Scuffling?

Jason the English Wizard can probably let me know if I am off base on this, but I can't stand the use of the word "scuffling" to describe a baseball player in a slump.  As far as I can tell, this term wasn't used until noted wordsmiths like John Kruk joined the crew.  I can't think of others off the top of my head that started this "revolution" but I know that Kruk is the first guy I ever heard say it.  To bolster my credentials in this case, I was an avid watcher of Baseball Tonight until about 25 years of age, which makes me a self-proclaimed expert!  Or not.

The word scuffle means "struggle" or "struggle to get by."  This does fit a batter who is struggling at the plate to a certain extent.  However, isn't struggle just a better word?  I've also heard (and used) the phrase "fighting it" to describe struggling.

With all of that said, to me a scuffle is a true fight.  I can understand a bench clearing brawl as two teams scuffling.  I feel like it is a stretch to call struggles with athletic performance scuffling.  In fact, every time I hear this term used, I immediately shut off whatever show/radio program is using it.  It just sounds wrong.

To end this rant (which I hope and pray Jason agrees with!), I recently heard the esteemed (not so much... he is an idiot) Kevin Gorg repeatedly use the word "scruffling" to describe a player struggling. Not cool, moron!  This guy is a sideline reporter/beat reporter known for being a complete idiot in the Twin Cities.  The question I have is:  Is scruffling a fight between multiple people to pick up a cat by the scruff?  If so, let's start a new sport and sell some tickets!