First baseman Chris Davis is batting leadoff in the Orioles' Opening Day lineup, the execution of a plan the manager floated for several weeks during spring training and ultimately decided was best for the team to start the season.
The hope is clearly that Davis will get away from his pull-heavy approach and use the whole field in his new table-setting role, with the assignment about more than bunting against the infield shift. It's about getting the most out of the team's highest-paid player after a down season last year.
"It's something that everybody felt like was a good way to start," Showalter said.