In what has become an annual refrain in Baltimore, Chris Davis is hoping a few mechanical changes will help turn things around for him at the plate.
Orioles fans are weary of hearing about changes and potential improvements, and it's unlikely anything short of legitimate, on-field results will change their minds about the future of the team's highest-paid hitter.
But Davis himself believes he can still play at a high level, and he's optimistic about the work he's put in over the offseason.
"I’m excited about it. I think there are a lot of really positive things going on around here, and I feel like I have done substantial work to really step outside of my comfort zone and change some things," Davis told reporters on Friday without giving away any specific adjustments. "It’s going to be weird. It’s going to be uncomfortable. But I think it’s overdue, to say the least."
Davis hasn't had a WAR above 0.0 since 2016 or a batting average above .200 since 2017. He has toyed with his swing and approach in previous winters, however, and it's not clear that this year's changes will be the final key to unlocking the slugger he was early last decade.
He's spoken previously about times of self-doubt, though last season's strong spring training performance before the coronavirus-related shutdown had served as an eye-opener that he can still help a winning baseball club.
Davis is a believer in the power of competition, and he has always entered spring training with the idea that he needs to earn his at-bats. That hasn't changed in 2021.
"I feel like every year of my career I’ve approached spring training to compete for at-bats. That’s really how I think any player should approach it," Davis said. "Because if you come in just thinking that it’s your job and you don’t have to do anything, you’re not doing yourself or anybody in the clubhouse any favors. And that’s the way I’ve approached this offseason, and this coming spring training I’m going to continue to do the same thing."
For Davis, some of what needs to change isn't purely mechanical, but mental as well.
The soon-to-be 35-year old built a career out of driving the ball out of the park and producing runs along the way. He set a franchise record with 53 home runs in 2013 and led the majors again with 47 in 2015.
That level of production, and the manner in which it came, cultivated a mindset that he was being paid to hit home runs, not lay down bunts. And at one point in his career, he would have been right about that. But now, he says he recognizes the need to be willing to lay down bunts and take what the defense gives him if it means helping the team win.
"I was trying to do something a little bit different, trying to do something more dynamic, and it’s just not who I am," Davis says about trying to play "small-ball" in the past. "Now that being said, I’m the one who has to look myself in the mirror every night and really kind of go to war with myself over the way I chose to handle this situation. If I could go back and do it over, I probably would have done some things differently, but unfortunately, there’s no blueprint for this."
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde sees a strong Chris Davis in the early days of spring training. Hyde's primary goal for Davis is to get him comfortable, but he's also happy with his slugger's approach so far.
"I’m going to treat him like everybody else and play him as much as possible, and try to get him to feel comfortable going into the season," Hyde said. "He’s got a good mindset right now, like the last couple years he’s come in with a great attitude, a team-first attitude, and he’s doing a nice job on the field right now. "
Davis said he's healthy to start the year, making the point that both of his knees feel better than he expected at this point.
But with a clean bill of health and a new approach, Davis is ready for another year and the hopeful growth that comes with it. At the very least, his struggles haven't sapped his joy for the game just yet.
"Yes, I am having fun. I think it’s taken me several years to realize how much fun this game can be, because I was so hard on myself, because I expected so much out of myself. I felt like I let a lot of people down, not to mention myself, but I felt like I was letting our fans down," Davis said. "I mean that was a big deal to me, and it took a lot out of me. But I think honestly the pandemic has really helped me realize how much our fanbase has supported me and how much I miss playing in front of our fans, and really what it’s all about."
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February 27, 2021 at 03:46AM
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Chris Davis has done 'substantial work' to improve this offseason - NBC Sports
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