6
2012
Enough Is Enough: Ike’s Gotta Go
An article by 
About two weeks ago, I questioned if hype got the best of us with regards to Ike Davis.
Today, I was hoping I’d write about how he has snapped out of it. The truth is, it’s time to go Ike.
This is not about last night. I don’t think last night was a pack it in night as some seem to feel. It was a bad loss, we move on. This is about April-June 5.
I understand the reason Terry Collins told him “you’re not going to Buffalo.” It was meant to make him comfortable, and maybe stop playing with fear. However, I think it has backfired.
I think what it did was make him comfortable in mediocrity. Now, there’s no threat of losing his job. It’s just “wait and see,” and frankly, he doesn’t deserve that much leeway. There is no sense of urgency anymore.
You know, with Jason Bay coming back, I find myself hoping he turns it around. Hoping that he proves all the naysayers wrong.
How many of us want Jason Bay to be cut? I’m sure plenty of you reading this today have had that thought at least once.
Take a look at this.
Ike Davis has played in 236 games, and had 940 plate appearances. He is a career .248 hitter, with a .331 OBP and a .421 SLG. He’s hit 31 HR and driven in 117 runs, with 46 doubles and 2 triples.
Since Jason Bay joined the Mets, he has played in 233 games, and had 967 plate appearances. He has a .251 average, a .335 On Base, and a .391 Slugging. He’s hit 21 HR, driven in 109 runs, and hit 41 doubles with 7 triples.
Now, to me, those numbers look eerily similar. Yet, Jason Bay gets more harsh treatment from Mets fans than Davis does. I get that Bay isn’t “earning his paycheck,” but there is at least a history behind him.
We’ve seen with our own two eyes what Jason Bay is capable of. We’re waiting for it, and it may never happen in a Mets uniform, but we know it exists. With regards to Ike Davis, what we’ve seen in his career is “Jason Bay as a Met.”
Ike Davis means more to the Mets long term than Jason Bay does. That is undeniable.
Davis going down to Buffalo is for his own good. This game is about production, not about feelings. Will it hurt Davis’ feelings if he is sent down? I’m sure it will.
Will it make him a better player? At this point, it certainly can’t make him a worse player.
He’s not an experience enough hitter to simply “snap out of it.” He hasn’t been in enough tough situations, and he isn’t learning how to adjust right now.
I understand the value he has at 1B. He has made some plays that an average 1B cannot or will not make. However those plays do not cancel out the AB’s he has continued to fail with.
Last year, Marlins 1B Gaby Sanchez was a part of the All-Star team. This year, in 36 games, he’s hitting .197 with a .539 OPS. Do you know where 28 year old All-Star Sanchez is today?
AAA New Orleans hitting .275 with a .876 OPS in 17 games.
Why is he there? Because it means more to the Marlins to have him figure things out now in AAA, than to have to send him down in July or August because he still hasn’t figured things out.
The longer the Mets wait, the more Davis will struggle and hurt the Mets. Every day he is on the Mets roster, is another day he hurts the Mets down the stretch.
When the next roster move takes place, it’s time to send Davis to AAA. Enough is enough, this is about the team now and long term. Having Ike Davis lost against big league pitching doesn’t do the Mets or Ike Davis any good.
Oddly enough, Jason Bay may be the guy taking his place on the roster.
About the Author: Michael J. Branda
My time with MMO began in July of 2009 when I wrote a Fan Post defending Omar Minaya (before it was cool to do that.) I grew up a Mets fan with the mid 1980's teams. My favorite Met of all-time is (and was) Wally Backman. When it comes to sabermetrics versus old school thinking, I like to think I meet in the middle. I believe thinking of new ways to get answers is helpful, especially when the same way has not produced results. However, I think over-thinking certain situations can get you into trouble. I'm excited for the new regime, because I believe they have pieces in place to focus on several aspects of the Mets organization. I've waited this long for a World Series, waiting a few more years for another chance isn't going to kill me.
