Nettles Is Doing His Job the Right Way : Unfortunately, His Work Is Being Limited to Batting Practice

Graig Nettles and Padre batting coach Deacon Jones have a little secret.

They are two of the only people who know that Nettles has been hitting the ball well recently.

That’s because most of Nettles’ hitting in the team’s first 13 games has taken place during batting practice.

“I’m not disappointed in the way I’m hitting the ball,” Nettles said. “I’m hitting it hard.”

The 40-year-old third baseman is disappointed that he has only 17 official at-bats (.235 average), and that includes the three he had in the Padres’ 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

“I don’t really enjoy sitting around watching a game from the dugout,” said the man who has started seven of the Padres’ 13 games. “Fortunately, everyone is pretty cheerful on our bench, and that makes it bearable.”

The left-handed Nettles platooned at third base with Luis Salazar last season, and he knew he’d be platooned with Jerry Royster this season.

However, it’s still a tough adjustment for a guy who continues to make great plays around third base, and who has averaged more than 500 at-bats a season for most of his 16-year career. He had 395 at-bats in 124 games last season.

“It hasn’t been much of a start,” Nettles said, “but it’s tough for a streak hitter not to be in the lineup every day.

“But they keep throwing a lot of left-handers against us. I just have to wait for my turn to hit. I can’t fight the system, and I hate to try and read his (Dick Williams) mind.”

Nettles also can’t fight the decisions of opposing managers who have started six left-handers against the Padres. Royster started all of those games.

Suddenly, the two hours before a game become the game.

“His role is not easy,” Jones said, “and it will probably take him a while to get going.”

But Jones agrees that Nettles still has what it takes to hit.

“He’s a front-foot type hitter when he keeps his hands back,” Jones said, “and he’ll hit the ball consistently doing that.”

Seconds after that statement, Nettles lined a Galen Cisco batting practice pitch into the right-field stands.

“When he stays back, he can go to left field,” Jones added.

As if on cue, Nettles lined three straight pitches into the gap in left-center field.

Sure, it was only batting practice, but Jones claims Nettles can still hit real pitching.

“When I got to be 36 years old,” Jones said, “my reflexes and power began to go. I saw fastball, and couldn’t catch up with it.”

Jones retired soon after.

Jones and Nettles do not feel that the older-player, slow-bat syndrome has affected the Padre third baseman.

“Anytime you make an out or miss a ball,” Nettles said, “the first thing everyone thinks about is your age. But that doesn’t bother me.”

Not playing bothers Nettles.

After playing in nine games, Nettles is still looking for his first extra base hit. He has drawn seven walks, but he has driven in only one run.

That RBI came on a fifth inning pinch-hit single against the Dodgers on April 19.

These are amazing statistics for a player who averaged 72 RBIs for 16 seasons, and who holds the American League record for home runs by a third baseman with 319.

Including the home runs he hit while not playing third base and the 20 he hit last season, he has 353 lifetime home runs.