All The Smoke Eric Davis Unfiltered: Pete Rose's Street Life, Steroid Era, Elly De La Cruz, Marge Schott
Mar 18, 2026
Eric Davis, former MLB outfielder and World Series champion, reflects on his playing days, mentors, health battles, and his Reds advisory role. He shares candid stories about Pete Rose’s colorful clubhouse presence. He critiques analytics and the decline of Black players. He recalls confronting Marge Schott’s racism and surviving a career‑threatening injury and cancer.
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Protect Young Stars With Veteran Guidance
- Do protect and mentor young players so they can learn the game beyond analytics.
- Eric Davis says Ellie De La Cruz needs veteran guidance and Tito Francona was brought to provide that clubhouse support and structure.
Analytics Can Crowd Out Practical Baseball Wisdom
- Analytics alone narrow decision making because they favor a single 'right' path and exclude experienced, practice-based methods.
- Davis argues teams now 'deprogram' players from diverse training and lose the informal knowledge vets used to pass on.
Decision Makers Drive Player Demographics
- The decline in Black MLB players is structural, not purely talent-based; representation in scouts and coaches affects who gets signed.
- Davis links decision-makers' demographics to fewer Black players being identified and developed.