Arizona Sports Blog

“ Doug Davis, Diamondbacks (4-8, 3.13 ERA) The Diamondbacks lead the majors in errors and rank 26th in bullpen ERA. Factor in an acute lack of run support, and Davis, Haren and Max Scherzer are all stuck in a Bermuda Triangle of despair. Johan Santana is the only full-time starter who has received punier offensive support than Davis this season. Opponents are hitting .188 against Davis with runners in scoring position. He has the best pickoff move this side of Andy Pettitte and Mark Buehrle, he’s always thinking several hitters ahead, and he usually finds a way to wriggle out of his messes. “He’s a bend-don’t-break type of guy,” said a National League coach. “The difference between Doug Davis and a fifth starter is, he’ll pitch his way out of jams. He controls the game and he doesn’t give up the big inning very often. If you can give him some run support, he can win a lot of games.” Davis also takes the ball, as they say. Since 2004, he ranks second in the National League to Roy Oswalt with 180 starts. He goes deep into games consistently enough to save bullpens, and his numbers stack up well against the more affluent Barry Zito over the past several years. Davis can help get a team to October, but can he make a difference in the postseason? Potential suitors will be debating that question as they decide whether to pursue him in trade between now and July 31. ” - Javier Vazquez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Doug Davis among starters who should have more W’s - ESPN