Blake Davis wants his shot at the majors

[wildcard]

Blake Davis, 27, has been an O's infielder in the minors for for 5 and 1/3 years. He was drafted on the 4th round in 2006 out of Cal State Fullerton as a shortstop. Known for his glove, his bat and at times his health has not allowed him to shine enough to make the majors. That was until now.

Davis is hot. And it may be at the right time. He is hitting for a 1208 OPS in June with two homer and six RBI. He has a 1008 OPS over his last 10 games. The word from the O's is that Ryan Adams needs to play to improve his defense. He will likely be sent down to AAA in the next few days. Blake is making his case to replace him.

A natural SS, in 2010 and again this year Davis has become a utility player. He has added 2B, 3B and the outfield, mostly RF to the positions he has played. He may be a good fit for the O's because as a lefthanded batter he is hitting righthanded pitching for an 801 OPS this year. Andino is hitting lefthanded pitching but having trouble with righthanders. Paired that two may be a good combination for the O's.

Nick Green and Brendan Harris are two infielders with major league experience that are stashed at Norfolk. They will certainly be considered to replace Adams. But Davis is making his case. Let's see what happens.

[Roll Tide]

I'm thoroughy unimpressed with the chance Adams has gotten since Roberts went on the DL. You can add Buck to the long list of Orioles managers that let his rookie players rot on the bench. Seriously the guy was called up and deserves a chance to play. I have nothing against Blake Davis ...But the result will be the same. That's why guys like Bautista and Turner go other places and develop.

Just a rant ... But if were going to call young position guys up they have to play. No young player is going to do well playing once or twice per week.

[Roll Tide]

Understood, but Bautista has nothing to do with what you're trying to express.

He's another guy that at 24 got about 15 abs in a Orioles uniform .... Which wasnt much of a chance.

[wildcard]

I'm thoroughy unimpressed with the chance Adams has gotten since Roberts went on the DL. You can add Buck to the long list of Orioles managers that let his rookie players rot on the bench. Seriously the guy was called up and deserves a chance to play. I have nothing against Blake Davis ...But the result will be the same. That's why guys like Bautista and Turner go other places and develop.

Just a rant ... But if were going to call young position guys up they have to play. No young player is going to do well playing once or twice per week.

Adams is a good prospect but he is not ready defensively for the majors. He has improved but he has a ways to go. He was called up to replace the injured Roberts, not because he had earned a promotion. If he goes to AAA and improved he may be a major leagues later this year or next year.

We saw what a below average 2B does to the team last year with Scott Moore and Ty Wigginton. It wasn't pretty.

[Frobby]

Davis is hot. And it may be at the right time. He is hitting for a 1208 OPS in June with two homer and six RBI. He has a 1008 OPS over his last 10 games.

Please tell me you're kidding.

[Sports Guy]

And you all thought Trea was the king of the SSS.

[clapdiddy]

Blake's best bet is to be a utility guy and it sounds like that's what they are doing with him in Norfolk. I'd have no problem with him being on the team if he continues to perform well at Norfolk. But, to think he should be promoted because of a few weeks is crazy.

[El Gordo]

Blake's best bet is to be a utility guy and it sounds like that's what they are doing with him in Norfolk. I'd have no problem with him being on the team if he continues to perform well at Norfolk. But, to think he should be promoted because of a few weeks is crazy.

I think he has a good point about Adams. He needs the playing time to improve his glove. We need someone to replace him on the bench. Davis makes sense because he is a good defender. His SSS batting stats are moot.

[clapdiddy]

I think he has a good point about Adams. He needs the playing time to improve his glove. We need someone to replace him on the bench. Davis makes sense because he is a good defender. His SSS batting stats are moot.

I would not disagree with this. Quite honestly, a Blake/Andino platoon would probably not be a bad idea as poorly as Andino hits righties.

[Crazysilver03]

He's another guy that at 24 got about 15 abs in a Orioles uniform .... Which wasnt much of a chance.

