$161 Million MLB Slugger Inching Closer to Worst Hitless Streak Ever

By The Wildcard April 7, 2019 at 3:39pm

Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis is nearing a record streak for futility.

Davis was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in Sunday’s 15-3 loss to the New York Yankees. He is 0 for 23 with 13 strikeouts this season and is hitless in 44 at-bats since a second-inning double off James Shields of the Chicago White Sox last Sept. 14.

Chris Davis hasn’t had a:

– run scored since September 18, 2018
– hit since September 14, 2018
– RBI since September 4, 2018
– home run since August 24, 2018
– road home run since July 20, 2018
– batting average above .186 since October 1, 2017

The Orioles owe him $92 million. pic.twitter.com/ix1FyQ9nLX

— David Blattman (@davidblattman) April 7, 2019

Davis is two shy of the record for consecutive hitless at-bats by a position player, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Eugenio Velez went hitless in his final 46 at-bats of the 2011 season, one more than the previous mark shared by Pittsburgh’s Bill Bergen (1909), Dave Campbell of San Diego and St. Louis (1973) and Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell (earlier in 2011).

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has tried to stay positive with Davis, who has two RBIs, on a bases-loaded walk and a forceout.

Most of the Orioles lineup struggled Sunday against Yankees left-hander Domingo German, who gave up two runs, two hits and two walks over six-plus innings.

“I haven’t talked to him about it since, but he’s facing a tough lefty there,” Hyde said. “I hope that he feels like he’s making progress. He took a couple decent passes on those fly balls. Just didn’t happen.”

Do you think Davis will break the hitless record?

Davis is in the fourth season of a $161 million, seven-year contract.

What the Orioles have paid Chris Davis vs. Fangraphs’ Dollar Value by year:
’12- 0.5M (11.8M)
’13- 3.3M (52.2M)
’14- 10.4M (7.1M)
’15- 12M (43.5M)
’16- 17M (23.2M)
’17- 17M (0.8M)
’18- 17M (-24.9M)

So far he’s still returned a lot more value than he’s been paid.

— Heath Cummings (@heathcummingssr) April 3, 2019

He hit .168 last year, the worst batting average in major league history for a qualified player, with 16 home runs, 49 RBIs and a .539 OPS.

Davis has been booed after strikeouts at Camden Yards.

Chris Davis Wins Above Replacement by season

2015: 5.3
2016: 3.3
2017: 0.0
2018: -2.8
2019: -69.69

— High Heat Stats (@HighHeatStats) April 6, 2019

“I understand the frustration,” Davis said after Thursday’s home opener. “Nobody’s more frustrated than I am, especially a day like today, the kind of game that we were having. It was a frustrating day for me personally and the team collectively. But you’ve got to move on.”

Despite the boos, many Orioles fans are still clamoring for others to support him during this obviously difficult time.

Ohhhh heck no. Ya’ll can stop with the booing of Chris Davis. He can go all year without a hit and I still won’t boo him. #Orioles fans are better than that (I hope).

— Laura (@stndongrace) April 4, 2019

I know Chris Davis has struggled but don’t boo him the fact is he’s one of our birds #IBackTheBirds #LetsGoOs #Birdland #Orioles

— BirdlandUSA (@WWEAmbrose710) April 4, 2019

Davis will have another shot to end his current skid when the Orioles host the Oakland Athletics on Monday afternoon.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

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