For Chris Davis, 2013 has to seem like a lifetime ago. One moment you are on top of the world, the next you are struggling to stay above the Mendoza line with your power numbers cut in half. The Baltimore Orioles first baseman was living up to his nickname Crush during his home run and RBI-leading offensive outburst of 2013. But after a drug suspension for amphetamines, Davis has only regained some of his power, while other aspects of his game have yet to return.
Davis has hit double digits in his home run total already, with a quarter of the regular season in the books. But in this first quarter of the season, he has also struck out more than any other player. SB Nation Camden Chat explains why this is a sign of a serious decline in overall play:
"The first sign is his massive strikeout rate. It is difficult to overlook how often Davis has struck out this season. Just to illustrate this point, Davis has only had 6 games without a strikeout this season, compared to 7 games where he has struck out three times or more. For the season, he has a strikeout rate of 40.3%, the highest figure among qualified batters."
Davis confessed to World Mag that he feels he has figured out part of the reason behind his decline in play:
"When you separate yourself from God and don't have Him at the center of your life, you're going to be more susceptible to temptation. I just kind of got lost and I slipped into a trap."
Do you think Davis's big season in 2013 was a fluke or is he going to be able to eventually return to form? Tell us your thoughts below.
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