Chris Davis

[varaven45]

Is it me or has this guys bat disappeared ? Talk about missing Machado in the lineup.

 

Its way early but the dude is in an early season funk eh ? Does he even have a HR ?

 

 

[papasmurfbell]

he hasn't been the same since the HR contest. It tends to screw up swings. I wonder if his hasn't comeback.

[dc.]

Waking more, seeing fewer good pitches without some protection. Not worried about his power but satisfied that his average is staying up despite all surrounding him.

[varaven45]

DC, you know he's 10th in team batting average at .234 ? Not exactly sure I would call his average up although agreed he doesn't have the needed protection with Machado.

[dc.]

Sorry - it's early enough a bad few games have dropped him from mid 300s. His average HAD been at least holding a decent line - above his later months last year.

 

Regardless, did a quick check... his walk rate is up 50% from about 10 to 15% of at bats. His K% is down about 20%, from almost 30% to 24%... those are good signs.

 

I think more than his swing, there are some adjustments being made by opposing pitchers. Palmer has talked about it a lot - especially how they are pounding his "weakest" zone and willing to let him take the walk.

 

But overall, I am still not concerned. When he hits 10 in a month - maybe next month? - no one will be freaking out.

[cravnravn]

Enough Chris Davis talk, the guys a beast, keep throwing that shift at him I'll take slap r

Rbi producing hits any day of the week. His bombs will come, Cruz is hitting the cover off the ball.

 

2nd place all by ourselves

[dc.]

Fun fact: Chris Davis is the only player ever to hit 50hr and 50 doubles in a season.

 

Only two others did 50 and 40: Babe Ruth and Albert Belle.

 

Now... He may never do it again, but I just can't believe those numbers are a total fluke.

[cravnravn]

Can You say, 1st Place??????

[vmax]

Can You say, 1st Place??????

 

[varaven45]

Crav, print those playoff tickets

[papasmurfbell]

Fun fact: Chris Davis is the only player ever to hit 50hr and 50 doubles in a season.

 

Only two others did 50 and 40: Babe Ruth and Albert Belle.

 

Now... He may never do it again, but I just can't believe those numbers are a total fluke.

I can.

[dc.]

Anomaly... Sure. Total fluke? Not buying it. Does he ever do even 40-40 again? Maybe not (even that is a rare feat) but that doesn't mean very solid numbers 40-20, 30-30 are out of the question. It also doesn't mean he is underperforming

[papasmurfbell]

OK Outlier. that is why I would have traded him while he had big value.

[dc.]

But trade him for what? Do you get another 30 30 first baseman? Unlikely. A truly star ace pitcher? Doubtful.

 

You get some cogs and prospects... Which don't serve a team that has 90% of its pieces together and in playoff caliber shape.

 

I just can't imagine an offer that another team would realistically make that would have improved us in the 2-4 year window we're in.

[papasmurfbell]

How about raiding another teams farm system and get say 4 guys who in time help the team. I am only saying to run things like the Rays who have had more consistency than anyone else over the last several yrs.

[dc.]

Several issues there:

 

The Rays have had some success but also some serious let down seasons. They are no more successful the last five years than the Cardinals (who also play the farm brilliantly but are willing to spend). And until they do it for a decade plus, they are just in one window.

 

But I don't really disagree with the premise just this example. Without Davis, we are without a first baseman again... We haven't had one for a decade. And although everyone says you can find 30 HR on the waiver wire, it's just not true. Without that first base slot (and 3-hole in the line up filled) we are not a playoff team. Period. You're trimming the prime of Jones and Wieters and others without reason.

 

Lastly, the Rays don't tend to trade and especially not when a player is still under their control. They don't spend, but they also don't go buy farm talent to frequently. We hear talk of Price moving but it never happens.

 

But I think #2 is the most important still... I can't see saying farewell to this season, right when we're becoming respectable in the eyes of the league and players, to get prospects that may or may not pan. If this season were dead, sure. But I don't think you can ignore the cost of giving up not just this year but perhaps another three.

 

Holding Davis does not mean we can't continue the past we've been on the last five years of avoiding massive contracts and building a deep farm system.

[papasmurfbell]

I am not looking to play for this season. I don't see the O's having enough to make a legit run. That being said you need to maximize your assets for future allocation.

[dc.]

You didn't see the O's having enough two years ago our last year either.

 

We are close this year, it's hard to ever be sure how close. But we have s team with most players between 27 and 32... Prime years. If you wait, you waste those years. And as much as we love prospects, they can fail just like our famed cavalry of pitchers from five years ago. I'll take a handful of known commodities that play all star quality ball over twice add many prospects.

[papasmurfbell]

Of course they can fail. Looked like Tillman was a failure. Jones had issues at times. But I guess you would rather have Bedard back?

[dc.]

But we traded Bedard when the team was failing and had no upside. We're now just reaping the rewards of that trade and so many others - including the Koji trade that netted us Davis.

 

If this team was expecting 70 wins - trade him. If it's 90 with Davis and 70 without him, keep him.

[papasmurfbell]

At the time people were screaming how could they trade the face of the franchise. To get something you have to give up something. the hope is you give up less than you get. IF Davis does not sign here it will be looked at as stupid for not trading him. I don't think Boras lets him stay.

[dc.]

At the time people were screaming how could they trade the face of the franchise. To get something you have to give up something. the hope is you give up less than you get. IF Davis does not sign here it will be looked at as stupid for not trading him. I don't think Boras lets him stay.

Who is they that were screaming? Do people like to see a good guy? No. But I think most real fans realized that Bedard had no future here because there was no future to be had.

 

If we hold Davis, win the World Series this year, and then he walks... do we still look stupid? Probably not quite as much. If we miss the playoffs, probably more so.

 

I am not saying you never trade a guy. But in terms of the situation, I don't see trading away a "key component" (especially with no legitimate option to fill the void - defensively or in the line-up) in the middle of a strong window. If the window were closed... you trade him. If there were obvious ways to fill the void... you trade him. If you could guarantee a legitimate return... you trade him. But unless we're getting David Price, I don't see it as a worthy move.

[papasmurfbell]

I heard so many fans jump in Andy's crap when he traded Bedard. People were going nuts. Nothing is guaranteed. You just have to trust that your GM is going to make smart moves. Most of the time th eO's have made very smart trades.

[dc.]

I don't doubt people were upset. Idiots are upset no matter what happens. At year's end, they'd be upset we didn't make a trade. Just read this board re: the Ravens obviously.

 

But more broadly (beyond reactionary fans) it was seen in the moment as a great move. And I don't think I'm being reactionary in saying that this situation is different than the situation we were in 6-7 years ago when that trade went down!

[papasmurfbell]

After the fact it was a gret trade. Once Eric bombed out and Jones played pretty good. At the time it seem equitable.