18
2011
2011 Mets Player Review: Ike Davis, 1B
An article by 
We began our review of the 2011 Mets by examining their free agents and players the team will consider tending contracts to. We started evaluating the rest of the roster, beginning with infielder Ruben Tejada and continue today with first baseman Ike Davis. Tomorrow: Daniel Murphy.
IKE DAVIS, 1B
THE SKINNY: Davis became a Mets cult hero in 2010 with his eye-opening power and propensity for climbing the dugout rail to make circus catches. Davis missed most of last season with an ankle injury, but remains one of the franchise’s key prospects.
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATIONS: After hitting 19 homers with 71 RBI in 2010, big things were expected last season. Perhaps 30 homers, which would have been a good complement to David Wright. There were little issues about his defense, so the Mets had themselves a star in the making.
HOW THE SEASON PLAYED OUT: Murphy’s Law: If it can go wrong for the Mets it will. Davis got off to a good start with seven homers, 25 RBI and a .302 average before an infield collision with Wright on a pop-up. Davis said Wright and he couldn’t hear each other, and nobody heard Mike Pelfrey call for it as a pitcher should. Maybe he had his fingers in his mouth. Anyway, a couple of days became a couple of weeks became a couple of months.
JOHN’S TAKE: Ankle injuries are tough to come back from because so much of hitting is done with the legs. That’s what generates the power. Davis said he’s sprinting and will be ready for the spring training. We shall see. There’s a lot to like about a healthy Davis. Let’s hope he’s that.
JOE’S TAKE: Davis has quickly become one of my favorite Mets. He has an intensity and drive you don’t see in some of the other players and he absolutely hates to lose. I see him quickly becoming on of the leaders of this team in the mold of Keith Hernandez. His quick bat and the power he generates from from his lower body tells me we could see many 30+ home run seasons in his future. His defense is close to elite and it won’t be long until he starts racking up a few Gold Gloves. Get back on the diamond Ike, it’s what you were born to do.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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What concerns me about Ike is the possibility that his ankle injury may have triggered the onset of arthritis and that could possibly shorten his career.Hard to believe what seemed like a minor injury cost hm the season.He’s the key the teams success both long and short term.
Saw the interview on SNY’s Hot Stove earlier today with Burkhardt and Davis.
Burkhardt asked him about how disappointing it was getting off to the good start he did in his sophomore year. And basically if he thinks he’ll pick up where he left off. Davis actually said he hopes he’s improved even though he hasn’t played. Said something about being a little too impatient at the plate and wanting to improve on recognizing ‘his’ pitch to hit. I guess the kid had more than enough time on his hands to be ‘thinking’ about improving his game, since he couldn’t do much else after May last season.
We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed on the health of that ankle. If he is good to go, gets off to a good start and continues to improve, he might be one of the pieces to look forward to in 2012. I don’t think 30 HRs would be a stretch at all, especially with the OF changes in the works.
If he plays the full year, 30 is certainly reasonable.
I feel that Ike is one of the biggest keys this season. If he is in there and mashing like last year (likely in the 4 hole?), and solidifying the infield D, it is going to help significantly to give them a shot at being competitive.
certainly other things have to work out, but he is a big one.
If you look at Ike’s career from High School up to last season He has excelled everywhere he has been. From all the awards and championships in H.S. to being named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in College and First Team All-Pac-10 honors as a sophomore. Then in the minors in 2009 after a strong 1st half in St Lucie he was promoted to Binghamton and finished with a strong 2nd half. That was followed with him playing for Team Usa where they won the Gold medal and a good showing in the AFL where he was named to the Rising Stars Game. Followed with his nice showing in 2010 as a Pro.
Yes everything about Ike says if he can remain healthy there is no telling how good he can really be.
hard tp review him due to his injuries. but, he was doing fine up until that point. if healthy this man imo has the capability to hit 30+ hr’s for years to come as a met.
Ike carries a swagger with him in a big spot, can be arrogant in his own way (which btw is what Mets need, not nice guy BS), will be a 30-45 HR, 90-110 RBI, .280+ hitter for years to come. And like Joe D said, Ike hates losing.
If our infield looks like this – on the right side we have Ike Davis and Tejada, on the left side we have Wright and Reyes. We have Bay in LF, Duda in RF, the fences lowered and moved in.
Sounds like a good lineup to build upon and try and CONTEND FOR THE POST SEASON – SANDY!!!!
Now we need word on Santana and if he’s good to go than I’m good with Santana, Dickey, Niese, & Gee (no specific order)
Now use whatever money you have left over, 30 million maybe? And GO make this team a contender for 2012 AND PROMOTE IT.
Terrible job by Alderson on the public relations part of this too. If he sells the team like I have there you can convince fans to come and buy tickets. You have to TALK TO THE FANS Sandy! Like him or not Omar and Phillips always spoke clearly about filling holes and competing the next year. They sold the team to the fans and you loved it at the time. I know I did.