Chris Davis 2019 and beyond

[24fps]

2 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

Absolutely not.  An MLB team trying to mess with a player that has something like 4 years and 110 million left by sending him down, making him miserable, etc is a battle they will absolutely fight.

Because if the Orioles start screwing with that, then it tells any other team with a player that's making that amount of money or even less that you can get away with it.  Everyone knows Davis sucks, that's not the point.  The point is that if the Orioles try to screw with Davis here, that the guy in Colorado underperforming on a contract with 3 years and 45 million left can be screwed with, too.  All of a sudden MLB teams will get the notion that in order to get out of a bad, expensive contract they can just mess with their players because the Orioles did it to Chris Davis.  And the guy in Seattle isn't being paid as much or doesn't have as many years left, so we can do it to him, too.  That is why a players association exists, partially.

We're all rooting for quiet and behind the scenes, but if the Orioles can't buy him out (which, IMO, is what they should do) then I think they'll try their hand at a demotion and forcing him into it.  And then the MLBPA steps in.

I see no evidence that the Orioles have any intention of "making him miserable" or "messing" with him.  If anything, everything up to now indicates exactly the opposite.  Davis has certainly had more AB's than his performance warrants and Showalter has gone out of his way to not draw attention to an increasingly awkward situation.  If there is any reason for CD to go to the minors it would be to try and get back to being a ML caliber player, something that is in everybody's best interest including the long-term perception of MLBPA in the eyes of the public.  Besides, I'm sure the union internally defines its intrest the the well being of its rank-and-file well beyond that of mere guardian of monies owed, something already adequately covered by contract law.  

How is it in anybody's best interest to let this situation fester much past the end of this season?  I don't expect the Orioles to try and reduce the amount owed, although restructuring the contract would be useful and I fully expect that to take place if Davis doesn't improve sometime soon.  Davis is broken and before long the public is going to make it much, much worse.  If the MLBPA steps in - and they're grownups about it - it won't be to establish a reputation as tough guys, but to show everyone that real problems with human consequences can have solutions that don't require confrontation.  If they're grownups....

[wildbillhiccup]

4 minutes ago, 24fps said:

I see no evidence that the Orioles have any intention of "making him miserable" or "messing" with him.  If anything, everything up to now indicates exactly the opposite.  Davis has certainly had more AB's than his performance warrants and Showalter has gone out of his way to not draw attention to an increasingly awkward situation.  If there is any reason for CD to go to the minors it would be to try and get back to being a ML caliber player, something that is in everybody's best interest including the long-term perception of MLBPA in the eyes of the public.  Besides, I'm sure the union internally defines its intrest the the well being of its rank-and-file well beyond that of mere guardian of monies owed, something already adequately covered by contract law.  

How is it in anybody's best interest to let this situation fester much past the end of this season?  I don't expect the Orioles to try and reduce the amount owed, although restructuring the contract would be useful and I fully expect that to take place if Davis doesn't improve sometime soon.  Davis is broken and before long the public is going to make it much, much worse.  If the MLBPA steps in - and they're grownups about it - it won't be to establish a reputation as tough guys, but to show everyone that real problems with human consequences can have solutions that don't require confrontation.  If they're grownups....

This is true, but he's being protected by his non-biological father right now, Buck Showalter. If Buck goes I have a feeling the team's approach to Davis will be much different. They'll still be stuck with him, but they can certainly him less comfortable. Bench him indefinitely, demand he work with the hitting coach to change his approach, suggest he go the minors to work on his swing, etc. And then we all just need to keep our fingers crossed that it culminates with a buyout. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

3 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

This is true, but he's being protected by his non-biological father right now, Buck Showalter. If Buck goes I have a feeling the team's approach to Davis will be much different. They'll still be stuck with him, but they can certainly him less comfortable. Bench him indefinitely, demand he work with the hitting coach to change his approach, suggest he go the minors to work on his swing, etc. And then we all just need to keep our fingers crossed that it culminates with a buyout. 

No way a new manager is going to have the patience Buck has shown with Davis.  A new manager might convert him into a bullpen arm.  

[Moose Milligan]

12 minutes ago, 24fps said:

I see no evidence that the Orioles have any intention of "making him miserable" or "messing" with him.  If anything, everything up to now indicates exactly the opposite.  Davis has certainly had more AB's than his performance warrants and Showalter has gone out of his way to not draw attention to an increasingly awkward situation.  If there is any reason for CD to go to the minors it would be to try and get back to being a ML caliber player, something that is in everybody's best interest including the long-term perception of MLBPA in the eyes of the public.  Besides, I'm sure the union internally defines its intrest the the well being of its rank-and-file well beyond that of mere guardian of monies owed, something already adequately covered by contract law.  

How is it in anybody's best interest to let this situation fester much past the end of this season?  I don't expect the Orioles to try and reduce the amount owed, although restructuring the contract would be useful and I fully expect that to take place if Davis doesn't improve sometime soon.  Davis is broken and before long the public is going to make it much, much worse.  If the MLBPA steps in - and they're grownups about it - it won't be to establish a reputation as tough guys, but to show everyone that real problems with human consequences can have solutions that don't require confrontation.  If they're grownups....

Yeah, I know.  Two letter word in there that was key to the whole thing that you apparently missed.  Starts with an I, ends with an f.   

[24fps]

9 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

This is true, but he's being protected by his non-biological father right now, Buck Showalter. If Buck goes I have a feeling the team's approach to Davis will be much different. They'll still be stuck with him, but they can certainly him less comfortable. Bench him indefinitely, demand he work with the hitting coach to change his approach, suggest he go the minors to work on his swing, etc. And then we all just need to keep our fingers crossed that it culminates with a buyout. 

