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Red Sox Hitting Coach Dave Magadan Provides Insight on Preventing Hitting Slumps

In the second half of the season, David Ortiz has definitely stepped it up at the plate. After going through some difficult slumps to start the year, the Red Sox' designated hitter has turned the corner to produce some great offensive performances. And who can forget his 32 bombs during the Home Run Derby?

Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan was one of the primary factors in turning Big Papi's offensive game around this year. In fact, he's helped the Red Sox' offense lead the MLB in slugging percentage (.460) and rank second in home runs (166) and hits (1,158).

NESN's Peter Gammons caught up with Magadan during Red Sox Gameday Live to gain insight on how he helps some of the best Red Sox hitters through tough slumps. Gammons asked specifically about Ortiz's struggles, asking what the coach focused on during training sessions.

"Mechanically he was doing some things wrong," Magadan said of Ortiz's plate presence. "But a lot of time, the mental can cause the physical problems. If you're not seeing the ball, or maybe you have the wrong approach to the plate … You're going to end up cheating to get to balls and getting beat on certain pitches."

NESN's Jim Rice also dished on the subject, as he is a former hitting coach for the Red Sox, and helped Nomar Garciaparra battle through slumps.

Watch the entire video segment below.