Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Turner on slow start with Phillies: 'I've sucked'

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 23 May 2023 07:48

Trea Turner is starting to hear boos from Philadelphia fans frustrated with his slow start for the Phillies, and the star shortstop doesn't blame them.

"I'm honest with myself, I've sucked," Turner said Monday after the struggling Phillies lost to the Diamondbacks.

Turner is less than two months into an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies, who signed the two-time All-Star to much fanfare last December after their improbable run to the 2022 World Series.

But the early returns have been underwhelming for Turner, who is batting .256 with four home runs, 11 RBI, and a .693 OPS in 46 games. The former National League batting champion also has 56 strikeouts in 208 plate appearances for a 26.9% strikeout rate -- well above his career rate of 18.5%.

Turner's struggles have been even more pronounced of late, as he has batted just .211 with 38 strikeouts in 120 plate appearances over his last 27 games. Fans' frustration with Turner started to boil over Sunday when he was booed during a home loss to the Cubs, and those boos continued Monday as the Phillies lost for the sixth time in their last eight games to fall to 22-25.

Despite what he admits is "probably" the worst slump of his career, Turner said he is trying to remain positive.

"Every at-bat, every play, every game is another day to try to do better and try to be the player that I know I am," he said. "If you harp on yesterday or you harp on the last at-bat, it's just going to snowball on you, you're not going to be able to turn it around.

"So I'm honest with myself. I tell myself straight, and I don't lie to myself. I think I'm a positive guy. I think I can always do better and can always be better. That's the attitude I have, but at the same time, I know when I don't do something right."

Turner, 29, is not the only culprit for the Phillies' offensive struggles. The defending NL champions enter Tuesday tied for 10th in the league in runs (201), and other veteran stars like Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto also have gotten off to slow starts at the plate.

Turner, a career .299 hitter, said he needs to make better decisions in terms of pitch recognition and "decision-making," but Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he was encouraged by some of Turner's recent at-bats, saying "it looks like he's coming."

"My first three at bats (Sunday) and (Monday) were kind of brutal for the most part," he said. "It's just that consistency. If I think I can do that for four or five at bats in a day, then for a week and a month and then I'll feel a little bit better and more satisfied. But you just have to battle. ... I feel like it's all decision-making. The swing's felt pretty good now for two, three weeks. But the decision-making is pretty hit-or-miss."

Read 396 times

Soccer

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer...

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated