Shelton wonders what happened
Chris Shelton erupted with a home run barrage in April that lifted the Detroit Tigers and elevated him to the level of Mike Schmidt and Albert Pujols.
Now he’s riding buses in the minor leagues and trying to fix his swing.
“I can’t really put a finger on why things changed,” Shelton said. “I’m not really sure. April was a special month. I don’t know if expectations were too high.”
The first baseman nicknamed “Big Red” hit nine home runs in the first 13 games – becoming the fourth player to reach the mark so quickly. He joined Schmidt, who hit 11 home runs during the first 13 games of 1976, and Pujols, who matched Shelton’s feat this year.
Shelton finished the opening month hitting .326 with a franchise-record 19 extra-base hits.
Since then, he’s had only six homers and struck out more than once every four at-bats. That led to his demotion to Triple-A Toledo, and the Tigers got first baseman Sean Casey from Pittsburgh.
“I don’t think anybody welcomes a move down here, but I can’t change that,” Shelton said Wednesday before batting practice. “You can only take it in stride.”
He’s looking to correct his swing in time to help the Tigers finish off their commanding bid for an American League Central title.
Shelton’s stint in the minors has reunited him with Mud Hens hitting coach Leon “Bull” Durham, a former All-Star with the Chicago Cubs. The pair worked together the last two seasons when Shelton was in Toledo.
“It took me three swings watching on tape to see what he was doing wrong,” Durham said. “He was trying to get 10 hits in one pitch.”
Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland still consider the 26-year-old Shelton their first baseman of the future.
Yost benches Jenkins
Milwaukee manager Ned Yost benched veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins and said he would look at prospects Gabe Gross and Corey Hart the rest of the season.
Jenkins, 32, a 1995 first-round pick, ranks fourth on the team’s all-time home-run list and has the longest active service with the Brewers. He made his seventh opening-day start this season, his eighth full season with the team.
Yost said Jenkins’ status made the decision more difficult.
“That’s probably why it took me so long to do it,” Yost said.
“It was very hard. It wasn’t a decision that I took lightly.”
Jenkins is hitting .254 with 10 homers and 57 RBIs in 397 at-bats. He hit .292 with 25 homers and 86 RBIs last season.
Jenkins went 142 at-bats between homers this season, from May 20 to July 5, the longest drought of his career.
Rolen’s back ails
St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen likely will sit out the three-game weekend series in Pittsburgh because of back spasms that forced him out of Wednesday night’s game in Cincinnati.
Rolen initially had discomfort during batting practice and was lifted after going 0 for 2. He sat out of Thursday afternoon’s game against the Reds and felt better Friday, but manager Tony La Russa doesn’t expect him to start again until Tuesday.