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I would like to be able to go back to the beginning of last year and look at his swing when he was hot. But I can’t. He has clearly been on his front foot all of this season. I think his tendency to lean forward, while also stepping in the bucket, requires a drastic change and that should probably happen in the minors. Ike has too many parts to his swing. Therefore, the chance that something will go wrong with it is multiplied. I think he has to widen his stance, use a leg kick (where he lands in the same spot with his weight still back–he has to get rid of the lean into the ball) and get rid of the hitch. He cannot work on all of that in a major league lineup. Too many parts to correct and too much timing involved for major league level experimentation. As for his approach, Ike, you have to hit the fastball on the outside half of the plate. You have to look for it sometimes and drive it the other way. You cannot stand there and be 0-2 every AB.Okay, that’s it. Yes, send him down for a month.
Yes, he’s hurting the team a lot. Move Duda to first, and let’s get this on.
Agreed. I also think a trade is in order. With such a glut of middling guys at the upper levels and the 40 man being a logjam, I’d say look to get either a 1B or OF (if an OF, then Duda to first) and roll with platooning Kirk and Hairston and Bay… well, Bay can platoon or just take his bat and his bags back to Canada.
I wonder if Quentin from SD can be had for a non-kings ransom.
Quentin is due to get hurt again in a couple weeks.
As is everyone else on this roster, so have him join the party. Blow 2 ACLs out, get a blown MCL for free.
I think the urgency should be on Alderson and TC’s part. If you don’t send Ike down now, you may not know you need another 1B in time for the trade deadline.
If you send him down now, give him a few weeks… if he still is lost then you know “we need somebody, now!” If you wait and wait and wait… by the time you know you may need help, its too late.
I don’t mind the Derrek Lee suggestion but I also think you’re talking about 4-6 weeks before he’d be in a Mets uniform anyway. At that point, you’re still without an everyday 1B who can hit. It may be too late by then also.
They need to figure this out right now. They need to know if they need a guy like LaHair as a fill in, or kick the tires on a RF to put Duda at 1B (I personally would rather see Duda stay in RF if they view him as a RF for the future.)
You can play Duda in RF until Lee is ready and I don’t think it takes that long for him to get ready. Supposedly he is keeping in shape, whatever the hell that means.
at his age, he can hit BP and run around the bases without having a massive coronary.
“I think the urgency should be on Alderson and TC’s part. If you don’t send Ike down now, you may not know you need another 1B in time for the trade deadline.”
I think that’s a good point but I also imagine that if they keep Ike up and he is still struggling that Alderson has no problem making a move. These guys have some pretty talented people observing Ike and I am sure there is no confusion on what needs to be done at this point.
As for the Lee suggestion, I don’t know if that’s the right way to go. How long will it take him to get in baseball shape is probably the main question. I can’t find any news on what he is currently doing.
I kind of like that idea. A bold stroke, with a potential high upside, and it also sends a clear message to the fanbase. A win-win!
and trying to get a clue if Ike can help this year (let along next season) is a big part of the reason I wanted him sent down weeks ago.
I watched Lee struggle mightily for most of two seasons with Cubs. He was a K and DP machine. No, thanks.
Russell: I’m not sure where I stand on Lee to be honest. Mostly because I am not sold that he could be in uniform quickly.
But I don’t think doubting his talent is the way to go. First of all if you’re saying Lee 2010, 2011 versus Ike 2012… I’ll take Lee any day.
I can’t argue with the idea of sending Ike down but yet I just can’t shake that a part of me that wants him to stay and get it done up here.
Why you dirty, low-down, inglorious basterd. Didn’t you see I was working on an “I Like Ike In The Minors” post? LOL, just kidding. He really, really, really needs to get on the Buffalo shuttle. Imagine if the Mets had simply done that a month ago? We might have a few more wins, and Ike may have gotten his game together and be back already. Sitting on your hands is never a good strategy.
Question– If Mets do not want to move Duda or Murphy to 1st because it should be a short term solution, who do you want to to play there? Who might be available to play there NOW and become a bench player when hopefully Ike returns?
You’d have to overpay for him, but the LeHair guy from Chicago is available. Off hand there isn’t much else that I’ve seen.
To mention dregs, I think Lind could be had fairly cheap (?).
I mentioned EvenFlow’s idea below, why not check on Derrek Lee?
