Adam Dunn made the front page of the New York Times the other day, and not in a good way.

The story was used to highlight the former Dayton Dragons’ slugger as a hitting bust for the Chicago White Sox, where he is used mainly as a designated hitter whose batting average is in the .160s.

He has been derided for his fielding in left field and first base, and even for when he hit homers.

While with the Reds, it was said he never hit one in a key situation, but how could that be? He hit 40 or more homers in five straight seasons and 32 or more in eight of his full major league summers.

He also knocked in 100 runs six times, and if you combine all the left fielders the Reds have used this year, well, you get the picture.

Look, he’s having a miserable year and knows it. He has 10 homers and 38 RBIs, no way to start off a four-year, $56 million free agent contract.

He and Austin Kearns were our first two stars here when the Dragons began play in 2000.

Each has had some success — Dunn moreso — but he has also been vilified despite already having hit 364 major-league homers.

He strikes out a lot? So what? Reggie Jackson struck out more, and Alex Rodriguez and our own Mike Schmidt. Derek Jeter, you may be interested to know, has struck out almost as much (although over a longer period of time).

Strikeouts happen. I’m partial to Dunn. I hope he recovers. Save the nasty comments for somebody else.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.