None of this takes place in a vacuum, nor will it in the future.  I don't see an effort to make him less comfortable out of spite or anything like that regardless of who's manager.  It is within the Orioles' rights to demand he do everything in his power to live up to his end of the contract, and that's fair.

[Aristotelian]

 

3 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

Oh hey you two @atomicand @Rene88 remember last week when I was trying to explain the players association and how no one wants to piss them off?

Players union will go nucking futs if the Orioles try to do anything here with him like force a demotion or anything that can set a precedent for a team wanting to get out of a huge contract with an underperforming player.  

Sending him to the minors would have nothing to do with getting out of the contract. He will get paid is $160M. If going to the minors helps him get back on track without the pressure without taking up a roster spot, that is good for him and the team. I don't see why the MLBPA would have a problem with that.

[Moose Milligan]

1 minute ago, Aristotelian said:

 

Sending him to the minors would have nothing to do with getting out of the contract. He will get paid is $160M. If going to the minors helps him get back on track without the pressure without taking up a roster spot, that is good for him and the team. I don't see why the MLBPA would have a problem with that.

No, I'm talking about trying to force him to accept a demotion to the minors.  In other words, they ask, he says no, so they bench him for a long time, bat him 9th (where he should be anyway), play him out of position, etc.  All the while keep pressuring him to get sent down.  IE, we'll hit you 4th and play you each day when you come back up from the minors.  

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Aristotelian said:

 

Sending him to the minors would have nothing to do with getting out of the contract. He will get paid is $160M. If going to the minors helps him get back on track without the pressure without taking up a roster spot, that is good for him and the team. I don't see why the MLBPA would have a problem with that.

Because an 11 year vet would be getting sent to the minors.

They don't care what is good for the team and honestly I think they would view what is good for the union as a whole higher than what is good for Davis.

[Il BuonO]

5 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

No, I'm talking about trying to force him to accept a demotion to the minors.  In other words, they ask, he says no, so they bench him for a long time, bat him 9th (where he should be anyway), play him out of position, etc.  All the while keep pressuring him to get sent down.  IE, we'll hit you 4th and play you each day when you come back up from the minors.  

 

5 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Because an 11 year vet would be getting sent to the minors.

They don't care what is good for the team and honestly I think they would view what is good for the union as a whole higher than what is good for Davis.

Accepting an assignment and being forced are two completely different things. 

Do we know he’s even been asked? It would obviously be better for the team and it might be better for Davis in the long run.  If the rule is a “player can’t be sent down without his permission”, then as long as he’s willing there isn’t a problem and not a whole lot the MLBPA can do about it if the player accepts the assignment.

If he had been approached about such a move and declined I’m sure we’d have heard something about it. In my mind, it wouldn’t be smart for him to fight an assignment as he goes into historically bad levels of production. He would lose most fan support and likely be labeled a problem.

Now, of course that’s where the MLBPA  could step in and make the case, but without some evidence the team was trying to force his hand I don’t see it going very far.

As has been noted, there were warning signs the team ignored. It doesn’t really matter now who ok’d the deal, as long as they’ve learned the lesson. Of course, with the Orioles, that’s always up for debate.

[wildbillhiccup]

4 minutes ago, Il BuonO said:

 

Accepting an assignment and being forced are two completely different things. 

Do we know he’s even been asked? It would obviously be better for the team and it might be better for Davis in the long run.  If the rule is a “player can’t be sent down without his permission”, then as long as he’s willing there isn’t a problem and not a whole lot the MLBPA can do about it if the player accepts the assignment.

If he had been approached about such a move and declined I’m sure we’d have heard something about it. In my mind, it wouldn’t be smart for him to fight an assignment as he goes into historically bad levels of production. He would lose most fan support and likely be labeled a problem.

Now, of course that’s where the MLBPA  could step in and make the case, but without some evidence the team was trying to force his hand I don’t see it going very far.

As has been noted, there were warning signs the team ignored. It doesn’t really matter now who ok’d the deal, as long as they’ve learned the lesson. Of course, with the Orioles, that’s always up for debate.

They should ask him and then when he declines (which he will) leak it to the press. 

[Il BuonO]

Just now, wildbillhiccup said:

They should ask him and then when he declines (which he will) leak it to the press. 

Well, I would hope they could present it in such a way where he would realize it’s in his best interest. But if does say no, I wouldn’t feel the need to keep it a secret.

[Can_of_corn]

43 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

They should ask him and then when he declines (which he will) leak it to the press. 

Yea, they should.

[theocean]

I think Davis gets another shot after this new hiatus. If he continues to stink, I think he'll magically find another hole in the Orioles parking lot. Hope for the best next year.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

2 minutes ago, theocean said:

I think Davis gets another shot after this new hiatus. If he continues to stink, I think he'll magically find another hole in the Orioles parking lot. Hope for the best next year.

Also hoping for a positive drug test for the best. 

[24fps]

1 hour ago, Il BuonO said:

Well, I would hope they could present it in such a way where he would realize it’s in his best interest. But if does say no, I wouldn’t feel the need to keep it a secret.

Nor would I.  It would really take a concerted effort on the Orioles' part for them to come out looking like the bad guy here and they have no obligation to lie on his behalf.  CD now publicly stinks at hitting a baseball and if he doesn't appear like he's doing whatever he can to solve that problem, any goodwill he might have will evaporate overnight.  Maybe he doesn't care about that, but personally I bet he does.