PITTSBURGH — Adam Dunn won't use the “F” word. Every time he comes to a place in a sentence where “frustration” would fit, his voice trails off.

ADAM DUNN WALLPAPER Click on right width for your monitor, then right click to Set As Wallpaper

(Michael E. Keating photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Though Dunn won't say he's frustrated, he clearly is. He is an upbeat, confident guy. But the first week of the season has been hard on him. Dunn has two hits — both singles — in 20 at-bats. He has driven in only one run and is batting .100.

        Monday's 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates was probably as frustrating a day at the plate as Dunn has had as a Red.

        He came up with one out and Aaron Boone at third base in the second inning. A flyball to the outfield would have tied the game. Dunn popped up to third.

        “I was just trying to get a pitch, not even a good pitch, just a pitch I can handle, just one that I could put in play and get that run,” he said. “I got a couple of good pitches to hit. I fouled them straight back or into our dugout. Then he made a tough pitch and I stuck my bat out.”

        He came up again in the fourth with runners at first and second and one out — and grounded into a fielder's choice.

        “He's pressing,” hitting coach Jim Lefebvre said. “He's just trying too hard. He's a young guy who had a great year last year. People expect so much from him. Right now, he's trying too hard. He's got to learn how to relax. He's going to hit. There's no doubt about it. It's a matter of relaxing a little bit. He's in a situation now where he's trying to do too much, rather than just get the fat part of the bat on the ball.”

        Dunn is only 22 years old and a year removed from Single-A ball. But he had the kind of year last year that made people forget how young and inexperienced he is. Dunn combined to hit .305 with 51 home runs and 127 RBI in Double-A, Triple-A and the majors.

        But since his huge August, when he hit a National League rookie-record 12 home runs and drove in 27 runs, Dunn's numbers haven't been good. He's hitting .212 with six homers and 10 RBI. That projects to 28 home runs and 47 RBI over a full season. Dunn knows people are wondering if he's the real deal.

        “I think a lot of people are like, "Oh-oh, what's going on here?'” he said. “Pitchers have made adjustments from last year. I've got to make my adjustments.”

        It should be noted that it's still very early, and Dunn is not the only player struggling. Through Monday, Pittsburgh's Jason Kendall was hitting .087, the Yankees' Bernie Williams .105, Arizona's Luis Gonzalez .111 and Texas' Alex Rodriguez .130.

        Dunn thinks he's a hit or two from coming out of it.

        “Every time I've ever been in a slump my entire life, it's like I'll never get a hit again,” Dunn said. “Then one day you'll get a cheap hit, then you'll square one, and then, boom — the next day you get two or three hits. Me, personally, that's what I'm waiting for. I'm (thinking), "OK, let's go now,' but as far as hitting the panic button, I'm far from that.”

        Lefebvre's mantra is: Relax, relax, relax.

        “He's listening to too many people,” Lefebvre said. “He's got to count on himself. He's dipping his shoulder a little bit. We want him to go directly to the ball. Take the bat head directly to the ball.

        “He hit some balls pretty hard that were caught. Now he's trying to guide the bat to the ball. He needs to relax and let his natural abilities and talents take over for him.”

        It's hard to relax when it says “.100” in 10-foot highlighted numbers.

        “I start getting kind of ... not frustration ... but impatient,” Dunn said. “It's like, "Hurry up, let's go, let's start playing baseball and have fun again.' Hopefully, it will come together pretty soon, or I'm not going to have any hair left.”

Dunn hitting .100, asks for patience SULLIVAN: Still good to have Griffey Reds will get second opinion on Griffey Nomo shuts out Bonds, Giants Mariners 5, Angels 1 Padres 5, Diamondbacks 2

West won't leave Xavier for NBA
Xavier hands out awards
Michelle Munoz leaving Tennessee
Aiken grad completes long road to Div. I
Ducks win playoff opener
River Downs opens live meet Saturday
NKU softball team leaps forward
Some things never change at Augusta
Coming up this week
Vote for Cincinnati's sports icons
Mickeal could step up to NBA
QB intrigue engulfs Bengals
Akili back for rehab, studying
Bengals Notebook: Heath healing fast
Tuesday's high school highlights
Boys basketball all-star games Friday
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high school results

• Return to Reds front page...