Wir suchen Dich! » that deficiencies on offense led to lapses on defense.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Mired in one of the worst offensive slumps of his professional career, J.P. Arencibia is going back to the basics. In the bowels of Rangers Ballpark, not far from the Blue Jays clubhouse, is the visitors batting cage. Thats where, for about an hour on Friday afternoon, Arencibia and hitting coach Chad Mottola focused on the fundamentals of hitting. Not against live pitching. Not against a pitching machine. Just hitter, coach, a bat, a ball and a tee. “Its June and we shouldnt be doing this but thats where were at,” said Mottola. “Now you have to accept this. Where he thinks and the great athletes do, (they) want to play at 90 miles per hour the whole time, where I cant stand watching the same thing over and over. We have to back it up to where the balls not moving again and get that confidence back and get that correct feel back. That separation, letting your hands hit the ball rather than you jumping at the ball.” Arencibia went 0-4 in Thursdays 3-1 win over the Rangers. He has just three hits in his last 45 at bats, a span of 12 games dating back to the start of the National League road trip on May 30 in Atlanta. Hes hitting .211 for the season and with just six walks has an on base percentage of .233, the lowest in all of baseball for hitters with enough plate appearances to qualify. The strikeouts get talked about most. Hes racking them up – 76 in 228 offical at bats – which ranks him second on the Blue Jays behind Colby Rasmus (79.) Arencibia has a 0.1 WAR, the Wins Above Replacement statistic, which suggests a bench player or minor league call up would provide the Blue Jays with essentially equal productivity. He doesnt have to be presented with the numbers. Arencibia knows what they are and in one breath he tells you they need to get better. In the next, perhaps looking for the silver lining in a cloudy time, Arencibia wants to discuss areas he feels hes done well. “Even statistically, looking, obviously not my average and stuff like that but my production as far as RBIs, even though I should have more, is pretty up there for my position,” he said. “I would say my extra base hits. Its just one of those things. I think you cant really look into it other than coming in everyday and trying to work to be consistent and help the team.” Arencibias 12 home runs are second-most among catchers. Only Atlantas Evan Gattis, with 14, has more.His 30 RBI rank Arencibia ninth at his position. Most of Arencibias success, however, came earlier in the season. Slumps happen and numbers aside, players can tax themselves mentally trying to find the best methods to emerge. “(Coaches are) sitting there watching the same game everyone else is doing and we get frustrated as well but we know obviously hes not going in the box with those goals,” said Mottola. “When you have fear in this game it tends to get really fast and you are 0-2 every time. Then when you start seeing some pitches, recognizing them out of hand instead of just hoping, then were starting to go down the right path. Thats kind of where were at now. I think hes kind of hit rock bottom and seeing the results and saying ‘Okay, Im ready type thing and thats when its easier as a coach.” Arencibia, sometimes criticized for his defense, is doing his best to compartmentalize his struggles at the plate by focusing on other ways to help his team. “As soon as I put on my catchers gear I become somebody else,” said Arencibia. “I have to go out there and I have to know that that pitcher, Im trying to win the game on the defensive front and Im trying to do everything I can to win that game defensively.” INTERESTING THEORY Broadly discussing offensive slumps, hitting coach Chad Mottola believes batters most often get themselves into trouble with the games most basic pitch. “I have a theory that all slumps are started by fastballs, Mottola told TSN.ca. “They get your body fast and open it up quick and that exposes you to everything.” GIBBONS ON ALL-STAR COACHING STAFF Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, along with White Sox skipper Robin Ventura, will be part of American League manager Jim Leylands (Tigers) coaching staff. “Its a thrill,” said Gibbons. “Just to get an opportunity in Major League Baseball to go to a game like that but then to be selected by Jimmy Leyland, who I think the world of, I mean hes recognized in the baseball world as one of the top ever. His numbers speak for themselves.” Gibbons, the Mets first round pick (24th overall) in 1980, noted the connection each coach has to the host ballclub. Ventura played for the Mets for three seasons (1999-2001.) National League manager Bruce Bochy, of the San Francisco Giants, played for the Mets in 1982. His coaches are Terry Collins, the current manager of the Mets and Davey Johnson, who managed the Mets to their last world championship in 1986. ROTATION ROTATED Wednesdays rainout in Chicago provides Josh Johnson an extra day to let a blister on his right middle finger heal. R.A. Dickey will pitch, on regular four days of rest, on Saturday. Johnson will start on Sunday. Hell be on six days of rest. Asics Wholesale Uk . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Asics Shoes Uk Free Shipping . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. http://www.wholesaleasicsuk.com/ . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Asics Shoes Uk Sale . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Asics Shoes Clearance Sale .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. AUSTIN, Texas -- Kevin Hervey was a bit uncomfortable when the basketball game started. The Texas-Arlington forward, returning from a torn ACL, needed some time to regain his bearings.He was certainly sturdy on Tuesday night. Hervey scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Texas-Arlington defeated Texas for the first time ever, 72-61 Tuesday.The Longhorns (3-3) won the first 11 games in the series but needed overtime for a seven-point victory last season. Drew Charles supplemented Hervey with 12 points, all in the second half. Jalen Jones and Jorge Bilbao scored 10 each.Hervey averaged 18 points while making 45 percent of his shots before the injury forced him to miss the final 19 games last season. Before Tuesday, the 6-foot-7 junior averaged 12 points and was shooting 34.8 percent.Any injury a person has, there will be some doubt, Hervey said. The process is overcoming the mental adversity.Texas-Arlington (5-3) missed its first 11 3-point shots in the first half before hitting two of its last three. Hervey made one with 15 seconds left to give the Mavericks a 30-27 halftime lead.I think we saw glimpses tonight of what he is capable of doing, Texas-Arlington coach Scott Cross said. I think he is starting to get confidence.Texas was even worse on 3-pointers in the first half, missing 13 of 15.The Mavericks heated up in the second half, converting 5 of 12 treys, including four by Charles. Texas never improved, making 1 of 8 in the second half.Tevin Mack led Texas with 19 points. Kerwin Roach scored 16 but committed six turnnovers.dddddddddddd Jarrett Allen produced 13 points and 12 rebounds.The Longhorns have lost three straight, but the previous two were against Northwestern and Colorado from Power Five Conferences.Everybodys mad, Roach said. There should be a better result. Even though the shots arent falling, its what else can you do?Texas coach Shaka Smart was disappointed that deficiencies on offense led to lapses on defense.What happens is when your shooting, or your offense isnt going the way you want as a team, as an individual, it has a residual effect on your defense, Smart said. Thats not acceptable.BIG PICTURETexas-Arlington: The Mavericks have been competitive against their last two opponents from Power Five conferences. Last season Texas-Arlington won consecutive games against Ohio State and Memphis.Texas: The Longhorns struggled at home for the second time against a mid-major opponent. They beat Incarnate Word by five on opening night, albeit while two key Longhorns were suspended for violation of team rules.SOPHOMORE SLUMPTexas guard Eric Davis has converted just 6 of 36 3-pointers, 16.7 percent accuracy. Last season Davis hit 38.2 percent of his 3-pointers.Hes not playing with a lot of confidence, Smart said. Hes not playing with an aggressiveness. Eric Davis is a good shooter. Hes struggling right now.UP NEXTTexas-Arlington is at North Texas on Saturday afternoon.Texas hosts Alabama on Friday night. ' ' '