most basic pitch. “I have a theory that all slumps are started b

ARLINGTON, Texas - Mired in one of the worst offensive slumps of his professional career, J.P. Arencibia is going back to the basics. In the bowels of Rangers Ballpark, not far from the Blue Jays clubhouse, is the visitors batting cage. Thats where, for about an hour on Friday afternoon, Arencibia and hitting coach Chad Mottola focused on the fundamentals of hitting. Not against live pitching. Not against a pitching machine. Just hitter, coach, a bat, a ball and a tee. “Its June and we shouldnt be doing this but thats where were at,” said Mottola. “Now you have to accept this. Where he thinks and the great athletes do, (they) want to play at 90 miles per hour the whole time, where I cant stand watching the same thing over and over. We have to back it up to where the balls not moving again and get that confidence back and get that correct feel back. That separation, letting your hands hit the ball rather than you jumping at the ball.” Arencibia went 0-4 in Thursdays 3-1 win over the Rangers. He has just three hits in his last 45 at bats, a span of 12 games dating back to the start of the National League road trip on May 30 in Atlanta. Hes hitting .211 for the season and with just six walks has an on base percentage of .233, the lowest in all of baseball for hitters with enough plate appearances to qualify. The strikeouts get talked about most. Hes racking them up – 76 in 228 offical at bats – which ranks him second on the Blue Jays behind Colby Rasmus (79.) Arencibia has a 0.1 WAR, the Wins Above Replacement statistic, which suggests a bench player or minor league call up would provide the Blue Jays with essentially equal productivity. He doesnt have to be presented with the numbers. Arencibia knows what they are and in one breath he tells you they need to get better. In the next, perhaps looking for the silver lining in a cloudy time, Arencibia wants to discuss areas he feels hes done well. “Even statistically, looking, obviously not my average and stuff like that but my production as far as RBIs, even though I should have more, is pretty up there for my position,” he said. “I would say my extra base hits. Its just one of those things. I think you cant really look into it other than coming in everyday and trying to work to be consistent and help the team.” Arencibias 12 home runs are second-most among catchers. Only Atlantas Evan Gattis, with 14, has more.His 30 RBI rank Arencibia ninth at his position. Most of Arencibias success, however, came earlier in the season. Slumps happen and numbers aside, players can tax themselves mentally trying to find the best methods to emerge. “(Coaches are) sitting there watching the same game everyone else is doing and we get frustrated as well but we know obviously hes not going in the box with those goals,” said Mottola. “When you have fear in this game it tends to get really fast and you are 0-2 every time. Then when you start seeing some pitches, recognizing them out of hand instead of just hoping, then were starting to go down the right path. Thats kind of where were at now. I think hes kind of hit rock bottom and seeing the results and saying ‘Okay, Im ready type thing and thats when its easier as a coach.” Arencibia, sometimes criticized for his defense, is doing his best to compartmentalize his struggles at the plate by focusing on other ways to help his team. “As soon as I put on my catchers gear I become somebody else,” said Arencibia. “I have to go out there and I have to know that that pitcher, Im trying to win the game on the defensive front and Im trying to do everything I can to win that game defensively.” INTERESTING THEORY Broadly discussing offensive slumps, hitting coach Chad Mottola believes batters most often get themselves into trouble with the games most basic pitch. “I have a theory that all slumps are started by fastballs, Mottola told TSN.ca. “They get your body fast and open it up quick and that exposes you to everything.” GIBBONS ON ALL-STAR COACHING STAFF Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, along with White Sox skipper Robin Ventura, will be part of American League manager Jim Leylands (Tigers) coaching staff. “Its a thrill,” said Gibbons. “Just to get an opportunity in Major League Baseball to go to a game like that but then to be selected by Jimmy Leyland, who I think the world of, I mean hes recognized in the baseball world as one of the top ever. His numbers speak for themselves.” Gibbons, the Mets first round pick (24th overall) in 1980, noted the connection each coach has to the host ballclub. Ventura played for the Mets for three seasons (1999-2001.) National League manager Bruce Bochy, of the San Francisco Giants, played for the Mets in 1982. His coaches are Terry Collins, the current manager of the Mets and Davey Johnson, who managed the Mets to their last world championship in 1986. ROTATION ROTATED Wednesdays rainout in Chicago provides Josh Johnson an extra day to let a blister on his right middle finger heal. R.A. Dickey will pitch, on regular four days of rest, on Saturday. Johnson will start on Sunday. Hell be on six days of rest. Chuck Howley Youth Jersey . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Connor McGovern Jersey . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Chuck-Howley-Jersey/ .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Bill Bates Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Deion Sanders Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Nick Shafnisky ran for one touchdown and threw for another and Lehigh rallied to defeat Bucknell 20-13 for its eighth-straight win to clinch the Patriot League championship on Saturday.Down 13-7 at the half against the leagues top-ranked defense, the Mountain Hawks shut down the Bison, and scored 13 points in the third quarter.Ed Mish sandwiched 37- and 20-yard field goals around Shafniskys 9-yard touchdown pass to Gatlin Casey.Lehigh (8-2, 5-0), held to 158 yards in the first half, finnished with 382 in the 80th meeting between the two schools.dddddddddddd The Bison had 382 yards but only 133, with two turnovers, in the second half.Donovan Harris picked off R.J. Nitti in the end zone with 5:51 to play stop Bucknells last good threat. But the Mountain Hawks fumbled the ball back at the Bison 37 before stopping them on downs near midfield with 1:06 remaining. ' ' '