Five Oakland Athletics Who Will Not Reach Expectations

1B Ike Davis

Sep 17, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ike Davis (15) hits a three run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve already gone in-depth on Davis in a piece where I explain that I don’t have a good gut feeling about him this year. I’m not sure how much he’ll regress, but if the expectation is that he will be close to the production level of Brandon Moss over the past few years that is a mistake.

Last year, Davis hit .236 with 10 home runs in 397 plate appearances, and I find it hard to believe that moving to a pitcher’s park will help him. Like Canha, he’ll have to earn his playing time, and at best he’ll be a mediocre platoon player this year. Fans expecting him to replicate his 32-homer season in 2012 will be sorely disappointed.

My prediction for him is a .230/.310/.360 slash line with about eight home runs in roughly 350 plate appearances.

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