It took Johnny Giavotella 36 days to get his batting average above .200.
The slump was easily his worst to begin a season in his career.
Through April, Giavotella was hitting .182 with a .196 on-base percentage and a .255 slugging percentage and no longer starting every day at second base, in a “tandem,” as Manager Mike Scioscia put it, with utility infielder Cliff Pennington. The previous season, he finished April hitting above .300.
There was an easy answer. Giavotella said he overextended himself at the plate.
“That’s the hardest part about the game,” he said, “not pressing.