Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hits a solo home run in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Photo: Joy R. Absalon, USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK -Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis enters tonight's Home Run Derby with homers in each of his last four regular season games and a record-tying total of 37 at the All-Star break.
He's on pace for 62 home runs over a full season. No player has hit that many in a season since Barry Bonds set the all-time record of 73 in 2001.
While the numbers of Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in question because of their connections to performance enhancing drugs, many fans - Davis included -- still hold up Roger Maris as the untainted standard.
ALL-STAR GAME LINEUPS: Youth reigns
"In my opinion, 61 is the record," Davis states firmly, "and I think most fans agree with me on that." It's a sentiment he's referenced on more than one occasion, but it carries more weight now that he's one of eight sluggers in the Derby spotlight.
Nothing in baseball carries quite the impact - or stirs debate - more than the home run.
VIDEO: All-Star Game preview panel
"The record is 73. Who cares what he thinks?" Orioles teammate Adam Jones chuckles half-jokingly. "Everything's in the eye of the beholder. The game has changed on different levels ... I don't care. The record is what it is."
The love affair with the long ball becomes all the more apparent tonight with an entire night of All-Star festivities dedicated to watching some of the game's best sluggers set their sights on launching balls beyond the fences at Citi Field.
PHOTOS: BEST MOMENTS IN HOME RUN DERBY HISTORY
Despite being the leading vote-getter in the American League, Davis says the Derby is the best part of the All-Star festivities.
"As a young kid, I watched it all the time. It's something that I've always wanted to be a part of and now that I'm here and going to be a part of it, it's kind of surreal," he says.
Davis has always been the kind of boom-and-bust hitter the Derby is designed to showcase.
Before the Orioles acquired him two seasons ago in a trade deadline deal with the Texas Rangers, the boom took place mostly in the minor leagues while the busts came after he was promoted to the majors.
With Texas, he was a .252 hitter who struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances. But over six seasons in the minors, he hit .318 (with a .597 slugging percentage) and struck out less than one-quarter of the time.
There's always plenty of power on display at the All-Star Home Run Derby, but the 27-year-old Davis will likely be watched more closely than anyone.
Davis has been asked about whether he's used PEDs. One fan even brought up the subject on Twitter, to which Davis responded succinctly, "No."
Several more common reasons could better help explain his rise to be the game's top power hitter.
He hasn't had to worry about seeing his name in the lineup card every day. The security that comes with regular playing time can make it much easier to forget about the 0-for-4s ... or even the 0-for-17 stretches.
There's also some statistical basis for his improvement. He's not chasing balls out of the strike zone as much as he has in the past (just 35.4% according to Fangraphs.com).
"I learned how to be a little more patient at the plate," he says. "I used to think when I got up to the plate I had to hit a home run before I got two strikes because there was no way I was going to put the ball in play.
"I think I've grown as a hitter," he says. "I think I've obviously matured. I've learned a little more about myself and the strike zone and I've really learned to be patient."
As a result, his walk rate (6.8%) is better than it's ever been and his 28% strikeout rate - while still high for even a power hitter - is the lowest it's been since his rookie year.
Add in a significant increase in hard-hit balls - and all the elements have come together for a historic power season.
Follow Steve Gardner on Twitter:
So far.
On the national stage, Davis will have an opportunity tonight to show exactly how far his power-hitting skills have developed. And possibly provide a glimpse of historic heights to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment