It’s probably unfair to single out one player on this list. But this one player has been the Most Valuable Oriole two times in the past three seasons and signed a $161 million contract in the offseason.
Since the All-Star Break, the offense has had its share of missteps; it’s s not just one guy. But Chris Davis has been the poster boy for the struggles. He’s hitting .160 with a .295 on-base percentage and .234 slugging percentage in 27 second-half games – and that includes a recent run in which he had three consecutive, two-hit performances. But Davis followed up that streak with six strikeouts in his last seven at-bats. He’s struck out 162 times (and has 67 walks) in 486 plate appearances.
By now, you know what you get with Davis. And, oftentimes, what you get is a big finish. In his career, he’s best at the end of the season. He’s hit .294 with a .369 on-base percentage and .554 slugging percentage – all career highs for a month — after Sept. 1.
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And that’s what the Orioles need this year. Davis missed the end of 2014 – the last time the club made the playoffs – due to his suspension for using the ADHD drug Adderall. He so badly wants to celebrate with his team this year – and if he gets going like he can, the odds of the Orioles having a September celebration is much, much better.