Slumping Gonzalez Not Worried

BOSTON (CBS) – It is hard to believe, but Adrian Gonzalez is in a slump.

The Red Sox first baseman is just 2-for-24 since the All-Star break, driving in a single run in the last five games.

Last week, Gonzalez hit 31 home runs during the Home Run Derby competition and then blasted another for the American League's only run in the All-Star game. Some would point to his participation in the derby the reason his swing has been knocked out of whack, but Gonzalez will not have any of that.

"That's not an excuse. I think the days off are worse than anything else. I don't think the home run derby has anything to do with it," he said after going 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in a 6-2 loss to Baltimore.

For the lifetime .290 hitting, the problem is simple.

"Timing; Just getting ready late, not recognizing pitches and swinging at pitches I wouldn't normally swing at," said Gonzalez, who has seen hit average dip from .360 to .337. "It's not a big deal; it's just a matter of repetition."

"He was at such a torrid pace that I don't think you keep that up," said Manager Terry Francona. "We haven't seen very much because he was hitting .360. I just don't think you can do that all year. Not many guys.

Gonzalez is not going to dwell on his current "slump," because the best medicine is carrying on like he has over his seven-year career.

"It's not thinking about it. Going through every at bat just like if you're doing good, or if you're doing good you go through every at bat the same; nothing changes," said Gonzalez.

"Sometimes you go through periods where you're not seeing it as well as you were a few days ago, or last week. That will get back," said Tito.

Adrian Gonzalez Talks Current Slump

"The worse thing to do is panic and that's not something I'll ever do," said Gonzalez. "I've been through too many of these two-for-whatever it is to know there shouldn't be any panic. It's a long season. In a week or two we'll be talking about me getting three hits in a game and everything will be behind again."

For a hitter as good as Gonzalez, this is merely a hiccup in a career year. He is too good at the plate, with too much protection around him, to fall into a slump for an extended period of time. All it will take is couple good games, or even a couple good at-bats, and Gonzalez will return to form.