18
2012
Ike Davis Responds To Charges About Staying Out Late And Resisting Coaching
An article by Hojo's Mojo
Ike Davis responded to a report on ESPN NewYork this morning that said he could potentially be traded this offseason and allegations from a baseball source that he is un-coachable and likes to stay out late.
“I don’t really have an answer for that because it’s never been an issue,” Davis said. “I’ve never done anything wrong. I show up to the field ready to play every day. I really don’t even know where it’s coming from, and it’s not really true. I don’t know what late is, because when you leave the ballpark at midnight and you get back to your place at 12:30, if you watch a movie it’s 2:30. Is that late? It’s up to everyone to decide what late is. If I had a job where I had to wake up at 6 in the morning, it would probably be late. But it’s not. Our lifestyle is a little different.”
David called the charges that he is resistant to coaching as unfounded:
“It’s just out of the blue. It’s hard to answer questions when no one can say who it was or why they even said it. I don’t know if it’s a cheap shot. It’s falsely accused, I guess. It comes out of nowhere. It happens to athletes like this — a rumor or something is said and it’s blown out of proportion.”
“If you’ve seen my stances this year, we’ve tried a lot of things. I don’t know about the ‘uncoachable’ thing. I don’t know who would ever say that. I’ve done everything the coaches have asked me. It’s really just a bunch of unknown statements. I talked to the coaches, and none of them said they said it. You can talk to teammates, coaches and everybody says the opposite. I don’t know what to tell you, because it doesn’t really make sense.”
Terry Collins backed him up:
“There’s not a coach in that office, there’s not the manager, the front office that has ever brought up a problem with Ike Davis. Now, as far as the possible trade, there’s not a guy in that clubhouse who can’t get traded. Not a guy. I just want to make sure everybody understands, we’re behind Ike Davis 100 percent. I don’t want this to ever be a defamation on his character. He’s a stand-up guy. As a matter of fact, he speaks the truth above and beyond the need for it.”
It must really stink to be Ike Davis today.
To come to the park and respond to allegations about his character and integrity, and also his dedication to his team and the game.
It’s very sad to see.
Original Post 12:00
Andy Martino of the Daily News said that Ike Davis was surprised and confused this morning to read that the Mets were concerned about his nightlife habits as reported by earlier today by ESPN.
“I have never missed games or not been ready to work because of anything to do with staying up too late,” Davis told the Daily News Tuesday morning. “I show up every day. I play hard. It is unfair to me, and it doesn’t make sense.”
Ike Davis admitted that he does not leave the ballpark until midnight sometimes and that he is out a few hours after that, but that he does “not do so in excess”.
Martino also adds that team sources have told him that “the Mets are debating whether to make Davis or Lucas Duda the first baseman of the future”, and that “either could be traded in the right deal”, according to a team source.
I always thought of Davis as the first baseman of the future, but after the last few seasons nothing will surprise me this offseason. Alderson did promise wholesale changes and I would consider trading Davis a lot more of a wholesale change than trading Duda.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
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| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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There shouldn’t be a debate. Ike’s a gold glove calibur first baseman and is a legit power threat. As bad as his season started he has 27 HR’s and 81 RBI. Not too bad considering how bad his first half was. Had Ike been right he could very well be close to 40 homers.
ADUD on the other hand is a liability on defense and is nothing more than a platoon player.
Also worth noting Ike was recovering from valley fever early in the season and he missed most of last year.
Should be no debate but as usual this front office has no idea what they’re doing.
Why people still think he is gold glove calibur is beyond me. Ike CANNOT hit lefties. Duda can. Ike is the platoon player.
Amen
Ike davis should not be traded nor SA should be running this franchise, how low can he make this mets before leaving office? Aren’t we already pathetic enough to let this man continue to make roster desicions??
Duda has NOTHING on Ike Davis, Ike davis is a 10x better glove, has proven to be a lethal power hitter and can be a franchise player, i am sorry but this shouldn’t even BE a debate. however, with this FO you can always expect the worst, which trading ike should be if even consider..
It’s going to be a long, cold off season with this kind ‘news’ hitting the Mets blogs sphere.
ok ok davis to toronto for d’arnaud
2014 line up
1b flores
2b murph
ss tejada
3b wright
lf ad rodriguez
cf nimmo
rf vory vaughn
O_o Oh no please not the dreaded imaginary lineup posts….How often do these things even ever come close? NEVER….
