The Mets have yet to find a partner for an Ike Davis trade. The theory that Davis would attract a suitor hoping to bag the next Chris Davis seems to have been overblown. Now, a deal could still happen and the Mets could wind up with a platoon of Lucas Duda and Josh Satin but it occurred to me, the Mets could use the next Crash Davis.
Ignore, for the moment, that the Mets don’t have a leadoff hitter and that Bartolo Colon has a solid chance of starting on opening day. The Mets now have Daniel Murphy, David Wright and Curtis Granderson in the heart of their batting order. That’s pretty good, but it doesn’t make them playoff contenders. What would change that? Why not Davis?
In 2011 Davis was 149 plate appearances into a monumental season when injury struck on a freak play. How good? Let’s see what that season could have been if he continued on that pace:
- R: 84
- 2B: 34
- 3B: 4
- HR: 29
- RBI: 105
That is the Davis the Mets have been waiting for. The one we thought we saw late in 2012 and the one who never showed up in 2013. Why don’t we have faith anymore?
- The swing is no longer sweet
I joked last season that the only thing slower than Ike Davis’ bat speed was John Olerud running from first to second. Dave Hudgens might work for Wright but Davis needs his old approach back.
- Too many excuses
First he had his injury, then he had valley fever, then 2013 happened and we said, “Now or never.” Davis didn’t respond and we gave up on him.
- Citi Field
What is the biggest obstacle between our Davis suddenly breaking out like Baltimore’s? Camden Yard and Citi Field are not exactly comparing apples to apples. It might not even be apples or oranges. Flushing might not be the ideal environment for Davis to suddenly smash 40 home runs.
Wouldn’t it be nice if he did though?
I’m all for keeping Davis if the Mets do not get enough in an exchange. Let him try and prove himself in Spring Training. That being said, if we get a decent return, I’m ok with trading him.
There is so much we don’t know as fans, about the physical condition of a given athlete at a given time. Do any of us really know Ike’s condition back in early 2012? Of course not; yet if it was not for that ugly stretch of games added to what happened in 2013, I doubt there would be many so ready to dismiss Ike from the Mets plans.
The man can hit when he is healthy. If he has lost his optimal approach, then it’s up to Ike and the coaching staff to relocate that approach. It’s the same problem every manager of people faces in every walk of life. Teams manage it all the time.
What makes no sense is to give away one of the best power options available, when the Mets needs power themselves and will be short on power if they ship Davis out. This isn’t the Giants from the early 1960’s we’re talking about.
Ike is the Mets best option. Make it work, Sandy.
Couldn’t agree more…Great post!
That’s what the Mets did in 2012 – tried to make it work
That’s what they did in 2013, too – tried to make it work
How long do you keep trying? Just for the sake of this being a thought exercise – and not making it personal in regards to Davis, Duda and Satin – how long do you stick with a struggling player?
50 PA? 100 PA? 250 PA? 500 PA? 750 PA? 1000 PA? 1500 PA?
At some point, it’s no longer struggling — it’s who he is as a player. The Mets finally accepted who Justin Turner was as a player and cut him. He lived off the glory of May 2011 for a long, long time.
I no longer pretend to know what’s going on with Ike. Nothing he would do in 2014 would surprise me. I’ve seen him do a bunch of things – both good and bad – and if you told me he’d make the All-Star team this year it wouldn’t completely shock me. But if you told me the Mets sent him to Triple-A and he spent the entire season in the minors – I’d believe that, too.
I have posted this before about Ike – he was arguably the worst starting player in majors thru kid-June 2012, and the same through the end of June in 2013…helping knock them out of contention earlier – fans upset and staying home. Wilpons are rightfully fearful that could happen again….so am I. It was painful to watch. And painful in terms of ticket sales.
A player’s true worth is incremental impact on revenues minus salary. Ike the past 2 years has been enormously expensive to the Mets.
Meanwhile, Duda’s extreme non-clutch performance last year was, too…tough choice. I’d still go with Duda/Satin – less chance of extremely bad start to 2014.
Ike needs a change of scenery. Right now he’s locking down a roster spot and holding a salary for production barely above Tejada. For all the swing issues, keys not forget that his fielding excellence also is a memory. He was pretty rotten guarding the line, in foul ground and no longer capable at turning the 3-6-3. Ike will be 27 by the time opening day comes. He’s no kid. By now he shouldbr a stabilizing veteran force. Instead we still have no clue who ike really is. Well except when he gets a breaking pitch, then we see the Ike we know. I’m done with excuses. If SA can’t find a suitor, I’d pay him the 600k and just fire him. Time to move on.
Teams have figured out Ike Davis. He stubbornly refuses to believe that and thinks that what has worked in the past will continue to work. Until he gets over this delusion and has a attitude makeover, he will never be successful.
He should have been sent to extended spring training last year for an attitude check.
There is no way both Duda and Davis should be on roster. It doesn’t make sense. I agree with Name too. Ike is very stubborn and his nonchalant demeanor towards struggles shows he has unjustified entitlement. He blames everything on anything but himself and lacks mental toughness