Talking strikeouts with Chris Davis

Chris Davis led the American League in strikeout rate in 2014, and he leads the league again in 2015, with the whiffs coming even more frequently. But along with his 50 strikeouts, he is batting .246 with eight homers and 21 RBIs. He is slugging .509 with an .821 OPS. Through Wednesday's games, he was tied for sixth in the league in homers and tied for 12th in RBIs.

I asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter if the strikeouts were more acceptable because they are coming with a decent level of power production from Davis.

"No, it's not," he said. "We're aware of it. He's more aware of it than I am, trust me. He may not look like it, but it bothers him. It does. Depends how you look at statistics. Everybody can make them look one way."

In a clubhouse conversation Wednesday afternoon, Davis talked about his high strikeouts total.

"I think I was on pace for 285 strikeouts the other day, which would obliterate the record," he said. "You know a lot of people ask me about strikeouts. 'Do I like striking out?' which is a ridiculous question. 'Does it bother me?' Of course it does.

"I've struck out my whole career. In 2013, I hit .286 and struck out 199 times. Do I continue to make adjustments? Absolutely.

"Early on, there have been some good at-bats, but for the most part, I'm still trying to find it. Just a little bit in between, whether it is timing or something mechanically, still trying to find that feel. So it's been nice to have a little bit of production, but at the same time I will continue to work to get myself in better counts to produce every at-bat."

AL strikeout rate leaders:
39.1 - Chris Davis, Baltimore
38.6 - Chris Carter, Houston
37.7 - Mike Zunino, Seattle and Steven Souza Jr. Tampa Bay

The strikeout rate is the percentage of plate appearances that end in a strikeout for a player. Strikeouts have been on the rise in recent years in the majors, and so it is with Davis, whose strikeout rate was 33.0 last year.

"We have to look at all the factors right now," Davis said. "Averages are going down around the league, just like last year. Everybody is shifting everybody. I think the biggest thing for me. ... Am I going to bunt a lot? Honestly I haven't had a lot of situations where the game has called for a bunt. But it is something I am willing to do and I practice it every day.

"But the biggest thing for me is run production and the strikeouts. Getting on base, driving in runs when I have the chance. The average I hope will be reasonable."

Does Davis ever consider cutting down on his swing to limit strikeouts? Or would that mean less chances to hit home runs?

"At one point, my average on balls put in play was around .500. It was pretty ridiculous the amount of damage I could do when I was putting the ball in play. The biggest thing for me is staying competitive in the strikezone. And swinging at pitches that are good pitches to hit," he said.

While Showalter said he was definitely aware of Davis' strikeout total, Davis said the skipper has not talked with him much about it.

"Honestly, nothing (has been said). I think Buck has bigger things to worry about," Davis said. We've talked about strikeouts as a team. Buck knows I will swing and miss some. But I will still go out there looking for adjustments. Still looking for that feel and to get the rhythm and timing I've been looking for."

After Davis, O's strikeout-rate leaders:

30.6 - Alejandro De Aza
25.6 - Travis Snider
23.2 - Caleb Joseph
21.4 - Steve Pearce
20.7 - Jimmy Paredes

AL team leaders in strikeout rate:

24.6 - Houston
22.3 - Tampa Bay
22.1 - Orioles
21.1 - Minnesota and Texas