Good Bye Mike, Hello Ike

Well… that was quick.

As AC Wayne mentioned as a possibility below, Ike Davis is on his way to Citifield now that Mike Jacobs is on his way to unemployment. I like Jacobs, but he had to go. I wish him luck and hope he is able to catch on with someone somewhere… just as long as it isn’t with the Mets. His 2nd run here with the team was a mistake… one I’m glad to see resolved quickly rather than dragged out.

There’s going to be a lot of excitement with the promotion of Davis, and rightfully so. However if people are expecting him to come smashing out of the gate and rescue the Mets’ struggling offense, odds are you’re going to be disapointed.

Davis has a busload of talent. That much is certain. His glove and bat will be improvements over Jacobs in just about every way… that is certain also. But you have to temper your expectations. Could Davis start off strong and stay solid for the year? Sure he could. I remember when Robinson Cano was brought up (along with Chien-Ming Wang) by the Yankees in 2005 in what seemed like a desperation move by a Bombers team that was struggling and both had great rookie seasons. Cano especially stood out and finished second in the Rookie of the Year balloting. Davis could absolutely have the same success. However, forgive me if I’d prefer to allow for some serious growing pains first.

Davis had an excellent spring and made it look like he could belong, but anyone who knows baseball knows that you have to be careful on how much stock you take in spring training stats. This is not to say Davis doesn’t have what it takes. I think he does. I think in the end he’ll be fantastic. I just don’t know if the time is right. The Mets are off to a horrible start, despite their better play this weeknd, and at 4 – 8 to start the season they need to do something to make sure the seats in Citifield get filled. From a fan perspective, this was a smart move. it will sell tickets and give the fans, who feel like there is little to be excited about, something to cheer for.

With the addition of Davis, the Mets have an infield made up of young corner-stone players who are expected to carry the load for this team. Davis gets to join Jose Reyes and David Wright on the big stage… but is he ready? Only time will tell.

Glaring Issues in Queens

Well it’s only been a week (six games to be exact) and a lot of Mets fans are ready to jump off a bridge. After a 2-4 start and two straight losses to the lowly Nationals it’s hard to blame them, but it HAS only been a week so the need to panic should not have set in yet.

That is not to say the Mets don’t have a few glaring issues however. Right now I would say their inability to hit with runners in scoring postion is the largest. It’s something that the Mets always seem to have a problem with, no matter who is on the team. It’s bizarre.

To me though, one of the largest problems is first base. While Jacobs did hit a home run yesterday (a towering shot in the 8th), he was 2 for 16 before that and has basically been unreliable at the plate. It’s exactly as I feared… he’s all power and no substance. He’ll hit you home runs (maybe even as much as 30 to 35 in a full season) however he’ll do nothing else. This is beyond frustrating when you see Chris Carter doing well at AAA Buffalo after having a great spring. It’s not even like Jacobs is so good with the glove that you’ll take the lousy batting average and non-contact at-bats. The entire thing makes no sense.

It doesn’t help that Gary Mathews, after a good opening day has been as “unclutch” as you can be. He’s been up at least six times with two out and runners in scoring postion (four times yesterday alone) and hasn’t gotten one hit.

Overall the Mets are 10 for 53 with runners in scoring position. That’s a .189 batting average. That is 2nd worst in the NL (behind only Houston). Seeing that Jacobs and Matthews have been hitting mostly in the 4th, 5th and 6th positions you can see where a lot of that lost production is coming from.

It’s only been six games. Jacobs himself has only started in four. However, it’s already getting to be time for the Mets to see what they have in front of them and act. Release Jacobs (or send him down… trust me… he’ll clear waivers), bring up Carter and start playing Pagan in Center at least four or five times a week until Beltran returns.

The starting pitching hasn’t been amazing, but it hasn’t been downright horrible either. Niese and Pelfry both had good starts while Maine and Perez’s starts were lackluster but not disasters. The bullpen has been outstanding so far. Reyes has looked a little sluggish since his return but I would expect that to improve quickly.

Murphy has knee injury

Daniel Murphy left yesterday’s spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals after a rundown between 3rd base and home plate ended with him suffering what was thought to be a knee sprain.

Bergan Record reporter Steve Popper reported that Murphy had an MRI today and that he “had his leg immobilized in a brace that locked it straight from almost ankle to hip.” He was diagnosed with a sprained right knee.

Murphy was seen leaving the clubhouse in street clothes and was walking with a serve limp.

The question becomes.. will the Mets call Ike Davis back orjust slide Mike Jacobs into the 1st baseman’s role?

I think if Murphy is only going to miss a week or two, it’ll be Jacobs at the postion… anything more and the Ike Davis fan club will get their wish sooner than expected.

I’m not too keen on Jacobs being the everyday 1st Baseman. If we’re talking lobger than 15 days, then the hell with it… I like Ike.

Who’s on First?

So with a few weeks of spring training yet, it seems that Mets’ manager Jerry Manuel is still stating that the first base position is an open competition. In that mix are encumbent Daniel Murphy, veteran Mike Jacobs and rookie Ike Davis.

As of yesterday, Murphy was hitting .148, 1 HR, 1 RBI and 6 Ks in 30 at-bats. Jacobs is hitting .200 with no home runs and 2 ks in 20 at-bats. Davis is hitting a whopping .500 with 2 HRs, 9 RBI and 7 Ks in 22 at-bats.

From listening to sports talk radio in New York the general consensus seems to be that people want Ike Davis’ run at first to start now.

I think that would likely be a mistake.

Listen, I’m as excited about Davis as anyone. I see him as a John Olerud type of player. Some decent power with excellent contact and on base percentage skills, strong defense and good baseball smarts.

However, I’d like to give him another year starting at AAA before thrusting him into the spotlight at Citifield.

First off, you cannot use the limited at bats all three players have compiled as a true basis for what they are going to do this season. Twenty to thirty at-bats is nothing.

Second, you have to understand something here. All three players are doing totally different things right now. Their approach isn’t on the same plane. Murphy is experimenting and looking to make some adjustments. 1st base is his job to lose. Jacobs is just trying to do what he can to make the team. He’s not even assured of a role at all. Davis is just looking to prove that he belongs. He’s looking to make people open their eyes to him and leave a lasting impression. He knows that odds are he’s heading to AAA but it looking to make that decision as hard to make as possible, and in that he has totally succeeded.

Frankly, I’d be shocked if Murphy wasn’t the starting 1st basemen when the team heads north. It seems that Jacobs, with his large power potential, has a leg up on the last bench spot. I’m not too sure I like that idea. I like Jacobs, but don’t feel he’d work out too well as a bat off the bench. I actually would prefer Frank Catalanotto or Chris Carter. I love the way Carter looks and was happy the Mets got him from the Red Sox in the Wagner trade last year. I think he could be a solid player.

In any case… temper those thoughts of Davis. I think he WILL be the starting 1st baseman for the Mets in 2011, but let’s not rush him too much, ok?