Last week, Kevin Kernan of the NY Post caught up with Ron Davis, the father of Mets first base prospect Ike Davis. In this candid interview, Ron talks about what he envisions for his son’s future in the game, but also shares a touching story that reveals the caliber of Ike’s character.
Michael Lio, a close friend who played second base alongside Ike in travel ball and at Chaparral High School — where the team won three straight state championships — battled Ewing’s sarcoma, a deadly cancer. Michael, 22, died Oct. 29.
“Ike was there for him, and so were other guys, rallying around Mike,” Ron said. “Ike was playing in the Arizona Fall League, and as soon as the game was over he would go back to the hospice and sit with Michael, spend the night with him and leave at 9 the next morning, go drive out and play a ballgame, and then do the same thing. So, he went about four or five nights, when it got real bad, without even sleeping.”
It’s an uplifting account that reminds all us of the human and compassionate side of an athlete that we rarely see or hear about. Considering the emotional weight of the loss of a friend, it’s remarkable that he was able to compete in finish the AFL season as strong as he did. The Mets’ first baseman of the future, finished the Arizona Fall League season hitting .341 with four homers and 16 RBI in 85 at-bats. Not too shabby!
Ron Davis goes on to give a glowing report on Ike’s future with the Mets, and I gotta tell ya, I can’t wait for the Ike Davis era to begin.
“I believe he’ll play 10-15 years in the big leagues without a problem,” Ron said of his son. “I know he’s a great defensive first baseman, has a lot of power and I know he’ll keep his average up. Most guys are going for stats, but he’ll do things to sacrifice for the team. The Mets definitely got a winner.”
I have a hunch, that the next Mets jersey I buy, will most likely be an Ike Davis jersey. So I hope he gets that major league career kick started very soon, because I really need to expand my Mets wardrobe.
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Yes, i am equally excited by the kid’s fast development. i think he’ll be ready by 2011, maybe a late call-up in 2010.
It’s great he’s a good fielder. Also, heard he has played OF and has a great arm .
Now if he can only do better than .242/.301/.371 against lefties!
Otherwise, he’s another Mike Jacobs.
A very touching story about Ike’s character — his sympathy and loyalty.
But Ike still has to pass the acid test — hitting big leagues sliders, curves and off-speed pitches. I wish him well but at least for my baseball judgments, I’m from Missouri. Time will be the only judge that counts.
Nice story. Can he hit a major league curve ball? Folks, let’s can the schmaltz and try focusing on talent.
When was the last time Wright hit a curve?
David can ‘cream’ a curve from a left-handed pitcher. No doubt about it.
Wright has been a proven major league hiter. You can never say a minor leaguer is can’t miss. I am glad he is a nice guy but I root for laundry. Players go where the money is. Nobody on the mets is there because they love the mets, so I don’t love them. I don’t want to. Go to all the hospitals you want, Ike and Jeff, but how you perform between the lines is all that matters to me. The mets put a lot of stock in how good you are in the clubhouse–no one ever scored a winning run in front of their locker. The mets have their priorities all screwed up, but I am preaching to the choir, I know.
Gary Sheffield agrees with you. But most of us want there to be something more, don’t you agree?