cubs reliever Bob Howry into center field for a single.

"With Freddy, it's all about his approach," Manto said. "When he squares the ball and hits it hard up the middle, you know the roadblock he's faced is about to end."

Sanchez has started to work his way out of a prolonged slump. He went 6 for 13 in the three-game series against the Cubs and, in the process, raised his batting average 44 points.

"Freddy has shown signs of breaking out," manager Jim Tracy said. "He's getting close."

Against the Cubs, Sanchez said he did a better job of recognizing pitches.

"I've felt a lot better," he said. "The main thing was, I wasn't seeing the ball very well. That affects everything. It affects your swing, your mechanics, everything."

For Sanchez, who had five hits in 40 at-bats prior to the Cubs series, regaining the form that helped him win the NL batting title in 2006 has been a frustrating process.

First, there was his sprained right knee, which cost him most of spring training and the first five games of the regular season.

Then, he was bothered by blurred vision caused by a small piece of metal lodged in his right eye.

"It's been one thing after another," Sanchez said.

The time Sanchez missed in spring training has had the biggest impact.

Sanchez said he doesn't hit in the offseason and uses the at-bats in the spring to recognize pitches and work on his timing.

"That's a big reason why Freddy has struggled," Manto said. "There's a routine that was messed up. It took its toll, as far as at-bats and his approach."

Because of his knee injury, Sanchez said he knew there would be some struggles in the first month of the season. But he never anticipated dealing with an eye problem.

Sanchez said his eye started bothering him during the Pirates' series April 18 and 19 in Milwaukee. He had the metal removed from his eye April 25 and missed that night's game against the Astros -- a 16-inning win.

"The doctor had to scratch the cornea to get the metal out," Sanchez said. "There's still some irritation. It's better now, but it's been a big problem."

As far as those hitting problems, Manto said Sanchez is "well-equipped" to fix his struggles.

"The good part about Freddy is that he was never given anything," Manto said. "He's used to working hard."


Jim Rodenbush can be reached at jrodenbush@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7937.