Nettles Is Enjoying the Singles Life : Hitting Adjustment Lessens Power, Increases Proficiency

The man who has the American League record for homers by a third baseman has become a singles hitter.

Last August, Graig Nettles went on a tear for the Padres with seven home runs in six games. He’s hot a month earlier this year, but it’s on a much smaller scale.

Including two singles in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Pittsburgh, Nettles has raised his average from a season-low .212 on July 2 to .262.

In the 11 games since July 2, Nettles is batting .487 (19 for 39) with 15 singles, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run and 6 RBIs.

If it sounds as if Nettles has changed his approach toward streaking, you’re right.

“Puff (Nettles) has made some adjustments in his hitting,” said Deacon Jones, Padre batting coach. “He’s hitting the ball the other way now. He’s not pulling the ball like he did for years at Yankee Stadium.”

Consider that Nettles no longer can shoot for the 310-foot wall in right field at Yankee Stadium. The warning track at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium begins 312 feet from home plate, 15 feet in front of the wall.

Jones is on the right track in his explanation as to why Nettles has increased his singles production, according to the third baseman. However, that is not the entire story.

“A couple of weeks ago, I decided to stop pulling the ball so much,” Nettles said. “People are pitching me away so much that I decided to hit up the middle and slap the ball around. When you play in Yankee Stadium, you try to pull the ball. It takes a while to get out of that syndrome.”

Nettles still harbors a desire to pull the ball. He theorizes that if he keeps hitting to the opposite field, pitchers may start coming inside on him again.

“That’s what I’m hoping,” he said. “Maybe by doing what I’m doing now, they’ll come inside and I’ll get pitches to hit.”

One thing has not changed about Nettles, though, and that is his ability to draw walks. He walked for the 55th time this year Saturday, temporarily pulling into a tie for the National League lead with Jack Clark of St. Louis.

Not unlike his sudden rash of singles, the walks are more than coincidental.

“I’m more patient, and people aren’t giving me a lot of pitches to hit,” Nettles said. “I’m hitting in the order where I should be driving in runs. If I’m not getting pitches to hit, I’ll let the guys behind me do the job. I have no ego to fill for RBIs and home runs. I’d just as soon set the table for the guys behind me. They’re doing the job and we’re winning.”

Part of the reason the Padres won Saturday were the little things Nettles did that won’t show up in the box score.

In the fourth inning, he advanced Steve Garvey from first to third on a hit-and-run single. Terry Kennedy followed with an infield out to score Garvey. In the sixth, Nettles advanced Garvey from second to third with a grounder to second base. Again, Kennedy drove in Garvey on a ground out.

Nettles also made one of the game’s best defensive plays on the final out. He backhanded a shot down the third-base line by Tony Pena and forced out Johnny Ray at second.

Manager Dick Williams was most happy with what Nettles did after Garvey reached second on Bill Madlock’s throwing error in the sixth.

“He made sure after Madlock’s error that he hit the ball to the right side,” Williams said. “The pitch was away, but he gave himself up to get the runner to third. Plus, he made a fantastic play on the last ball that Pena hit.”

The last play was vintage Nettles--another reminder why he has earned the reputation as one of the game’s best-fielding third basemen.

Williams saw the play as an indication of Nettles’ stamina, apparently revived after he was given several days off before the All-Star break.

“The rest earlier in the year has helped him to this point,” Williams said. “His stamina is great. He’s been diving and falling all over the place. I think he wants to play some more beyond this year.”

“I haven’t even thought of quitting,” said Nettles, who will turn 41 in August. “I want to play many more years.”

At the rate he’s going, Nettles may get his wish.