(10-13-2015 07:16 PM)bubbapt Wrote:  Strange days coming. Cubs heading toward the World Series, Memphis football ranked and rolling.

What's next?

(10-13-2015 07:16 PM)bubbapt Wrote:  Strange days coming. Cubs heading toward the World Series, Memphis football ranked and rolling.

What's next?

(10-13-2015 07:24 PM)Pastnerized Wrote:  

(10-13-2015 07:16 PM)bubbapt Wrote:  Strange days coming. Cubs heading toward the World Series, Memphis football ranked and rolling.

What's next?

Next season. Pitchers report in Feb.

(10-15-2015 01:03 PM)poppaslaw Wrote:  Who knew?

Baseball ISN'T gay.

(11-21-2015 09:32 AM)georgiatiger Wrote:  Chris Davis??

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/66587/where-will-chris-davis-end-up-signing


Chris Davis heads into free agency as he enters his age-30 season. He has the most homers in the majors over the past three seasons -- 15 more than Nelson Cruz -- and also leads in RBIs. He led the majors with 53 home runs in 2013 and 47 in 2015, but sandwiched between those monster seasons was a 26-homer season in 2014 when he hit .196 and was suspended 25 games after testing positive for amphetamines.

Davis blamed his suspension on his use of Adderall, an ADD medication. He had previously been cleared to use it and was granted an exemption in 2015, but he hadn't requested an exemption in 2014. How much teams factor in that 2014 season remains to be seen, but Davis is expected to receive a five- or six-year contract at around $20 million a year. That's a big contract but enough to limit his bidding to only the big-market teams. Here are five possible destinations:

1. The favorite: Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have said they have room in the budget to re-sign Davis, and the numbers back that up. The team's payroll was around $117 million in 2015, and Baseball-Reference.com estimates their current payroll around $100 million. The team's long-term commitments are minimal: Adam Jones is signed through 2018, J.J. Hardy and Ubaldo Jimenez through 2017. Of course, Wei-Yin Chen is also a free agent, and he was the team's top starter last year, so Baltimore might need to increase that payroll to bring both back.

Davis has obviously thrived with the short dimensions of the Camden Yards power alleys. Over his four seasons as the team's first baseman, he has hit .272 with 96 home runs at home compared with .242 with 67 home runs on the road. Considering the lack of quality first basemen available in free agency aside from Davis, if the Orioles don't bring him back, they'll have a gaping hole in the lineup.

2. A new Cardinals way: St. Louis Cardinals

They could use an upgrade at first base, where they ranked 28th in the majors in weighted on-base average, and Matt Adams isn't really that good even if healthy. The Cardinals also definitely need an upgrade in the power department. They've averaged fewer than four runs per game the past two seasons, after averaging 4.7 or more from 2011 to 2013. They were last in the NL in home runs in 2014 and 11th in 2015, when they ranked just 11th in the NL in runs scored.

Davis would be a different kind of Cardinals player in that he strikes out a lot -- 208 times in 2015 -- but this team was batting Jhonny Peralta cleanup in the postseason. The Cardinals are reluctant to give out $100 million contracts, but signing Davis would cost less than bringing back Jason Heyward, who could command close to $200 million.

3. Heading home: Houston Astros

Davis is from Longview, Texas, near the Louisiana border, and about three hours north of Houston. More importantly: The Astros need a first baseman and have money to spend. Astros first basemen hit .221/.319/.420 last season, so Davis would be an upgrade even if his numbers dip a bit. But that's actually less of a factor for the Astros because Minute Maid is a very good home run park for left-handed batters. And you know the Astros are the one team that wouldn't worry about Davis' high-strikeout approach.

4. The surprise team: San Francisco Giants

The Giants are looking for pitching help and maybe a left fielder, but if they want to get creative, Davis would be an interesting fit. Because the Giants like to play Buster Posey at first base when he doesn't catch -- he started 37 games there in 2015 -- that means Brandon Belt goes to the bench, which is the waste of a good bat. But unlike Belt, Davis can play the outfield, starting 29 games there for the Orioles last season. That gives the Giants much more flexibility and keeps an additional hitter in the lineup. So they could sign Davis and trade Belt for some pitching help or an outfielder.

5. Into thin air: Colorado Rockies

Other teams that need a first baseman, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians, probably can't afford Davis. The Seattle Mariners are a possibility, but that would mean playing Nelson Cruz or Mark Trumbo in the outfield, and they're trying to get more athletic in the outfield. Jim Bowden suggested the Rockies as a possibility, and that's an intriguing idea.

The Rockies always think they have enough offense, but the truth is that isn't the case. Yes, they led the NL in runs in 2015, but that's misleading. They scored 737, a low total for a team that plays half its games in Coors Field. Instead of worrying about pitching to make your club better, how about just trying to outslug the opposition? Justin Morneau is a free agent and Ben Paulsen is a 27-year-old journeyman. Imagine what Davis could do in Colorado.