McCoy: New city, new position, new swing for Stubbs

It’s not the same old song.

With his jackrabbit speed, defense and running the bases has not been a problem. Putting the bat on the ball has been a major dilemma (205 strikeouts in 2011).

Even before the trade, Stubbs was working on whiff reduction in the offseason, simplifying his swing.

“I took out the leg kick I’ve had for a long time and put in more of a toe tap to simplify my timing,” he said. “I’ve transitioned it into my spring at-bats and it is going really well and I hope it enables me to take a step forward. I’ve kind of patterned my swing after (Detroit’s) Austin Jackson, who did the same thing last season and had a career year (.300, 16 homers, 10 triples, 66 RBI).”

Francona realizes how hard Stubbs has worked to alleviate his offensive dilemma and says, “He has worked real hard to simplify his approach — one swing and stay with it. I love the approach he has right now. Very simple. He should be able to repeat it.”

When Stubbs struggled in Cincinnati, he would unveil a a new stance or a new swing or break out a new hat, anything to stop a slide toward the abyss.

“When he runs into a rut, which everybody does, I hope that he is able to stick with what he is doing because I think it will work,” Francona said.