When you are hitch hiking, you can’t go kicking the tires of the car that stops to pick you up. You just get in. Sure, Lee works too. Is Eddie Murray still keeping in shape? Or, was he ever in shape?
maybe they should go watch Mo Vaughn take BP? Give Rusty jr a thrill, and some fresh material.
I like Lee as a backup and short term use also, but he would need 2 or 3 weeks to get ready as he is not playing at all.
That’s fine. Not a big deal. Let him go to extended ST or something for a few weeks. For the time being you can have Duda at 1B and call up Lutz.
Or not. Lutz is still on DL
Is Evans available?
considering how poorly he is hitting in the minors for the Pirates, I would say “heck yeah”
I thought he was already up? Oh yeah that’s his clone Satin. No thanks on Evans.
Scratch that, Nick Evans is hitting a lustful .197 for Pittsburghs minor league team.
I thought Evans was on the DL with a broken wrist.
You could kick some tires on guys like Giambi, Morneau, Lee as mentioned, LaHair as mentioned, El Caballo… but that’s about it really. Not a lot out there in terms of 1B unless Colorado was ready to just get something for Todd Helton which I doubt they would ask for anything reasonable anyway since they likely want him retiring there.
The problem here (and the reason the Lee suggestion is not nuts) is that if this isn’t a slump for Ike, if its a red flag, it goes beyond 2012. They need to figure out 1B today and years from now.
So if you’re worried about longterm 1B then the only thing you can do in 2012 is get a short term solution without giving up any talent, which would be D. Lee.
I think a stop gap for now is all you are looking for at 1B. Allowing Ike to go to the minors and seeing what you have later in the year. For all we know it could be Duda or Murphy at 1B next year and Havens at 2B or a FA in RF.
can’t argue with anything here really. Well, except for the fact that Ike has also made some bad errors (or non-error miscues) lately too. Even last night when he should have gotten the lead runner and lost the handle.
Sending him down really does qualify as about the future. If they keep him up all year and he never does “fix” himself, then who do you plan (as a team) for next year? Assume he magically cures his problems in the off season? Or get another 1B option, just in case?
so go down, be embarrassed, get humbled, but mostly, take some time to really work on rebuilding the mechanics/foundation of his swing. Once he does that and gets the timing back then come up to put the finishing touches on it.
and if he can’t hit down there (especially after his real dismissive attitude about the minors not proving anything) then the mets need to make 1B another area to find a solution for.
Agreed. Get him out of here.
I just gave credit to EvenFlow a few minutes ago. Why not check in on Derrek Lee? As for Ike you have to send him down. Right now the Mets and Sandy are letting roster management get the best of them.
Send down Ike, DFA Satin, Rauch to the DL and call up Lutz and Hampson. That still doesn’t solve the SS issues as Sandy has to look on the waiver wire, scour the minor leagues or find a value guy somewhere so we can send V-Spun back to AAA to learn any defensive position. There’s not much room of the 40 man with a few of them maybe years away and many on the DL. Tough decisions have to be made and if that takes DFA Carson, Satin and sending down part of the “future” so be it.
I surmise that the rash of injuries, and constant juggling of all the realistic back-up options, is a big part of the reason that Ike is still here.
I’m beginning to get that same feeling with Ike Davis that I used to get everytime I saw Oliver Perez on my TV screen. The Mets decision to keep sending him out there has backfired tremendously and now I wonder if he will ever be himself again. He may be on track to go down as just another one of those first round busts. By keeping him here wallowing in his misery and lack of production, it may take 1-2 years to get his head screwed on straight again.
Like to see Turner get a crack at first also
If Turner were here he would be an option.
The simplest solution of course would be if Bay could play a passable 1B. Too bad he wasn’t one of the OF types that also spent time over there.
or Hairston. Hairston has played the infield before, just not 1B. He actually came up as a 2B.
There is no real harm in Duda playing a few weeks of 1B.
works for me.
