Davis reflects on trying 2018, future with O's

NEW YORK -- In a season that Chris Davis describes as "one disaster after another," the Orioles' first baseman said his focus is on "getting to the finish line" to end the worst offensive season of his 11-year career.
"They all feel the same. Pretty much stink," Davis said of the rough patches he has endured at the plate. "I'm just honestly trying to get to the finish line right now. Not trying to think too much about what's gone on all year. Just trying to keep my head up and get to the finish line. I feel like as long as I'm healthy-ish, this time of the year I think everybody's got bumps and bruises, as long as I'm able to go out there and play, that's the least I can do. So that's what I'm going to do."
After Friday night's four-strikeout showing, Davis' slash line dropped to .170/.246/.299. With just nine games remaining on the schedule, including Saturday, Davis wanted to make sure that his season did not end on that note.
"He's not going to play tomorrow," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We'll see what the rest of the season holds for him. I talked to him today. He really didn't want to end, I don't want to say his season, but didn't want to end on the game he had yesterday, so I won't play him tomorrow. I'll play him today."
Davis entered what could be his final game of the 2018 season having gone 1-for-32 with 17 strikeouts in his previous nine games.
"Obviously the strikeouts are up and the weak contact, whatever you want to call it, into the shift, but I mean it's just kind of been one of those years," Davis said. "I'm going to continue to work, continue to do everything I can to try to just get a leg up on the competition, but as far as the rest of the season is concerned, I'm just trying to get to the finish line, and we'll re-evaluate in the offseason."

As the Orioles inch closer to setting a new franchise record for losses in a single season (1939 St. Louis Browns, 111), it's clear that Davis was not the team's only problem. With rumors swirling about Showalter's and general manager Dan Duquette's respective futures with the club, Davis said he believes some changes need to be made before next season.
"I think change is definitely needed. What specific changes, I don't know right now," Davis said. "… I try not to think whether Buck's going to be here, whether Dan's going to be here, who's going to be here, who's not going to be here. I've got enough on my plate. … I definitely think change is needed, there's no doubt about that. Losing 100-plus games and deciding not to change, I think that's foolish. So we'll see what the offseason brings and we'll go from there."
Although Davis is currently in his third year of a seven-year contract with Baltimore, he says he has thought a little about the idea that he could not be a part of the team's rebuild.
"I've thought about that a little bit. I honestly haven't really heard a whole lot," Davis said. "… I honestly don't worry about that. I've been very fortunate to play here for several years, to see a lot of different faces come in and come out, to win, be on postseason teams. And to be a part of a rebuild, it's tough, especially as an older player, but I understand the commitment that I made to the team and to Baltimore, and I'm going to honor that as much as I can."