Chris Davis' big second half could lead him to a big contract (plus minor league notes)

For Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, this season began with fans frustrated and some angry at him. That was because he hit just .196 last year, and then he was suspended and missed the playoffs.

He had some repair work to do with the fans. When he struggled at times early this year, some fans got frustrated by that and his high-strikeout totals. But now, as he is blasting his way through a big second half, it seems some of those same fans now insist that Davis be re-signed to a huge contract after this season.

Davis has won most of the fans back by batting .260 with 41 homers and 104 RBIs. During his current eight-game hitting streak he is 12-for-27 (.444) with six homers, 12 RBIs and an OPS of 1.769.

In 51 games in the second half, Davis is batting .301 with 22 homers, 52 RBIs, a .699 slugging percentage and OPS of 1.103. In the first half, he homered on average once every 16.2 at-bats. Since the break, he has homered once every 8.5 at-bats.

The run production that was solid early on this year, even amidst all the strikeouts, has now gone beyond solid to outstanding, and Davis entered Thursday's off-day leading the majors in homers and third in RBIs.

He is now in line for a contract that could go well north of $100 million. He is hitting free agency at age 29, plays solid defense and can play several positions. He even runs well for his size, has a strong arm and is very athletic. The cash register is ready to ring for him.

He picked a great time to have a huge year. Now the questions are can the Orioles re-sign him and how much will it take?

Minor league notes:

* The Orioles Triple-A Norfolk affiliate is scheduled to resume yesterday's suspended playoff game this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Norfolk's Harbor Park. The Tides are Columbus are tied 0-0 heading to the bottom of the second inning. Norfolk needs a win to even the best-of-five series 1-1.

Double-A Bowie beat Altoona 7-0 last night to even that Eastern League playoff series at a win each. The series shifts to Bowie for Game 3 tonight at 7:05 p.m. Click here to read more on last night's playoff action.

* Norfolk has announced its 2016 schedule and home game times. The 2016 campaign will begin on Thursday, April 7 with a 7:05 p.m. contest against the Gwinnett Braves.

The 2016 schedule will be Norfolk's 48th season in the International League and the 24th year of baseball at Harbor Park. The schedule features 22 home games on either Friday or Saturday night as well as nine midweek afternoon contests. The Tides will announce specific gameday promotions and events throughout the offseason.

* The Single-A Frederick Keys had a season attendance of 328,789 this season. That is the fourth-highest mark in club history and the top figure in all of Advanced-A baseball. It was also the team's best mark since 1994, when the Keys posted their largest average attendance in franchise history.

"On behalf of the entire Frederick Keys organization, we would like to thank our loyal fan base and the greater Frederick community around us for their continued and devoted support," said Keys general manager Dave Ziedelis. "We are quite fortunate and humbled to have the pleasure of operating in such a thriving marketplace."

Taking into account 29 other clubs in the Carolina, California and Florida State Leagues, the Keys have paced Advanced-A baseball in attendance each of the last four years. In the Keys 27-year history, the club has drawn 300,000 fans or more 14 times and more than 7.7 million fans have attended a Keys game. Frederick is on pace to welcome its eight millionth fan at some point during the 2016 campaign.

* Single-A Delmarva athletic trainer Trek Schuler has been selected as the 2015 South Atlantic League Athletic Trainer of the Year.

Schuler, who is in his 16th season with the Orioles organization, was selected by fellow trainers in the SAL. The selection earns him a nomination to receive the minor league Trainer of the Year award, which will be given out at the 2015 Winter Meetings in Nashville. In 2006, Shuler was named Carolina League Trainer of the Year while with Frederick.