Mariners C Chris Iannetta not stressing over cold May at the plate
May 24, 2016, 11:23 AM | Updated: 11:36 am
Chris Iannetta is a second-half hitter. The key, he says, is not burying himself under the plate before he breaks out.
“It’s good to be above water right now,” the Mariners catcher told 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Danny, Dave and Moore” on Monday.
Related: From 76 wins to World Series? Chris Iannetta has seen it before
Entering Tuesday, Iannetta was hitless in his last 10 at-bats, and had just 11 hits in his 66 plate appearances in May, but he is far ahead of where he was last season at this time. In his first season with Seattle, the 32-year-old catcher has a slash line of .216/.328/.351 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. Comparatively, through the first 44 games last season with the Angels, Iannetta’s line was .169/.265/.270.
“Early on (last season) I did really poor,” Iannetta said. “I think I was like 5 for 70 or something ridiculous like that. And then I had a pretty good year the last four months, it’s just you could never tell just based on how big a hole I had dug … I’ve been able to contribute these first two months and hopefully the next four are great.”
Iannetta’s top slugging years came as a 25-year-old in Colorado, when he batted .264/.390/.505 and smashed 18 home uns, and in 2014 with the Angels when he hit .252/.373/.392.
Iannetta, whose batting average was closer to .250 before his recent hitless stretch, said he is feeling a lot more comfortable at the plate this season than last.
“I’ve kind of been oscillating right there just waiting to break out,” he said. “I’ve always started off slow in my career, there’s only been a few years where I’ve actually had a good start. But I always tend to pick it up in the middle and end. So I’m excited not to bury myself like I did last year.”