Besides Aderlin in the OF??? Never
lol
Atta boy, BBLB, I needed a good belly laugh!
ok ok davis to toronto for d’arnaud
2014 line up
1b flores
2b murph
ss tejada
3b wright
lf ad rodriguez
cf nimmo
rf vory vaughn
c arnaud
For a team that lacks power this really doesnt make any sense. The only problem I have ever really had with Davis is that he seems to have a habit of showing up the Ump behind the plate. Needs to calm down out there and worry more about hitting than what the ump is calling.
Again, why do we always get caught up in rumors as being the actual desires of the front office? Until a move is made it’s just speculation.
“Again, why do we always get caught up in rumors as being the actual desires of the front office? Until a move is made it’s just speculation.”
TRS, I have a question for you
What else is there for Mets fans to discuss other than rumors and speculation?
After all there is a reason bloggers and journalist write about rumors and speculation, because more often than not there is almost always a little truth to them.
And more importantly this is a big part of BLOGGING as you SHOULD know as a blogger. Rumors and speculation! post it and everyone gives there opinion….duh!
There is a difference in discussing a rumor (which we all do) and assuming it’s true and bashing someone for doing it.
The Mets always bad mouth players to the media as “leaks” when they want to trade them or not re-sign them.
Same ole Mets! Bad business as usual! Thats why noone wants to play in Queens unless you over pay them
Duda sucks man…why is this chump being forced on us?
It’s too late in life for me to change over to the Yankees after 40 years of this crap.
This organization sucks on so many levels…here’s a few.
This team builds a stadium and it has no Mets history…but it has Dodgers history…
Last week Co-owner Jeff Wilpon says that Chippers Jones’ kid has MORE Mets memorabilia than HIS kid…..sounds like Jeff kid is the brightest bulb in the Wilpon family.
This team allows the sacred numbers of 21, 24, and 36, 18, 16, to be worn by unworthy chumps.
I’m stopping, this is depressing.
Bottom line…..this organization sucks…it’s pathetic.
And that old coot Wilpon is too stubborn to sell.
I don’t want to see Duda anymore.
Trade him.
If they even think Duda is the first baseman of the future, we are in some really big trouble my friends.
Ike Davis is gold glove caliber first basemen. Duda is a DH in waiting.
Ike hit 302 before he got injured last season and even hit lefties decently.
This season for Ike has been a comeback season. He hadn’t seen Major league pitching in over a year. This is truly his sophomore season and it took him a while to get back in the groove of things as his second half is much better than his first half.
This organization is a complete mess and has turned into a laughingstock! The Wilpons need to sell this team and would have been forced to if not for ownerships long standing friendship with Bud Selig.
Ike Davis is the better of the two players, and as I wrote in a comment yesterday I feel the Mets are platooning him this late in the season just to get Duda more at bats and exposure so that he can be traded (which would make sense logically but, this is the NY Mets.)
Lastly, these are grown men, they play late into the evenings so if they go out after work it is going to be into the wee hours. Also Derek Jeter a Future HOFer, is a well know NYC night life man whore and well look at his career. Many players past and present have taken part of NYC’s night life and performed well. This is just some BS excuse making on the behalf of the organization for their losing. Ike has been nothing but a solid player and individual since his arrival and they do the smart thing and keep him, next season look for him to hit between .275 and .300 with 30 plus home runs and possibly 100 RBI’s if the Mets can ever get anyone on base before him.
This whole story is infuriating to Fans, and The Mets need to be sold to a better group of owners. The Wilpons and Sandy are making a mockery of this team.
I love when people talk about the Ike of past instead of the Ike of now.
OK, let’s calm down a little…Mets PR staff and media relations suck…why anything like this gets leaked is frustrating and it was supposed to be one of the things that the new FO fixed…
For the record, I don’t like the idea…I’d rather keep Ike over Duda…but to play devils advocate this is how I see it.
Duda isn’t as bad at first as some may think, he actually was decent to good filling in last year…also, because of Duda’s swing, he has the potential to have a longer productive career with less slumps than Ike. Duda wouldn’t necessary have to be the long term solution, there are options in the minors that could be moved to first.
Also, Ike does scare me with his big, long loopy swing…he’s pron to go into big slumps and I’ve seen him take his slumps into the field.
I think Ike has a higher upside, but he could very easily bust too…Duda could bust, but I like his swing much better.
