Nov
3
2012

2012 Mets Player Review: Ike Davis

An article by John Delcos

Ike Davis rebounded after a slow start to his 2012 season show us his power potential

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS: After sitting out most of 2011 with what can best be described as a bizarre ankle injury, Ike Davis reported to spring training optimistic, only to be slowed by a virus that sapped his energy and strength. The Mets had always loved Davis’ power potential when he slugged 19 in his first season and finished seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting. He got off to a fast start last season and was on a 30-homer pace when he had seven by the time he was injured in an infield collision with David Wright in Colorado. When Davis first came up, he quickly impressed with his patience and ability to go to the opposite field. But, by the end of that season they were semi-concerned about his strikeouts (138) but more enamored with his potential.

2012 SEASON REVIEW: The 2008 first-round pick was anxious to put his injuries behind him, but got off to a miserable start, going hitless in his first five games and finishing April batting .185 with three homers and seven RBI. Davis was chasing everything out of the strikezone and barely sniffed a walk. The more he struggled the more he tried to pull and pitchers toyed with him. Davis didn’t reach .200 until June 27, and didn’t stay over it for good until July 4. Davis began to find his power groove after the All-Star break, ironically, at a time when the overall Mets’ offense went into a tailspin. Davis finished the season hitting .227 with a .308 on-base percentage and .771 OPS, 32 homers and 90 RBI. One has to wonder had he hit just .250 what that might translate into additional run production. Strikeouts were again a problem with 141 and only 61 walks.

LOOKING AT 2013: Last season ended with Davis the topic of trade rumors, particularly to Boston. The Mets deny it, but Davis, 25, made only $506,690 last season. He’s affordable, young and still loaded with potential, making him one of the few marketable Mets. However, those reasons make him exactly the type of player the Mets should build around, so I don’t see him going anywhere, especially with Lucas Duda – his potential replacement at first – so unproven. There remain a lot of holes in Davis’ offensive game. He’s largely undisciplined and should add at least 50 points to his on-base percentage. By being more selective, he would invariably add to his power numbers. With Davis and Wright hitting back-to-back, the Mets have decent power in the middle of their line-up.

NEXT: Daniel Murphy

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.

9 Comments + Add Comment

Metstheory22 November 3, 2012 at 12:41 pm

I like IKE.
jerseymet November 3, 2012 at 5:42 pm

He is the real deal. Sell high.
sarge69 November 3, 2012 at 11:56 pm

I wonder how much of his early season struggles related to him wanting to show that 2011 was the real Ike and mentally he allowed his early struggles to turn into trying new things instead of, what he did in 2nd half, being patient and waiting for his pitch plus stopping the umpire questioning?
- Trs86 November 3, 2012 at 11:59 pm
  
  You mean it’s a bad idea to swing wildly at first pitch breaking alls in the dirt?
Just_Da_Damaja November 4, 2012 at 2:31 am

After the front office refused to deny the story about Ike….I highly doubt Ike resigns with this team unless they sell…

( unfortunately ) 2013 – re-establish his value, sell high
ronbo November 4, 2012 at 12:14 pm

The mets are set up well at 3rd SS and with Ike at first,the thought of trading him is crazy how many errors does he save with his glove and 30+ hr is not easily replaced.The mets pitching staff is getting stronger and as soon as they can unload some of there over priced players this team will change very fast.One of question marks is Murphy do we stay with him at 2nd or try to trade him to an american league team we all see that he can hit but his fielding will always be in question.There biggest problem is in the outfield,Duda is just to dam slow and does not get a good jump on the ball,Torres in centerfield has to go and we cannot afford to keep Bay in the lineup hitting around 200 with no run production. Sandy should stay the course he has laided out, once the cash frees up and we are able to sign quality players for the right positions things will change fast,I say 2014 we should see a big improvement and 2015 can be our time.
Matt November 5, 2012 at 1:17 am

That price tag is the exact reason Ike won’t be going anywhere for a few seasons. I like Ike, a lot. I expect him to be around a .265-.275 career hitter…very reminiscent of another young lefty the Mets had in the 1980s. Darryl Strawberry. Great power, poor eye. Lots of K’s, few walks.
- Just-Da-Damaja November 5, 2012 at 1:58 am
  
  yeah but arb raises means that price tag is only affordable to the mets for 1-2 seasons tops…
  
  This year = pre-arb
  
  Next year = 1st year arb ( still affordable )
  
  2014 = 2nd year arb ( time to trade )
  
  For most teams, signing Ike to a 5 year deal would be ideal…
  
  since the mets embarrasingly left Ike to dry…I doubt Ike is going to want to be here longer than he has to
  - Matt November 5, 2012 at 12:19 pm
    
    Exactly…once Ike reaches his full potential in the next season or 2…then, the Mets will break our hearts and trade Ike, rather than signing him. He’ll be a Met until, at least mid-season 2014.

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