During Orioles FanFest, Chris Davis spoke with the media for a couple of minutes.
Davis answered questions about the additions to the roster for Spring Training, playing first base vs. third, outlook for the season and several other items.
Here are some quotes and notes I was able to pick up from him.
Speaking about his injuries and getting ready for Spring Traning:
No, I went back to Dallas and saw the doctors two weeks after the season. Um, he didn’t feel the need to operate and thought at some point during the season, I pulled my groin. I never gave it time to heal, so it progressively got worse.
Obviously, they just showed the clips of me running the bases on the last game of the season – it was pretty ugly. I mean, I feel healthy now, been on my own, working out, doing strength exercises and I’m ready to roll.
On whether he wants to play first or third base:
You know what; it kind of depends on what Buck thinks. I think, I can play first or third, and it gives us a lot of flexibility and I think it will give us a chance to give some guys a few days off if they need it. I mean, Mark played some great first base last season and I feel comfortable at third.
Going into Spring Training, knowing I am going to be the first baseman – it feels good. There’s a very good comfort level being at first, and I’m happy to be there.
On the additions to the team in the offseason and opinions on where everything is going:
I think this team has a lot of promise, and I think you saw that at the end of last season the way we were playing ball. We have a lot of young guys, a lot of young talent and it’s going to take a little bit of time for those guys to get some experience.
We got some good experience last season, even though we weren’t in contention. We were playing teams that were battling and still throwing the bases at us – and we were beating them. I definitely feel we gained all gained a bit of experience and I’m excited the direction that the club is heading in.
Talks about being traded to the Orioles during the trade deadline last season and the challenge ahead:
I was happy last year at the trade deadline to get the opportunity to come over here and to play every day.
You know, it was a little frustrating at first, fighting the injury bug, missing a few games and actually going on the DL – it was hard for me to deal with.
Coming back and finishing strong was one of my goals, and I was able to do that. To get the opportunity to play a full season and really to play with a bunch of guys that are winners and excited about competing will be fun – and a challenge.
Similarities with what he went through with the Texas Rangers and what is currently going on with the Orioles:
I was there for the first year when they went to the World Series. It was a lot of fun to get that experience and be a part of it.
There’s a part of me – I’m sure, when I think about it – that I would’ve like to been the player everyone thought I was going to be. You know, things happen for a reason – and God put me here for a reason.
I think that the Orioles – we have something – which we can build on, connect it, and turn into what the Rangers have.
You look three or four years ago, the Rangers were in the same situation. They had a lot of young pitching, some good hitters, but you know – over a three year period, they put together a World Series team. That’s promising for us and I’m excited to be here and look forward to it.
About seeing the clips of the final game of the 2011 season against the Boston Red Sox:
It’s funny that you ask that because the emotion dies down in the off-season when you’re not around baseball – and there’s not much baseball going on. When they showed that clip, I got pretty excited. It stirred up a lot of emotions.
I think just the way we played the last month, we really played good baseball. The way we finished strong, it shows that we have something to build and carry into next season.