Like I said, I wouldn’t look to trade Ike, but seeing how we have to wait until 2016 to be competitive again…it someone gave us a really great offer (IE a catcher and an OF and took Bay) then I might consider it.
Agreed on several fronts USMF, especially on Ike’s swing.
In terms of the “leak” …who knows if it really started with the FO? Maybe it was a secretary who heard from an assistant who was musing about …… etc…etc….
The media could be tired of writing about how bad the Mets are and decided on a new angle: Muckraking. This is the kind of crap I rarely read about …. unless it’s from this site.
Good points USMF!
My theory is an Ump is starting this rumor. Ike is pretty rough on them.
Good point. I mean if Ike cant hit the ball he’s gotta blame somebody. All that barkin and whining at the plate is nauseating.
This team has horrendous PR. What good does it do to float this info out there? It undermines his trade value if that’s truly what they’re going to do.
This starts at the top and goes straight down. If I were Collins I’d be furious at Sandy, Fred and anyone else that allowed this info on Ike to come out.
What free agent is going to want to come here?!
First of all, I have been quite miffed with many of the FO’s moves and non-moves. However, if “the top” doesn’t talk about Jason Bay’s massive shortcomings, there is no way SA nor anyone in the FO is talking this way about Ike.
This is media spin. Don’t be a sucker. Ignore the bait and swim somewhere else.
Bingo.
^probably this. Or they could be doing some subtle Jedi mind freak manipulation to get other gm’s to subconciously like duda more than Davis… Or not lol
Ironically their PR Director, Jay Horowitz is one of the most respected in the business and is loved by everyone which lends some credence to the possibility that it may just be a rumor.
Yes. It ain’t Jay. More likely it’s a Rubin Rant.
Yes but there is always bad PR surrounding this team. Horowitz is the Jason Bay of PR.
Ufa!!! Thats rough
That is true VA everyone gives credence to these rumors because this is right up the Mets alley. And they are the worst when it comes to Public relations….
And they have a history of smearing players reputations in order to lower there price or take some of the shine off a player so they arent killed by the fan base and media when they make no attempt to sign them.
‘David called the charges that he is resistant to coaching as unfounded:’
I take it this was supposed to read Davis?
That Rubin….he sure does like to be the first one to stir the pot with all things Mets.
Mets owners and front office have been doing this to their players for years. Most recently with Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes. It’s so devious and such a terrible ploy to sow discontent and turn fans against a player. When he was in Toronto, Ricciardi was notorious for stuff like this and a big reason he was fired. When they want someone gone this is how it begins.
I have to disagree. I just do not see how the FO purposely putting out negative rumors about a player is somehow because they are preparing to trade him. You don’t lower a player’s value by saying he is difficult and stays out late to then trade him. Quite the opposite you keep that stuff in house if your trying to trade him.
Who actually made the comments attributed to Davis no one knows. I mean a “baseball source” can be a number of people it doesn’t necessarily mean it is someone in the FO.
It just does not make sense to purposely throw a player under the bus so he can then be traded. You gain nothing but rather lose as an organization in doing so.
This, in a nutshell.
Doesn’t make any sense whatsoever for a FO to leak negative traits about a player if they intend on trading him.
Two contradictory stories here today. They both cannot be true.
Has no one picked up on Martino’s last line? You know the one where he says that according to a Mets source neither Ike nor Duda will be aggressively shopped but would listen if the right deal came along?
All this for nothing it appears, they told us what we already knew and ran with it.
OK, I am confused. You want to dismiss Rubin’s source but want people to pay attention to Martino’s source?
If you find little value in Rubin’s source then how is Martino’s source any more reliable?
Did Rubin even attribute the source as a Mets guy? In fact reading Rubins article he doesn’t even say where he got the Mets were disappointed with Ike. The comment about trading him came from a “baseball official” who said the Mets might consider trading him. Regardless, Martino’s is much more telling at the end where a club official says neither are being shopped aggressively. Making a big story out of nothing. It’s not picking and choosing its being rational about the information provided and making inferences on their accuracy or importance.
I think Ike sums it up best, this stuff happens to athletes all the time A rumor or something is said and it gets blow way ut of proportion.
Oh, you mean like Walter Reed gate? LOL
I’ll never forget Beltran’s shocked reaction to those stories about him skipping a voluntary outing. You know, when he only had the flimsy excuse of being back in his country opening a baseball field and clinic for the young kids there who otherwise couldn’t afford the chance. RME
Gotta love these beat writers.
