Young trying to bust out of slump

By Anthony Fenech / MLB.com | 08/11/11

PHOENIX -- Chris Young can't predict the future.

"I don't go into a game saying, 'I'm going to get four hits' or 'I'm not going to get any hits,'" the D-backs center fielder said. "I just go out there every day with the same plan of having good at-bats and trying to become more consistent."

Young is battling a post-All-Star break slump, hitting .173 in 24 games without a home run and with only four runs driven in.

He doesn't have a multihit game since June 26 against the Tigers and hasn't hit a home run since July 2 against the A's but has hit in four consecutive games, leading D-backs manager Kirk Gibson to talk of an offensive breakout.

"I feel like he's close," Gibson said. "He's had some trouble but he keeps grinding and he just hasn't got the results."

Young doubled off the left-field wall, driving in a run in Wednesday night's win over the Astros.

"I don't really look at it as 'I'm about to go on a tear' or 'I'm about to go in a slump,'" he said. "I just look at it as today's a new day. No matter if I had a bad day yesterday or a great game, it has nothing to do with today's game and just try and prepare for today's game."

He said that in working through a slump, he takes as many cuts as possible and doesn't like to hold back.

"I probably go a little more," he said. "I definitely don't take a step back. Sometimes you need to, but I'm one of the guys that likes to do a little more to try and get all the work I can in so I can make the adjustments I need to as fast as possible."