KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Wearing a new set of contact lenses, Nate McLouth has been able to see the ball better than ever this spring.
That doesn't mean the Atlanta center fielder has been able to hit it.
Mired in a 0-for-28 slump with 12 strikeouts, McLouth batted in every inning of a rain-shorted minor league game Sunday in hopes of getting on track with the start of the season two weeks away.
McLouth got three hits -- two more than he's had in real spring games. Maybe the move worked. Finally, he had something positive to build on.
"I just needed to step away," said McLouth, batting .029. "Hitting is a funny thing. It can wear on you, even in spring training when numbers don't matter -- because they do.
"Not necessarily numbers, but feeling well and making good contact matters. And when that's not happening, regardless of whether it's spring training or not, that's frustrating."
Frustrating for McLouth and worrisome for the Braves. They are counting on him to be their leadoff hitter.
How bad has McLouth been this spring? His one hit in 35 at-bats came March 6 and he has 14 strikeouts and three walks, striking out twice in five of his past eight games.
McLouth needed to take a step back before he could move forward. When manager Bobby Cox and hitting coach Terry Pendleton brought up batting every inning in a minor league game, McLouth agreed.
"That's what needed to be done," said McLouth, who got a low-pressure situation to keep trying the things he has been working on with Pendleton. "It was good. I felt great at the plate, made good contact ... it was a big step forward."
Pendleton said McLouth's troubles stem from "collapsing" during his swing, a habit he fell into late last season.
"It's being on time and being in the right position when the pitch is in the zone to take a good swing." McLouth said.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