Like I’ve mentioned last week, the Mets either need to check on Derrek Lee and sign him to a 1-year deal or enter the Kevin Youkilis sweepstakes. It’s that simple. I was worried about Davis ever since he started out the gate cold. Here it is June, and nothing has virtually changed. The problem the Mets seem to have is doing the inevitable. It seemed like forever to cut Acosta when he was killing us and now it seems like forever for them to send Ike down to Buffalo. No more waiting around. We are at the thick of a winnable NL East race and we need as much offense as possible.
I like the Lee idea and gave you credit over in the desert for the idea. However, I think Youk will cost way too much considering the dearth of hitters on the market and the sexy name. I guess the O’s would trade us Mark Reynolds for a BP guy… too bad we don’t have one.
I would be way more interested int eh guy that just costs some money, not $$ + a few good prospects.
There must be some other guys out there available if you will pick up some $$, right? Lee is just an obvious FA sitting out there.
Not sure I see any salary dumps for 1B that wouldn’t break the bank.
I say send Ike down and move Murph to 1B where he played pretty well until Ike came up and then you get him off the 2B bag where he is attrocious and play Spin there till all our SS come back from Club Med!
Before they send him down I would like them to try one more thing….
Bat Ike #3 in the order with Wright behind him batting clean up.
If he doesn’t start hitting by the end of the week then it’s time for him to go down.
Unless there is speed on the basepaths when Ike gets up, I can’t see where it will matter who is hitting behind Ike. It’ll be curveball in the dirt after curveball in the dirt until Ike eventually K’s, yes again.
Yea. I get the reasoning behind the idea. You hope he sees less curveballs. But the book is the book. I don’t know these stats but I would imagine Ike is swinging at bad pitches, so it doesn’t matter who is hitting behind him because pitchers are still getting away with balls out of the zone.
I don’t think changing something with Wright is worth the experiment to be honest. Nor do I think batting a .160 hitter 3rd in the lineup for a week against DC-Tampa-NYY is a logical plan.
I think Ike has run out of chances. I don’t think batting him 3rd this week will do anything but hurt the team more. I get the IDEA but I think its an idea you try maybe in April, not in June against a division leader and two AL East beasts coming at you.
The idea is that maybe he would see less of those bad pitches out of the strikezone.
Because then if he just lays off them they would be forced to come into the strikezone so as not to let him get on in front of Wright!
As Jessup pointed out, they might be less inclined to throw him junk in the dirt or nibble on the outside and risk walking him with a big bat ready to drive him in hitting behind him.
He will see a few more fastballs than he does now and that might get him something better to hit.
Like I said give him a week there if the results are not good then it’s not the pitches he is getting and it’s time to send him down.
That’s why I said 2nd. Tell him we want you to shorten up make contact like a good #2 hitter. That way you don’t have to mess with Wright or Duda either.
Kirk, Davis, Wright, Duda, Murphy, Hairston, Thole, Q. With Bay/Torres in there some for Kirk and Hairston.
Actually I’m saying the opposite TRS…
Yes I want him to shorten up his swing but I also want him to take pitches and look stricty for fastballs until he gets two strikes.
Then have him try to just make contact to foul off pitches that are close enough to call.
I can’t say Ike is the kind of hitter that can do that either just saying thats the best position to put him into to succeed.
That’s basically the same thing. Be a good #2 hitter and try not to get out, be patient and don’t strike out.
You want to see slow footed Ike bunting the runner over? LOL
He is hitting into double plays too!
The few hits he has are all HRs…I would rather have two guys on base when that happens than one!
It’s moot because if they had any intentions of doing what I said they would have done it by now!
Jessup isn’t wrong when he says the timing isn’t really right!
They should have done this the day they decided and announced they were not going to send him down!
I am not against the idea. I’m against the timing.
He’s hitting .160 right now and looking lost. It’s the total package, he just looks absolutely lost. So why impact Wright or Duda or anybody else having success just to try and fix something that looks broken right now?
It’s not worth it to me. It’s not worth messing with any of them just to get Ike to get a few base hits and still look lost.
The Mets have
Wash 2, Nyy 3, Tb 3, Cin 3, Balt 3, Nyy 3, Chc 3, Lad 4, Phi 3, Cubs 3
Show me 1 week where you can afford to have an automatic out bat 3rd?
