Chris Davis plans to try to bunt against the shift
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is one of many left-handed power hitters who has been hindered significantly by defensive shifts. This year, however, he sounds intent on trying to counter that strategy.
Davis said Wednesday that he thinks bunting against the shift is a sound strategy — and one he intends to employ as long as the shifting continues.
Davis on bunting: "I’m tired of hitting .200. You’ve got to find a way to combat that and that’s part of the game. If they’re going to give me the entire left side of the infield, then I’m going to make them pay for it." #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 28, 2018
More Davis: "We have enough guys in our lineup who can do damage behind me that the more guys we can get on, the better we’re going to be as a team.” #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 28, 2018
Davis hit .215 last year, and his average dipped as low as .196 in 2014, as the shift began to grow more prevalent. His plan certainly makes a lot more sense than the alternative plan cited by those who refuse to adapt to new defensive strategies.
