I Like Ike
The near future had been closer than I’d imagined when first baseman Ike Davis was called up from Buffalo to start for the Mets tonight.
I’m very okay with this move, as satisfied as I am surprised. I’d heard Davis was hitting well in the minors, but didn’t figure he’d be up so soon. Who knows if Mike Jacobs’ demotion to make room for a needed arm (after Saturday’s marathon with the Cardinals) was part of a larger scheme to accelerate Davis’ promotion? Then again, considering the Mets’ paucity of excellent starting pitching and further lack of effort in obtaining any, I doubt the capability of fostering any scheme of any sort.
I am curious to see how this all proceeds. No doubt it’ll be refreshing to see a prototypical first baseman installed there, hopefully on a regular basis. Makes the whole team more reputable, I think. Fernando Tatis, a starter for no one else right now, doesn’t have the frame or the power for the position. His playing there bothers me because it’s the most obvious of the many ways in which the Mets are a poorly designed, incomplete team. Second most obvious, actually – the first was Frank Catalanotto – utilityman Frank Catalanotto, Smithtown’s own, he of never having hit more than 13 home runs in a season – batting fourth the other night. I don’t care if it’s just because he was a lefty and Jerry Manuel wanted to gain the edge in the late-inning matchups, alternating lefties and righties. It’s a whimper of a statement and it’s not why we paid Jason Bay all that money.
Really, the last time I was looking forward to a rookie’s call-up like this was back in 2004. I went to a Spring Training game that year – my only time – in Fort Lauderdale, where a Mets split squad was playing the Orioles (who’d just gotten Miguel Tejada). Many of the bigger Met names went to the other game, so we got stalwarts Jeremy Griffiths, Royce Ring, Jay Roach, Justin Huber – and David Wright. When I first saw him, he was ten feet away from me, a year younger but far closer to my dream than I’d ever be, playing a crisp game of catch. His tongue was extended a little bit, mouth closed, if that helps put you there. The buzz was exciting and I awaited his arrival, later that summer.
I thought Ike Davis would be escorted along at a similar clip, showing up in Queens sometime in June or July. But this isn’t 2004, not at all. With Delgado gone, it was up to Murphy to handle first, but he got hurt. So many Mets are still injured, matching the beating our egos and hopes have taken this last few years. The Curse of Willie Mays may well be in force. No reason not to bring this kid up. Many reasons not to expect him to be David Wright. His recent track record is promising, but for me, it’s more just that he’s someone different, anyone different, who stirs an optimism among fans as can only someone who hasn’t yet succumbed to the anguish – and perhaps curse – of being a Met.
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