Baltimore Orioles need the old Chris Davis back
By Tim Boyle
The 2014 Baltimore Orioles won 96 games behind a starting rotation absent of a true ace. Instead, they relied on a very talented offense to get them to the ALCS. One of those big bats they needed to get there was Chris Davis.
Following the monster season he had in 2013 that included 53 home runs, 138 RBIs, and a .286 batting average, Davis struggled for much of 2014. His 25-game suspension at the end of the season was maybe more hurtful as it took away any chance for a last minute redemption.
As bad as the 2014 season was for Davis, he still did hit 26 home runs and knocked in 72. His batting average suffered the most, dropping 80 points from the previous season down to a dismal .196. He was far from the MVP caliber season he had one year earlier.
When Davis returns to the Orioles’ lineup in 2015 there will be some faces missing. The two most notable players no longer on the roster are Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. Cruz led the team in home runs and RBIs last season while Markakis was second in hits to only Adam Jones. Surely, the Orioles are not looking like the favorite to repeat as American League East Champions.
Losing Cruz and Markakis without finding a significant replacement for either puts the onus on the rest of the roster to make up for what is no longer there. As each day goes by and fewer outfielders are available in free agency or in a trade, the Orioles’ options limit.
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In terms of players still on the roster from last season, Davis is the one guy the Orioles are going to rely on most. Hitting another 50 home runs is not necessary for Davis. The more important mission for him in 2015 needs to involve making fewer outs and more specifically, making better contact. In 2013, Davis struck out every 2.9 at-bats. In 2014, he struck out every 2.6 at-bats. Over the course of the season, this is a significant increase.
Additionally, it’s important for Davis to have a good season for his own reputation. Returning from the suspension in 2015, Davis needs to have similar luck many others who were suspended in the last few years did. His former teammate Cruz was suspended for 50 games in 2013 only to return in 2014 with his career year. Since Davis’ suspension was for Adderall, the public perception is a lot more pleasant than if he had used steroids. Even so, skeptics will continue to question how legitimate his 2013 campaign was thanks to the banned substance.
Without a good season from Davis there’s no telling how bad things could get for the Orioles. Manny Machado and Matt Wieters are returning from injuries, but neither of them provides the team with what Cruz and Markakis did. It’s up to Davis to not only hit the ball far and hit it often.