It doesn’t exist. The Mets are in a pivotal spot here. They have 10 series’ before the break and 7 of them are against serious contenders. Baltimore is questionable, but certainly nothing to sneeze at.
They don’t have time to mess around with the lineup just for Ike’s sake.
This.
I have no idea if Ike can work it out in the minors. I do know that they cannot continue to carry the black hole of his bat in the lineup.
I’d move Duda there for now and be done with it.
We’re a little short on IF back ups but have a few more OF backups.
I wouldn’t move Duda or Murphy at all…Both are still learning thier position and the last thing you should ever do is hurt one player in the name of fixing another!
Which is the only drawback I had with moving Wright to cleanup for Davis!
I wouldn’t move Murphy either.
Who do you have playing first then if Ike goes down and you don’t want Duda moved there?
Whats wrong with Lutz?
I mean if Ike goes down it’s pointless unless you play him right?
You want to sit Lutz while he works it out or do you simply swap them and let Lutz play 1B until Ikell be back to being able to play everyday!
Unless Lutz is hurt and I missed it thats your guy!
I believe he is still on the DL.
I don’t know about you guys, but I need a scorecard anymore for who is hurt, who is on the DL, who is on the 40 man….
Yes, Lutz is on the DL again. I believe he came off and this is his 2nd trip? Anyway, he’s out.
I could have seen them moving Baxer to 1st if he wasn’t hurt.
Does Rottino play any 1st base?
I still believe Duda is the right candidate for now.
not sure how good he is, but Pretty sure Rotinno has played at first this year. Not that he hits much.
I think you are correct that the answer is Duda (though of course, the answer to almost every problem is Duda).
I understand wnating him to be comfortable in RF, but he really has been fine out there I think. At least you don’t hear about him doing anything worng!
so given the extraordinary circumstances, it needs to be team first for now, and that means moving him for a while. It is not going to blow up his chances of a future in the OF (besides, that will be in LF anyway).
moot point if the team still refuses to send Ike down, a real head scratcher at this point, given that he is far from a proven player.
I’m with ou SRT…Kinda like a bad game of whack a mole where you can’t remember which hole you whacked last!
Rotiino has played some 1st base…But it wasn’t all that good from what I remember…
Wasn’t he at 1st on that play everyone was saying if Ikes there thats an out?
It really doesn’t matter who it is…
Even Duda is not a great glove at first. I would rather him stay in the OF where the field doesn’t affect his attempt at raising his average and put some kid there until Ike gets back.
Even if it means a weak bat because what we need is IKE getting on track more than the extra bat!
And if the options we have to play there are no better at hitting than Ike then maybe it’s just better to stick with Ike. At least until Lutz or Turner gets back.
Jessup I’m not saying you not correct about the timing. I suggested this a month ago actually!
Would have been better then than to do now!
I think I mentioned swapping Ike and Wright elsewhere in this thread…
At the time Ike was batting cleanup.
To me that’s why you try it as #2 hitter vs RH. You don’t really mess with anyone else and it’s not like Torres is a silver slugger.
Yep but when he does get on he has speed and can stay out of the DPs Ike seems to be hitting into with MOB and if Ike hits a single you will at least have a man on third or can score.
Lets face it the last thing you want in a #2 hitter is a K Machine. You can live with it in the #3 spot but not the #2
Right now the problem is Ike is not recognizing the pitches. By his own admission he can’t tell what pitch he’s even getting his occasional hits on. It won’t matter where he hits in the lineup if he can’t recognize pitches. He may need corrective lenses. Something is terribly wrong when you can’t tell what pitch you just hit for a single.
The Buffalo isn’t going to help him if thats the problem…
Send him to StLucie for a week and do the old Pitch Call routine with him.
Let him face a live pitcher with a catcher. The Catcher knows what is coming and as soon as the pitch is thrown he calls out whatever the pitch is as it’s coming….
Do that for one simulated AB then don’t call it out for one.
Best excercize for someone having problems recognizing pitches!
I mentioned this earlier but I would let him hit 2nd ahead of Wright 3rd with Duda 4th.
