From the Trib

[southsider2k5]

Follow the leader

 

Manuel worked overtime before Saturday's game, calling Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee into his office for one-on-one meetings. Manuel believes that both hitters have gone away from what has made them successful--hitting line drives all over the field.

 

"We want them to be hitters, not sluggers," Manuel said.

 

Manuel took note of the comments Ordonez made after Friday's frustrating 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.

 

"We just go up there and try to hit home runs," he said. "We aren't going to win that way. We have to play the game the way you're supposed to."

 

Manuel's response?

 

"I think he's basically right," he said. "But I think he's talking about himself more than anything. I think that's been a big reason that he's not having the average that he has [in the past]. I think he's trying to do too much and he assumes the home run is the way to do it. And that usually gets you out of what you need to be a good hitter."

 

Ordonez entered Saturday's game batting .267 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs. Those numbers seem OK until you consider that Ordonez hit .320 last year, .305 in 2001 and .315 in 2000.

 

Ordonez was batting .294 on May 29. He was 2-for-21 entering the game.

 

Asked about Ordonez's home-run comment, hitting coach Greg Walker said it had validity.

 

"Any competitor wants to do well and help the team immediately," he said. "They think: `I'll fix this whole season by hitting this ball 600 feet, win this game and we are off and running.'

 

"But you won't be successful that way. We have to get them more mechanically correct, and then their minds will work better and their swings will be more fluid."

 

Ordonez took the advice to heart Saturday. He ripped an opposite-field RBI single in the third and lined a single up the middle in the fifth.

 

They have looked like they were swinging for hits the last two days. We will see if it continues.

[SI1020]

Sox hitting woes Gary Wards handiwork? He loved hitting for home runs. Even if you are a power hitter that is not the way to go. Try to hit the ball hard, the home runs will come. Doubles in the gap are great too, especially with men on base.