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Former Navarro College Bulldog Chris Davis, drafted in 2006 by the Texas Rangers, made his first Major League Baseball start last Friday evening at The Ball Park in Arlington.I was there!Last Thursday morning, I received an e-mail from NC Baseball Coach Whoa Dill, after inquiring as to where some of the former players are.At the top of the list were Davis’s name and a note saying he had been called up that morning. Wow! I thought. I had just checked on him a couple of days before, and he was still tearing up the bases at the Rangers AAA affiliate in Oklahoma City.I immediately called “Pops,” aka Derwood Penney, who coaches first base for the Bulldogs.Pops and Davis still maintain a close relationship, and Chris e-mails his college mentor for advice from time-to-time.The phone rang a couple of times before Pops’ wife, Wanda, answered.“Hi Wanda,” I said, “Is Derwood in?”“No, he’s in the nursing home,” she said, “I had to put him in.”“What?” I replied in shock! “I didn’t know.”
“Relax,” said Wanda, “He’s just visiting his parents.”Whew! I thought to myself as I drew a sigh of relief.These are two of the finest people you could ever meet, and a couple of great kidders as well.Apparently, I must have delivered some shocking news, as it seems she didn’t have a clue Davis had been called up, or Pops would have said something to her.“This is what we’ve been waiting for,” she said, in excitement! The excitement seemed to spread like wildfire even in the media as stories began to hit the wire about the Rangers’ hot new prospect coming aboard ship.I began to think. (Yes, I do that on occasion!)After a few minutes of this, I sent an e-mail to the Rangers organization for press credentials.I was somewhat shocked at how fast the reply came back and said they would have a pass waiting for me at the gate.To say I was excited would have been an understatement … well, maybe a little. The last Ranger game I attended was in May of 2005 when they played the Detroit Tigers, and a former Rangers catcher was back at The Ball Park to battle against his former team.Needless to say, I was pumped up for the game, even though it was against the Philadelphia Phillies. But hey, at least it was a team I haven’t seen play before in person!I began my journey on Friday afternoon. The game was scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. that evening, so I figured I would try to get there a couple of hours before it started.I remembered the last time I was down in the photographers well on the field there was no water available for the working media.Another photographer informed me, a few innings into that game, that I’m supposed to bring my own refreshment. With those words still ringing in my head, I stopped at a store along the highway and purchased three bottled waters.Hey, at least I wouldn’t be parched!Oh, you guys wanted to hear about Davis’s start, didn’t you?OK then!Davis hit the field, along with his teammates and to me his rightful position at first base, to the roar of the crowd.The Rangers were up 1-0 when Davis made his first plate appearance on the night.Although his at-bat ended with a strikeout he looked good at plate.In the top of the third inning, the Phillies Pedro Feliz hit a grandslam over the left field fence to give his team a 5-1 lead before Texas was able to counter the score in the bottom half of the inning.The Rangers were able to inch back and were only one run behind when Davis came up to bat with a runner on base. Bam! Davis, who bats left, took the offer from Phillies pitcher Clay Condrey and blasted it over the left field fence for his first Major League homerun, giving the Rangers a 6-5 lead.He finished the night going 1-4, with a run and 2 RBI.Davis also made some spectacular plays in field, including a diving catch near the line late in the game to keep the Phillies from scoring a run. The first baseman followed up his debut night by adding another homerun to his stats the next evening, and as of this writing, he is currently batting .316, with a double and three homeruns, while scoring four runs and knocking in seven RBI in seven games so far. I’ve always been impressed with his play and the power he brings to the plate ever since I first saw him play at Navarro, when I was the photographer with another newspaper, and I had no doubt that he could deliver once he stepped out on the field at The Ball Park.I’m absolutely sure if he would have been called up at the start of the season his name would be on the upcoming all-star ballot.I have a feeling there may be a few extra trips to Ranger games before the end of the season! |
