Angels manager Mike Scioscia ‘baffled’ by Chone Figgins’ struggles

Chone Figgins’ offensive struggles have continued in his second season with the Mariners. (AP photo)

By Brady Henderson

Still wondering how in just two seasons Chone Figgins could go from an All-Star leadoff hitter to batting near the bottom of the order with an average below the Mendoza Line?

So is his former manager, Mike Scioscia, who told the Calabro Show on Tuesday that he’s just as confounded as everyone else by Figgins’ struggles.

“Out of all the things that have gone on the last couple years in baseball, the one thing is what Chone has done on the field is really so out of character as far as his production,” said Scioscia, whose Angels took the first game of a three-game series against the Mariners on Monday.

Figgins was a .291 hitter over eight seasons with the Angels and was an All-Star in 2009. Scioscia, who managed Figgins for all eight those seasons, described him as “fearless” and a “gamer” during his time with the club.

Since signing a four-year, $36 million deal with the Mariners before the 2010 season, Figgins is hitting .240 with on-base and slugging percentages also well below his previous averages.

Figgins is hitting .190 this season (.192 after going 1 for 3 on Tuesday), and has spent time hitting both eighth and ninth since being dropped last month from the No. 2 spot he occupied most of last season.

“It’s a little perplexing,” Scioscia said. “We don’t see him every day anymore so it’s tough to say exactly what’s going on. But out of all the things — with Chone’s makeup and how he hard he plays the game and how hard he prepares for the game — it’s baffling.”

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