Well right now Murphy is every bit as good of a #3 hitter as Wright.
Maybe even better because he has less HR pop than Wright.
I don’t think you want Ike coming up after your leadoff hitter but what your proposing still fits what I was trying to do for Ike.
I think the only reason Wright is hitting 3rd right now is due to the lack of RH bats and they need wright to break it up.
But in any other world where the R/L split was ignored would have Wright batting cleanup.
I am not sure if it was you that I had this discussion with before, chances is are it was, but the #3 spot is a power spot.
For the season this year the #3 spot in the NL has more HR and a higher SLG% than the #4 spot. .282 .360 .473 .833 compared to .271 .347 .458 .805. That wouldn’t make Murphy a good #3 hitter. However, he is a solid #2 hitter. .278 .340 .401 .742 (Murphy’s line .293 .343 .372 .715)
Gap Power…not HR power!
Murphy is not a HR power hitter and truth is neither really is Wright…Not when compared to a guy like Beltran or Pujols (even Ike when he is on his game)
Again the #3 spot in the order has more HR and a higher SLG% than the #4 spot.
It is the spot you place your BEST hitter, at least that is the way managers view it.
Based on Average not power…
You want a guy who gets one AND puts the ball in play!
High BA player does that!
He doesn’t have to hit HRs just drive in a guy from 2nd or 1st hope of your cleanup (Power Hitter) clearing those bases after him.
And if not him your second best power hitter who protects him in the lineup.
On what planet and what team? Ours? Yes because Wright is batting 3rd for us!
Tell me why do they call the 4th spot the CLEANUP spot if the best HR SLG hitter is batting 3rd?
And I will remind you High SLG does not really mean High Power…
High Power hitters do well in it if they are HR hitters but guys who hit lots of triples and doubles can have a high SLG too and not because they hit for power but pulled a lot of hits down the line and/or have speed to take advantage of it!
You don’t HAVE to be able to hit the fence to get a double and triple you know!
SO while SLG tells you how many bases on average per PA he has it really is not the best methodology to say a guy is a power hitter or not.
You have a high probability of being right but unless you look there really is no guarantee.
Spray charts are much better at it than the SLG metric.
Metsie, a 6HR guy is a power hitter.. They just changed the laws this morning because DW has 6 HR and they want him to be the mets best everything, including Power hitter… Even though he’s a line drive hitter SMH
Alex, you amaze me. You let your cliques get in the way of common sense and reading all the time. You are arguing my point, not Metsie’s. We agree on this. Wright is not a power hitter and shouldn’t be batting 4th.
What we might disagree on, he is however the best hitter on the team and should be batting 3rd.
Alex, you amaze me”
Thanks…
You are welcome. I should have put that comment at the end so you would have actually read the post
READ. I just told you that the #3 spot in the order also has MORE HR than the #4 spot. I can’t help that the stats show that.
http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/SKR2v
By the way that is just as pronounced in all of baseball not just the NL.
Again I’ll ask you where does Howard normally hit when he is with the Phillies?
Where did Carter hit in 86?
Who had more HRs hernandez or Carter?
You showing an anomoly last year the 4th spot hit more HRs!
LOL and what would the Stats be in Pujols and Davis were hitting them in the cleanup spot like they are supposed to?
Tell me who is the best power hitter on the Phillies and where does he normally bat 3rd ot 4th?
What does it say for 2011?
http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/LP5JD
How does it work out for the whole league?
http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/14rFf
Hmmm Sounds like you turned an anomoly into a RULE!
Well considering Pujols is a #3 hitter, it would prob. be even more one sided to 3rd.
Look we are arguing different points here.
My point is that your best hitter overall, the one that has the best combination of power and average is usually chosen as the #3 hitter. That is why that position consistently has a higher OPS.
The #4 spot is for a more traditional slugger who might have a lower BA but more HR.
So for the Mets, Wright is clearly the best hitter so he bats 3rd and Duda is the closest thing we have to a #4 hitter. Murphy as Slappy reincarnate is an idea #2 hitter.
By the way on a side note, I just checked Pujols’ all-time PA from the #3 and #4 spots: 6387 from the #3 spot and 1047 from the #4 spot.
