Can Young Get Stellar Groove Back?

Second baseman Eric Young is pleased May has ended because things didn’t go well for him during the second month of the season.

After batting .322 in April, Young batted only .209 in May while battling injuries. He sat out seven of the Dodgers’ 27 games because of a strained right calf and sprained left ankle.

Moreover, the injuries slowed the speedy Young on the basepaths. Young was leading the major leagues in stolen bases at the end of April with 17 in 24 attempts, running aggressively.

He didn’t run nearly as often in May while trying to overcome the injuries. He had five stolen bases in five attempts and had dropped to third in the National League beginning play Tuesday.

Young hopes June will bring better times for him and the Dodgers, who were under .500 (13-14) during the month.

“I’m just having a hard time getting back in the groove,” said Young, batting .273 after going one for four Tuesday in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates.

“Whenever you’re in and out of the lineup like that, it’s going to take you out of your rhythm. You have to expect that because it’s all about timing, and my timing just isn’t there right now. I knew I would have to work to get back in the groove; this is just longer than I expected.”

So how will Young rediscover his groove?

“I have to get something started and then keep it going for a while,” Young said. “One day I’ll get two hits and the next day I’ll take an o-for.

“I just haven’t been able to get anything going consistently. If I can get a few games back-to-back, then I’ll feel like I’m getting it back together. You’re going to have times like these, you just have to keep working to get back to where you were.”

Dodger batting coach Rick Down isn’t especially worried, saying he has not observed serious mechanical problems in Young’s swing.

“The only thing mechanical is that he’s getting a little out front [of the ball],” Down said, “and that’s usually indicative of a guy who’s trying to do too much.”