PITTSBURGH – After a 12-year Major League career, David Bell knows what it feels like when a hitter is stuck in an extended slump. He can relate to some of his players as they open the season in hitless skids.
Scott Schebler was 0-for-17 in the first five games of the season with seven strikeouts. Jesse Winker was 0-for-13. Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig were a combined 4-for-28 (.143 batting average).
“They need to play their way through it,” Bell said. “That’s the way this game works. But there are times where taking a deep breath and just watching a game can help guys.