Palmer follows up on last night's Davis criticism

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer exhibited pinpoint control again today on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network while defending his criticisms of first baseman Chris Davis during last night's postgame show.

Palmer didn't back down after the network aired responses from Davis and hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

After relaying how he read an article in January that pointed out Davis' propensity for taking third strikes, a total that led the majors, Palmer approached Coolbaugh in spring training for what he called a "casual conversation" and brought up how hard the duo must have been working in Dallas.

Coolbaugh apparently responded, "No we didn't," which Palmer shared with viewers following the Orioles' 11-1 loss to the White Sox.

Palmer had lots to say last night:

"He's struggling. He's in one of those paralysis by over-analysis modes. He wants to do good. Buck (Showalter) throws out the fact that, 'Hey, he's got a big contract.' He's not the only guy in the major leagues who has a big contract. That's a given. If you play nowadays you're going to make a lot of money. If you hit 33 home runs, 47 home runs, 53 home runs and you get a big seven-year deal.

"You've got to throw that away and you've got to make some adjustments. I don't see anything. I don't see a wider stance, I don't see a closed stance, I don't see him dropping his hands, I don't see anything. And we're seeing the results. He's just in a prolonged slump.

"You know, they say he works hard. Ah. He told everybody in spring training that he worked with Scott Coolbaugh. I asked Scott in spring training, I go, 'Hey, you must have really put in a lot of work.' He goes, 'We didn't work.' So, you know, I don't believe anything."

Davis had the media gather at his locker this morning, including MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski, and expressed displeasure with the comments coming from Palmer and Coolbaugh, the latter a friend who goes back to his minor league days.

"It's disappointing when things are obviously not going the way that I want, for that to be called into question by two guys that I have a lot of trust and faith in, that I've had a good relationship with for a number of years. I hate that that is where we are," Davis said.

"But at the end of the day, I know the work that I put in in the offseason. I know the things that I tried to make adjustments and correct. And it's frustrating for me every day to come in here and not see a return for that. Obviously, the way things are going right now, the last thing I want to hear about is someone in the organization questioning my work ethic, but I guess that is where we're at."

Given the chance to broach the topic again today before the Orioles closed their series against the White Sox, Palmer stated, "I stand by what I said."

"This is not, 'Hey, he said, she said,' or Buck Showalter, who was kind of put in the middle in the locker room today because he didn't know what I said," Palmer continued. "This team plays a lot better when Chris Davis plays well. He's not playing up to his capability, he's not making a lot of adjustments. That's the point I made. We saw him looking at the third base coach (Bobby Dickerson) when the third strike came over. There's something going on, he needs to make some changes.

"And I'll tell you what, Scott Coolbaugh had him in the minor leagues. He said (Davis) was the last guy that would leave the ballpark at night and I think he has to get back. And you know, it just doesn't happen at this level. It doesn't matter how much money you're making, so it's not about how much money, how long you're contract is. Are you doing the work to get better? And I think that needs to improve. And I'll stand by that and I hope he does it and I hope he has success because he's a better player than he's showed."

Davis is batting .154/.230/.253 with four doubles, four home runs, 13 RBIs, 16 walks and 65 strikeouts. He prolonged a first inning rally today by drawing a walk and the Orioles scored four runs off White Sox starter Lucas Giolito. They've now been outscored 60-23 in the first.

Trey Mancini and Adam Jones hit back-to-back home runs in the second. Davis was hit a pitch in the second and the Orioles scored again for a 7-0 lead.

Maybe Palmer should speak up more often. And wear the same tie.

Davis is 2-for-35 with 17 strikeouts in his last nine games. His 1,267 career strikeouts with the Orioles leave him only 38 behind Cal Ripken Jr. for the club record. Ripken played 21 seasons, Davis is in his eighth.

Coolbaugh and Davis spoke over the winter about their workouts and expressed optimism that the first baseman could break through the mental barriers that hindered him, as well as solving the shifts that continually frustrated him.

"I just think that Chris has gotten in his own way a little bit the last two years," Coolbaugh said on Jan. 26, the night before FanFest. "I don't know if it's been more of a mental thing than a physical thing, but he's been in a good mindset. He's been working hard this winter to come back strong in the spring and get ready.

"I think now that the delivery of the twins has been off his mind now, he can kind of relax and get ready for spring. But it's been good to see him working hard and being diligent in his work to prepare for spring training."

Coolbaugh told the media today, as relayed by Melewski, that he met with Davis "about three times" over the winter.

"Nothing was talked about a physical change. A lot of it was more about the mental side of it. Being more aggressive in the zone and swinging at pitches that he knows he can handle," Coolbaugh said.

"I think Jim was making an assessment of, you know, what typical players go through in their careers. At times, everyone comes to a point where they have to make an adjustment. They have to self-evaluate and try to adjust mentally or physically. I don't have an issue with his comments, as far as him saying I didn't work out with Chris. I worked with Chris about three times this winter."