tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post6382678689578441618..comments2024-03-11T15:46:13.155-04:00Comments on In The Arena: Ruminations About Competition: Eric Davis: "Like Having an Atomic Bomb Sitting Next to You in the Dugout"David Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-43650353481828129562011-04-07T20:21:38.215-04:002011-04-07T20:21:38.215-04:00Eric Davis in his prime belonged in a higher leagu...Eric Davis in his prime belonged in a higher league. He could single-handedly turn a game around. One of my favorite Davis memories occurred in San Diego in '91 or '92. Reds were down 1 run in the 9th with Davis leading off. They pitched around him and put him on first. One out later he stole second. With 2 out, on a slow roller to short, Davis while running to third did a little stutter step right between the SS and the bounding ball. It distracted the SS just enough to prevent him from fielding the ball cleanly, resulting in a hurried throw to first into the dirt. The first base ump called "safe", and when the first baseman turned to argue, Davis, who had crept down the line, sprinted for home and slid in safely in a bang-bang play to tie the game. Never saw anything like it; may not ever again.BigRedNastyBoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13219263554577447779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-427363419890759012009-08-12T18:15:33.391-04:002009-08-12T18:15:33.391-04:00miss watching the dude play the game. My favorite...miss watching the dude play the game. My favorite Davis moment was right after Dennis Martinez hit Eric on the elbow...then while Davis was on first he caught Martinez snoozing..took off for second..Martinez spun but couldnt catch the swift Davis. Always exciting to watch that guy. Good articleUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11760131741358927016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-40686462552426403382009-01-13T18:51:00.000-05:002009-01-13T18:51:00.000-05:00Davis was one of the 10 greatest baseball athletes...Davis was one of the 10 greatest baseball athletes to ever suit up. Anyone that laughs must shut up and look at the stats - Top 5 in HR's in his league and Top 3 in SB's for several seasons, and he had 8 seasons with at least 20 HR & 20 SB's, had he been healthier, those numbers would be better, as he topped 27 HR & 80 SB in under 130 games in 86, and 37 HR & 50 SB in '87 (missing 20 games due to injury as his fielding prowess and diving ability were un-paralleled in the game). Add to that - amazing CF defense that could run, dive, jump, throw with power from center!<BR/><BR/>Sure, players like Bonds (barf) and Griffey (yay, Jr!) had bigger numbers, but if you asked me what player I wanted on my team in their prime and healthy, I'd pick Eric over The Kid to play CF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-10719440950059004572008-07-11T10:51:00.000-04:002008-07-11T10:51:00.000-04:00Davis definitely was on track to be an all time gr...Davis definitely was on track to be an all time great. I can still remember him getting hit in the 90 World Series. Once again thank you for highlighting his career. More people need to get on this blog too.madnicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07496277691175179159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-3636044800913521962008-07-10T17:27:00.000-04:002008-07-10T17:27:00.000-04:00Madnice:Parker was an amazing player in his own ri...Madnice:<BR/><BR/>Parker was an amazing player in his own right, particularly in his younger days. Before everyone started juicing he was considered to be huge (6-5, 235). Like you said, Foster and Raines were also a lot of fun to watch. Fielder was more of a one trick pony as opposed to being an all-around talent but when he became the first player in well over a decade to blast 50 home runs that was exciting.<BR/><BR/>Davis proved his toughness and his understanding of the game by putting together that great season with Baltimore despite his illness and after he had already lost a lot of his physical ability.<BR/><BR/>The Wilkes comparison is interesting. You would never teach a youngster to shoot like Wilkes or swing like Davis but their methods worked for them for whatever reason and they consistently used the same form, even though it looked unorthodox. The fact that Davis could hit for a high average and put together a long hitting streak late in his career shows that had he stayed healthy he would have been able to put up some monstrous all-around numbers.David Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-90425576427182236512008-07-10T08:38:00.000-04:002008-07-10T08:38:00.000-04:00It seemed like he robbed a home run like once a we...It seemed like he robbed a home run like once a week. He had no weaknesses then. Of course his batting stance and swing was like watching Jamaal Wilkes but his quick wrist and bat speed made up for it. I remember Davis tried to alter his hitch a little when he was slumping. Thank you for this post. You always seem to know what up.madnicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07496277691175179159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-10931768777990404792008-07-10T08:34:00.000-04:002008-07-10T08:34:00.000-04:00OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am responding to this wit...OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am responding to this without even reading the rest of the post. I only read the first paragraph.<BR/><BR/>I grew up a Yankees fan but Eric Davis was my favorite player ever. The hitch in his swing, the waving of the bat, the bat speed, the quick wrist, the running speed...I thought he was going to be the best ever. I remember listening to a Cubs game and Harry Caray was saying right now I dont know who is the best in baseball. Is it Don Mattingly or Eric Davis (in his wavering tone)? Baseball in the 80s was a wonderful thing. Caray was calling Davis like every one else was the next Willie Mays. I wonder if Davis not getting along with Ray Knight had anything to do with the fight they had on 3rd base years ago when Knight played for the Mets. Knight actually got a punch in. <BR/><BR/>I remember this Sports Illustrated with my favorite writer ever Ralph Wiley.<BR/><BR/>When I found out Wiley passed it was on the end of PTI. I couldnt believe it. He looked like he was in such great health...I just sat there for like ten minutes not moving. I remember him being one of the first sports writers on NFL pregame shows when he was on NBC. A lot of writers can learn from him. <BR/><BR/>SI the vault is so beautiful. <BR/><BR/>Davis was poetry in motion and the most graceful baseball player Ive ever seen. Schott was such an (expletive)...I shouldnt speak ill of the dead....but you know the history. <BR/><BR/>The 80s in baseball was so good it was incredible. I mean you named Dave Parker and Tim Raines who were great great baseball players. Of course the Pittsburgh drug trials did them in and eradicated any chance of them being in Cooperstown. But they were unbelievable players. George Foster and Cecil Fielder were great sluggers that I enjoyed watching. Its amazing that there were actually black athletes who played baseball as supposed to the lack of them playing now. Some good times, David.madnicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07496277691175179159noreply@blogger.com