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Scott Garceau: Deputy Handcuffs Pitchers

A caller to our show this week said one thing the Orioles are missing is that feared hitter in the heart of the batting order. Sir, go to the back of the hardball class and clean off your glasses, what have you been watching?

Minnesota Twins v Baltimore Orioles
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Chris (Deputy) Davis is putting fear into all who stand 60 feet, 6 inches away with a trembling baseball in their hands. The season is a tad less than 30% old and right now Chris Davis is second to only Triple Crown Miguel Cabrera on my MVP list.

After a 4-hit game and a Yankee spanky Wednesday night the Deputy's numbers are staggering. Davis leads the league with 14 homers, is second with 43 RBI's and he's hitting a smooth .329. The former 6th ranked draft pick of the Rangers always had potential to be a top power hitter and he reached that potential with 33 homers last season. Buck Showalter gave Davis a chance to play everyday and he delivered.

It's becoming more apparent that Davis is more than a big Texan who can hit it a mile, he's become a complete hitter. Pitch him away and he'll take it to left field for a base hit, leave it over the plate and it could be headed for Eutaw street. Like most power hitters he'll get his share of K's but he's got a good plan at the plate and doesn't chase a lot of pitches out of the strike zone. The number show he's one of the top sluggers in baseball but he's also 2nd in on base percentage.

One of the big questions in Spring Training, could Davis cut it with the glove? Buck said he liked his guy at 1st base and so far so good. In 399 total chances Davis his just one error. The bat is one of the best in baseball and the glove is just fine. The Orioles have an MVP candidate and All-Star in Chris Davis who's just reaching his prime at age 27.

He's on pace to hit 49 homers and drive in 150 runs. God bless Andy MacPhail who should be arrested for getting Davis and Tommy Hunter in a 2011 trade with Texas for Koji Uehara. That's Grand larceny, right Deputy?

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