Blowers' slump concerns Howe



BALTIMORE -- Art Howe is trying to be patient. But Mike Blowers had better start hitting again soon.

"Well, if he doesn't get it going, we'll try something else," the A's manager said. "We hope he gets it going, because he helped us a lot in the first half. But there comes a time when you've got to try something else."

Blowers is in an awful slump. He went 0-for-4 in the 7-1 loss to Baltimore Tuesday night, and now is hitless in his last 20 at-bats. Since the All-Star break, he's 5-for-38 (.132) and his average has dropped to .234.

"I'm having a hard time putting a finger on it," Blowers said. "If I could, I could probably fix it quickly. I can't ever remember struggling the way I have since the break. Usually after the break, I'm pretty good. This is new territory for me."

Last year with Seattle, Blowers hit .357 after the All-Star break. That isn't any consolation to him right now.

"I'm extremely frustrated by this," he said. "Tomorrow's a new day. I'll come out hoping things will break loose for me."

If a change becomes necessary, Howe said either Bip Roberts or Jack Voigt would be his choice to start at third.

Blackman, Frank. "Blowers' slump concerns Howe ". San Francisco Examiner. 22 July, 1998.


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