Brewers give slumping Morgan a breather

Nyjer Morgan's first season with the Brewers was a successful one. He batted .304 during the 2011 regular season and had the decisive hit in Game 5 of the NL Division Series against Arizona.

All of which makes his slow start to the 2012 season harder to take as well as harder to figure. With a team-worst .119 batting average, the left-handed-hitting center fielder was out of the lineup Monday night against Houston.

"It's frustrating; it's very frustrating," Morgan admitted. "That's why you've got to keep grinding.

"I've got a bad case of 'coldness' right now. I've just got to battle out of it. I feel good in the box. I don't think I'm swinging outside of the (strike) zone.

"I'm hitting balls right at guys. Those little bleeders that you think are going in aren't happening. It's just the game."

Manager Ron Roenicke said the slump was getting to Morgan a week ago, but the two have talked since, and the player's spirits picked up.

"You have to show up with the same attitude," Morgan said. "I'm a little frustrated, but you can't let that frustration pile on to the next man. You don't want the next man to feel what you're feeling. I want to keep being a great teammate, keep being positive, keep being supportive of the guys.

"When times are going good, everything is beautiful. When times are bad, you've got to still come out with the same attitude and do what you've got to do. I've got to keep myself prepared and do what I've got to do, and hopefully things turn around."

Norichika Aoki started in center field Monday and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run in the Brewers' 6-5 win over the Astros. Morgan pinch-hit for the pitcher in the sixth inning and was hit by a pitch.