masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIs anyone still bothered by Chris Davis’ strikeout total?
Davis drilled a three-run homer in the first inning tonight in Oakland to stake rookie Tyler Wilson to an early lead. Adam Jones added an RBI double off Jesse Chavez in the third that scored Gerardo Parra, who showed a good eye at the plate while drawing a walk, and Caleb Joseph hit a two-run homer in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.
(I’m more impressed with Parra handing his bat and shin guard to the bat boy instead of dropping them at the…

Is anyone still bothered by Chris Davis’ strikeout total?

Davis drilled a three-run homer in the first inning tonight in Oakland to stake rookie Tyler Wilson to an early lead. Adam Jones added an RBI double off Jesse Chavez in the third that scored Gerardo Parra, who showed a good eye at the plate while drawing a walk, and Caleb Joseph hit a two-run homer in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.

Tyler Wilson back gray.jpg(I’m more impressed with Parra handing his bat and shin guard to the bat boy instead of dropping them at the plate. Seems like a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about the guy.)

Davis had 26 home runs and 72 RBIs in 127 games last season. He’s totaled 27 home runs and 75 RBIs in 103 games this season.

Not a bad year to be a pending free agent. If you listen closely, you can hear his price going up.

An oblique injury hindered Davis last summer, robbing him of his opposite-field power, and he obviously needed a therapeutic-use exemption for Vyvanse, a longer-acting stimulant medicine than Adderall for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Davis’ 131 strikeouts lead the majors, placing him three ahead of the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson. But they don’t seem to be an issue these days. Fewer people are crushing him, so to speak.

Davis has accumulated eight home runs and 22 RBIs in his last 13 games. He’s hit safely in 30 of his last 37 games.

Left-hander Felix Doubront struck out Davis to end the fourth, but he entered tonight hitting .298/.351/.529 in 104 at-bats against southpaws.

Davis hit his 84th career home run at Camden Yards on Sunday, putting him one behind Cal Ripken, Jr. for fifth place on the all-time list.

The Orioles are 34-5 when Joseph has at least one RBI and 16-2 when he drives in two or more runs.