This year, Cabrera, Pujols, Hamilton, Kemp, Hanley, Wright, Votto, Braun, Cargo are all #3 hitters.
Wright is a #3 hitter.
I said it last night on the recap of last nights game. Someone tell Sandy to offer Derrek Lee a 1yr, 4 million (max 5 million) deal. Send Ike to AAA and keep Lee at first until then. When Ike gets on a roll and stays hot for 2 weeks in AAA then bring him up and platoon him with Lee. When Ike is still producing then keep him there at first and use Lee as another power righty along with Scotty off the bench. It makes no sense to keep Ike here. You want him to get hot off pitchers that consistently are going to throw him breaking stuff away and then watch him and his 3 inch bat fail horribly and cost us the most unproductive out and kill a rally then hell keep him here if you want to leave a hole at first for the next 4 years. I’m tired of this crap, I suffered with Castillo, I suffered with Perez, I suffered with Bay in all these recent years, I will be damned if I see a man we invested so damn much in to, to just look like pure utter crap that even . I really cant take his bat anymore. Believe me, I like Ike as much as the next Mets fan but I called this during the off season, .290ish AVG, 25-30 HRS, 95 RBI and now I look like damn dunce but everyone does because everyone put these numbers on him. Everyone thought Ike would be a star be all us look like idiots and Ike better than his lucky stars that the team is looking great and much more better than any optimist including myself would have ever thought because if they were looking like how most people thought, Ike would get eaten up alive in NY. I want Lee in a Mets uniform now, not next week, not next 2 weeks, not next month, not after the all star break but now and send Ike down quicker than Kirk does against lefties.
Lighten up Pauly…You have invested nothing unless you count a fantasy baseball league that some live and die with. It is so easy to sit at home watching the game and second guess all the experts.
Most fans would say that T.C. has these guys hustling every night and that the team is doing well despite the injuries and the season long slump of Ike Davis. The fans that expect the Mets to make the playoffs are a bit too optimistic at this point. The organization is headed in the right direction and needs the support of the fans, not the ridiculous second guessing that guys like you make.
Take a pill and chill dude!
Pauly: I sense your frustration, and thanks for the comment!
The thing about Lee is, I don’t know that he’d come here. Neither do you. That’s why I cannot sit here and pound my fist about him. He said he’d only play for the “right opportunity.”
Are the Mets that opportunity? I’m not sure honestly. Does he want a guaranteed job for a year? If you’re the Mets are you looking at Lee as your starter v LHP from today through game 162? Or until Ike gets his head out of his ….
If its answer 2, then why would Lee come here?
If we brought in someone like Lee we wouldbe telling Ike that he was not coming back–at least for this year—-without an injury. I doubt he would perform well in the minors with that realization. It has to be presented to him as therapeutic. I want Ike back. With a shorter swing and a lot less movement. I thought he looked pretty good on his double last night. He has to repeat that swing, go the other way some, attack that outside corner. He has the length and the power to do that.
Bravo! It’s about time someone thought this through! I’m disappointed in Alderson and Collins’ approach on Ike, too. Nothing wrong with him going down to figure stuff out. Yet everything wrong for him to stay here and continue to hurt the team.
Omar and Jerry asked Ollie to do a stint in the minors and that a-hole refused and, so, they appropriately let him rot in the bullpen.
If Ike weren’t so selfish he’d ASK to be sent down!
Whenever a player is struggling like Ike Davis has been since the season opened, it becomes a difficult decision on what to do. We all figured that it was just a matter of him being out for most of last year and that his “valley fever” would go away. It is obvious that there is something wrong because Ike is lost at the plate. A month ago might have been the right time to send him down to work things out. Personally, I would have sat him down here for a week while working with the hitting coach. But now something must be done. I don’t like the idea of moving Duda to first base. He has become our lone power source and his defense in the outfield has improved. Why screw around with that? If he stops hitting, David Wright will get nothing good to hit at the plate. I would rather see Scott Hairston at first base for a while especially with Torres hitting well so that Capt Kirk continues to play too. In this way our defense in the outfield is good.