Rick Hummel: Frustrated by strikeout binge, Drew takes it out on his bat

Rick Hummel
Post-Dispatch Baseball Columnist
05/07/2002


CHICAGO - J.D. Drew lapsed into an uncharacteristic strikeout binge about a week ago. In a span of eight games, he fanned three times once (in New York) and then had a four-bagger Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.

In his last 32 at-bats going into Tuesday night's game, Drew had six hits and 13 strikeouts. He had fanned 32 times in 29 games and 116 at-bats, for an average of one strikeout every 3.62 at-bats. Last year, he struck out once every five at-bats and has never had a season below one strikeout for every four at-bats.

After his third strikeout Sunday, all against bamboozling Greg Maddux, Drew decided to have a little talk with his bat. He already had bounced his helmet. After his fourth strikeout, against John Smoltz, it was time for action. Drew no longer could keep it inside.

"It was the most upset I've seen him in a long time," said manager Tony La Russa. "He was in there throwing stuff."

Well, not exactly, said Drew. "I didn't throw anything," he said, smiling.

But he admitted he did emerge from his mild-mannered shell and one of his maple bats, called "Sam" bats, after their maker, Canadian Sam Holman, was the worse for wear. "I tried to talk to it. It wouldn't talk back," Drew said. "So 'Sam' and I had it out. And he's no longer with us."

"Sam" splattered against the wall in the dugout tunnel. "He didn't respond very well," said Drew. "I don't think it's the bat's fault . . . but it's got to be somebody's. Blame it on the bat. He was a good guy but he couldn't keep his head above water.

"There's been a couple of times over my career when I've had issues with my bat. Then, we get them resolved and move on with things."

Drew did it purposely out of the view of the Busch Stadium crowd. "I don't want to do it where a fan can look in on it and say, 'Man, he's going nuts.' But you've got to relieve some of that tension sometime," he said.

"Every level I've ever been at, you compete to win. We've got guys out there doing a good job and to totally frustrate yourself, not even put the ball into play. . . . I didn't even have a nubber back to the pitcher."

La Russa was surprised by Drew's outburst.

"(Usually) he starts out at a very even keel, whether he's real good or real bad," La Russa said. "That can be misunderstood and people think you don't care. But, the truth is that some guys compete very visibly and some guys compete very quietly - as long as he's competing."

La Russa has moved Drew from the offending No. 3 spot, where he had all of his strikeouts, to the No. 2 position.

"He gets a little funky," said La Russa. "He's still learning how to get out of it. And he's J.D. Drew. He gets pitched to. He doesn't get a lot of cookies."

The word "funk" rang true with Drew. "It's a matter of getting in a funk and not seeing the ball," he said. "The next thing you know (Sunday), it's a pretty bad day.

"I know my role on this team, and it's pretty important. It's to produce. I had a couple of opportunities in those three games (with Atlanta) to drive in some runs and it kind of all stockpiled.

"I don't show a lot of outward emotion a lot of time. But if I make an out in a crucial situation - it doesn't matter if I'm hitting .800 over the last 10 games, I don't like to do that. I had a lot of stuff on the inside. If you're going to succeed at any level, you've got to have a lot of internal fire."

For now, Drew, who had two hits Monday, will continue be a No. 2 hitter. "It's in his hands," said La Russa. "You get what you earn. But every ability you want in a third hitter, he's got."

Drew began Tuesday night at .302 and trying to keep the ball in play. "I'm definitely not going to lose the fight - whether or not I have to lose a few more bats," he said.

Then, mimicking in a high-pitched voice the way he thought a bat might speak, Drew said, "They're all looking at each other now and saying, 'I don't want to be next.'"

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