NEW YORK -- Hanley Ramirez has been a non-factor at the plate since the start of the second half, a development that hasn't gone unnoticed by manager John Farrell and his coaching staff.
Ramirez was again the cleanup hitter Thursday in the series finale against the Yankees, but Farrell revealed that Ramirez will soon - likely this weekend in Detroit -- be given a day off to step back and work on some things.
Since the All-Star break, Ramirez is hitting just .200 in the last 18 games with no homers and five RBI. He has just two extra-base hits - both doubles -- in that span, covering 70 at-bats, resulting in a .229 slugging percentage in the second half.
"I think there's been times when the swing has gotten big,'' said Farrell. "This is something that a number of us have spoken to Hanley about, to try to get some sense of the approach at the plate. He's typically been such a good line drive hitter (with) a high number of doubles, almost 2-to-1 doubles to home runs.''
This year, however, in 362 at-bats, Ramirez has just eight doubles, or two fewer than rookie Blake Swihart, who spent time on the DL, didn't get called up until the first weekend of May and has been used as part of a platoon.
"Whether that's a mindset or approach,'' said Farrell, "to think about more power rather than being a contact hitter with good line drive ability...we're still working through that. And if that mindset has created some habits to loft the ball and not be the pure hitter he's been known for...that's what we're working on and trying to get back to.''