Terry Francona Says Adrian Gonzalez Has Backed Off Side Work, Won’t Confirm Gonzalez Has Shoulder Issues

Adrian Gonzalez did not want to talk about his surgically repaired right shoulder Saturday night. It had been reported by Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the shoulder was tender and that was why he had skipped batting practice, but the All-Star first baseman was not interested in either confirming or denying that report.

One day later, his manager took the same approach.

"That's a little hard for me because Gonzie's been taking BP every other day on the field for about a month and a half," Terry Francona said. "So when Fox comes in and announces that, they could've announced it in July. And then I have to answer that."

Still, Francona did confirm that Gonzalez has had to limit his hacks as the season's gone on.

"That's not entirely a big surprise. He's backed off for a long time," Francona said.

So, is he hurt?

"Maybe. I don't know," Francona added. "I don't feel the need to announce every bump or bruise or inadequacy we have. That's not gonna help us win at all."

What might help is if Gonzalez, who admitted Saturday that he is mechanically off his game, returned to his midseason form. After going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts in Saturday's loss to Tampa Bay, Gonzalez was 0-for-8 in the critical series and batting .271 in September.

Because of the shoddy mechanics, Gonzalez said his approach at the plate has changed for the worse.

"I'm not mechanically right and chasing pitches down," he said. "I could've walked every at-bat the series so far. I'm just trying to be too aggressive and trying to make things happen instead of just taking walks."

Interestingly enough, Gonzalez has drawn 13 free passes in September, already matching his high for a single month this year. Despite that, the act of chasing pitches off the plate is plain to see to those watching every at-bat.

"He's gotten a little aggressive," he said. "We know that. He knows that."