Appreciate you explaining. The way you describe it I see it as more about personal preference as to who’s source you wish to believe.
My thing is if you are going to sit there and say this is just media spin then how can you then say but not when it involves Martino? To me that is a contradiction.
In any event I could see where someone who was privy to a conversation had inside the Mets org may have spilled the beans for lack of a better phrase to Rubin just as much as I could believe that Martino’s source did the same.
What I don’t believe is that it was purposely leaked regarding the negative stuff regarding Ike.
Not a big deal but I think you are Still missing my point. Who does Rubin even attribute the info about the Mets tiring of Davis to?
I find the charges about Ike’s behavior shocking and depressing. Two years ago, Keith did complain on the air about Ike being resistant to coaching advice but that was two years ago. Apparently these are new charges.
Rubin says: “The Mets are disappointed with Davis’ unwillingness to make changes based on coaching advice.”
How do we know that Rubin isn’t making a mountain out of a molehill? How do we know that Rubin is being proportionate to the evidence? How do we know that the information Rubin talks about really came from a Mets field coach or from Alderson? We don’t at this time.
On another front, it’s my view that Duda has a better, simpler swing than Ike. But does he have Ike’s hand-eye coordination? Does he have Ike’s grind it out competitive spirit? Both are about the same speed but Ike is more accomplished defensively at first base, so it’s no more than a wash there. Nothing favors Duda except Ike’s likely higher market value. It raises the question about the values of the management regarding a clean sweep of player personnel. Terry says every player is subject to being traded potentially if the right deal comes along. We’ll see.
Agreed, cuurnty it’s a nonstory being driven by the media with all of us falling for it.
Duda the first baseman of the future? What a joke. And if you trade him you might get a bag of balls..
A debate over Ike vs Duda? Gee….we watched Ike Davis COME BACK from a disastrous first half of the 2012 season to have pretty good power numbers. You can throw out the batting average because after 80 games and an average 60 points below the Mendoza LIne there is no recovery! Yes, certain LHP can dominate Ike but he is still young and can improve.
In so far as Lucas Duda goes…..he will never be anything other than an average defensive player and I believe that he is the one who will be traded. His potential power numbers could be very good but unless the Mets have lost their minds, he will not unseat Ike at first base. So, if you ask me this “debate” is senseless and the rumors that the media creates are ridiculous
It’s no wonder that we have such a horrid record at Fred’s Folley. Why would our players like to play at home where there is so much media and fan savagery.
I would suggest that the bloggers and those who respond on this MMO… stop all the bantering among themselves and stick to the facts. Some of the potential trades that are suggested here are hilarious to read and are obviously concocted to enhance the fantasy baseball league teams that these “dreamers” would like to have. THESE DREAMERS are like frustrated singers in the shower…..GET A REALITY CHECK GUYS!
I tend to think it came from a reliable but unnamed source and who knows who said it – but remember what the owner said publicly about Reyes and Wright last season so who knows what he might say in private.
I do wonder who Rubin meant when he wrote “The Mets are disappointed with Davis’ unwillingness to make changes based on coaching advice.” Obviously, the “Mets” can mean anything beween the entire organization and one or two individuals.
But I don’t know if it’s the manger and his coaches since they were the ones who convinced the front office not to demote Ike earlier this season.
This is only Ike’s second full season in the majors since last year he was injured. How long is it before they become impantient with one’s development and replaces them with others – two years? For a team that is rebuilding, that is a short time leach. With that type of thinking, the Braves would have rid themselves of Jason Heyward after batting just .227 in his second year.
Does this mean Ike is washed up at 25?
Or does it mean someone within the organization wants a scapegoat other than the front office to blame their problems on?
By Rich Coutinho
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I have covered the Mets since 1984, and I should really know better, but this Ike Davis firestorm that surfaced yesterday is off the charts even for the fishbowl that is New York City. I will simply say this: I have personally not seen any evidence that Davis does not listen to coaches, or that he stays out too late and that it has affected his play on the field. Everything else is just conversation and more precisely, hearsay conversation
Oh okay then good,
Then we sit here and wait for Sandy Alderson to come out and publicly squash these rumors, as he should. Or will he?
Hi Bayonne,
I think it might be best for the front office to say nothing than give us more public relations spin. It’s better than the way they’ve handled these things before.