Whether or not Orioles manager Buck Showalter hits his enigmatic slugger, Chris Davis, atop the batting order come Opening Day Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, as he's done for the last few weeks of spring training and has threatened to do when the games count, isn't just about who hits where.
It's clear to Showalter and Davis that regardless of where the big first baseman hits, it's about spurring a mentality change after he's struggled to consistently impact the team at the plate for two seasons now.
"I think the batting order sometimes is made way too much out of, but in this case, I think it's something that has a little more bearing," Showalter said.