Chris Davis is a name well known to Rangers fans. He made his big league debut in 2008 after shooting through the minor leagues. Davis was drafted in 2006 in the 5th round out of Navarro Junior College and did nothing but rake from the moment he tied his professional laces. Once he made it to Arlington in June of 2008 he hit the ground running 17 home runs in 295 Abs with an .880 OPS and showing the potential to be an all-star caliber first baseman for years to come. To seduce Ranger fans even more, he proved to be the best defensive first baseman since Mark Teixeira. Davis was the total package. Unfortunately, 2009 left more to be desired. His numbers in Spring Training appeared fine, he had a .939 OPS, took his share of walks and had his usual power, but the week that I was out there he just didn’t look right. In BP, he wasn’t crushing balls like I anticipated and his bat seemed slower than before. I wasn’t quite worried, but I was skeptical. Davis got off to a slow start in 2009 and struck out at a tremendous rate. His power was there, but his inability to put the ball in play was hurting himself and the team. He was finally sent down to AAA on July 5th, and the only reason it took that long was because his defense was sparkling. He destroyed AAA pitching, as he had throughout his career, and when he was finally recalled in late August he hit .318 the rest of the way. It looked like he was back to his cult hero status. 2010 was much of the same. He had a good spring, then hit .188 with one RBI in 48 Abs before being sent back down. Unlike 2009 however, he wasn’t given much of a chance to prove he adjusted in the minors.
That leads us to today. Davis is having a terrific Spring, even better than in previous years in fact, as he is showing his usual power, but not striking out nearly as much, just 5 in 23 at bats (including 2 in his last game). He only has 2 walks, and when it comes to Spring stats you really do have to take everything with a grain of salt, but there is reason for optimism, and of course reason to take it with a grain of salt.
3/7/2011 – 2-4 2 2B, 2 Ks
1st AB – K looking on 0-2 count off LHP Jonathan Sanchez
2nd AB – Doubled to right on the first pitch vs RHP Casey Daigle
3rd AB – Doubled to center on the first pitch vs LHP Jeremy Affeldt
4th AB – Struck out swinging on 0-2 vs RHP Feliz Romero
3/6/2011 – 3-4 HR
1st AB – Singled on 2-1 fastball vs RHP Zack Greinke
2nd AB – Singled on a 1-0 fasball vs RHP Zack Segovia
3rd AB – Grounded out on 2-1 fastball vs RHP Robert Hinton
4th AB – Homered on a 2-0 fastball vs RHP Justin James
3/5/2011 – 0-1
1st AB – Flied to right on first pitch vs RHP Sam Demel
3/4/2011 – 0-3 K
1st AB – Flied to left on first pitch vs LHP Dallas Braden
2nd AB – Struck out on 0-2 pitch vs LHP Dallas Braden
3rd AB – Grounded out on first pitch vs RHP Brandon McCarthy
3/3/2011 – 3-5 2 2B HR K
1st AB – Grounded out on 1-1 cutter vs RHP Mitch Talbot
2nd AB – Doubled to center on 1-2 fastball vs RHP Josh Tomlin
3rd AB – Doubled to right on 0-1 changeup vs RHP Yohan Pino
4th AB – Struck out swinging on 1-2 sinker vs RHP Justin Germano
5th AB – Homered on a 1-2 fastball off RHP Josh Judy
3/1/2011 – 2-4
1st AB – Singled to right on 1-1 sinker vs LHP Nate Robertson
2nd AB – GIDP on 0-2 changeup vs RHP Blake Beaven
3rd AB – Popped out to short on 2-2 fastball vs RHP Dan Cortes
4th AB – Singled to right on a 2-2 fastball vs RHP Denny Bautista
2/28/2011 – 0-1 BB
1st AB – Lined into double play on 1-2 curve vs RHP Vin Mazzaro
2nd AB – Walked on a 3-1 fastball vs LHP Everett Teaford
2/27/2011 – 0-1 BB, K
1st AB – Struck out on 3-2 cutter vs RHP Louis Coleman
2nd AB – Walked on a 3-1 cutter vs RHP Kevin Pucetas
As a whole this looks pretty good, but he has still faced mostly guys destined to pitch most of the season (or more) in the minors. It’s obviously a very small sample, but to me, it looks like he’s been better swinging the bat than he had the previous two springs (despite good numbers). Again, this is a small sample size and you have to take it with a grain of salt, but I am cautiously optimistic and in no way ready to give up on Crush, or sell low. We’ve seen players like this start slow, but reward teams for their patience, from Jack Cust to Russell Branyon to Carlos Pena to Nelson Cruz, I see no reason why Davis can’t join that category. His start to his career was far better than those guys anyway, and he’s still only 24.