And that was as a Rule 5 pick. Completely different situation.

[BaltimoreTerp]

He's another guy that at 24 got about 15 abs in a Orioles uniform .... Which wasnt much of a chance.

A Rule 5 pick out of A-ball who showed nothing in his time in Baltimore, got dumped by two other teams that year, spent the next four seasons going up-and-down from mediocre time in Pittsburgh to the minors, another mostly-mediocre year in Toronto until whatever clicked finally did and he became the guy we see today.

I swear, I don't want to hear anyone talk about Bautista anymore as an Orioles failure unless they can show physical proof that in early 2004 they saw something and knew he would be a superstar. Frankly, I just want to find ANYBODY who did, since no one did.

[wildcard]

Please tell me you're kidding.

What the heck does that mean. If the O's send Adams down because he needs to play everyday, they have three choices at AAA to replace him. To guys that are not hitting, Harris and Green. And one guy that is. Besides that Davis hits righthanded pitching and Andino doesn't. So it looks like a good fit to me. Add to that Davis is known as a good defender and Harris and Green are probably bother below average defensive infielders.

So what's your beef?

[Frobby]

What the heck does that mean. If the O's send Adams down because he needs to play everyday, they have three choices at AAA to replace him. To guys that are not hitting, Harris and Green. And one guy that is. Besides that Davis hits righthanded pitching and Andino doesn't. So it looks like a good fit to me. Add to that Davis is known as a good defender and Harris and Green are probably bother below average defensive infielders.

So what's your beef?

My beef is you citing Davis's 1.208 OPS in June as meaning anything at all. If you want to state a case for bringing the guy up, go ahead, but are you actually citing five days worth of stats (or even his ten-day splits, which you also cited) as a reason?

By the way, not apropos of your post: when I think of Blake Davis playing the outfield, two words come to mind: Brandon Fahey. If he ever starts a game in our outfield, I will puke.

[wildcard]

My beef is you citing Davis's 1.208 OPS in June as meaning anything at all. If you want to state a case for bringing the guy up, go ahead, but are you actually citing five days worth of stats (or even his ten-day splits, which you also cited) as a reason?

By the way, not apropos of your post: when I think of Blake Davis playing the outfield, two words come to mind: Brandon Fahey. If he ever starts a game in our outfield, I will puke.

And I would point out that looking for someone would is swinging that bat well is exactly what the O's and other teams do when promoting players to the majors.

Reimold had a 718 OPS in April at Norfolk. He was following about the same path in May until his last 4 days there. Then he hit 2 homers in 4 games and went 6 for 16. Bang, he was promoted to Baltimore. And the word was that the minor league staff recommended him because he was swinging the bat well.

A minor leaguer that is not hitting in the minors is probably not going to hit in the majors. At least not right away. But a minor league that is hitting the ball well at least has a chance in the majors. Sorry, but that is just the way it is.

As far as Davis playing the outfield, I would like it would be a emergency situation where someone gets hurt. However it is a good skill for a utility player to have.

[Frobby]

And I would point out that looking for someone would is swinging that bat well is exactly what the O's and other teams do when promoting players to the majors.

Reimold had a 718 OPS in April at Norfolk. He was following about the same path in May until his last 4 days there. Then he hit 2 homers in 4 games and went 6 for 16. Bang, he was promoted to Baltimore. And the word was that the minor league staff recommended him because he was swinging the bat well.

A minor leaguer that is not hitting in the minors is probably not going to hit in the majors. At least not right away. But a minor league that is hitting the ball well at least has a chance in the majors. Sorry, but that is just the way it is.

As far as Davis playing the outfield, I would like it would be a emergency situation where someone gets hurt. However it is a good skill for a utility player to have.

Reimold and Davis are not comparable. Reimold was a top hitting prospect for years and was very good for this team in 2009. Davis is, as I said, a RH Brandon Fahey.