Ike Davis

[Mongoose]

It'll be interesting monitoring Ike's recovery this year - especially in light of this:



http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_nym

Mets treating Davis as if he has Valley Fever
Club, first baseman awaiting test results from blood work
By Marty Noble / MLB.com | 03/03/12 5:34 PM EST

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The Mets' Spring Training camp has been open -- officially -- for a week. And thus far, Ike Davis has "done everything I'm supposed to do."

Whether that statement will be applicable each day come April is an unknown that makes his manager and Davis himself squirm. Davis is not the picture of health. He has, in fact, contracted Valley or Desert Fever, a malady that can interfere with a season and even end a career.

His illness has set off no alarms in the Mets' camp. Truth be told, the diagnosis is not a topic of public discussion or much private dialouge. But there is an awareness, and, behind that, a concern.

Davis said Saturday that the results of blood tests administered in New York 11 days earlier have not yet been returned, and that he has received no official diagnosis. But manager Terry Collins acknowledged Saturday the club is treating Davis as if Valley Fever has been diagnosed and the Mets are monitoring their first baseman.

"We're treating him as if that's what it is," Collins said. "We can't let him run down. That's what we've been told. We'll give him some days off. He says he can go, and he's been doing everything he's supposed to. But we need to be sure he doesn't push it."

Davis, reluctant to speak publicly about the illness, did so Saturday. "I have to keep my immune system strong," he said. "No one has told me for sure what it is, and I haven't asked. But they're pretty positive it is [Valley Fever]. I'm trying to be positive about it. I'll just be careful the way they tell me to be careful."

A Mayo Clinic website states that symptoms can appear one to three weeks after exposure and can include fever, cough, chest pain, chills, night sweats, headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, joint aches and a red, spotty rash.

Davis, who lives in Arizona in the offseason, says he has experienced no symptoms. "I feel normal. I don't feel anything," he said.

The Mayo Clinic website goes on to say that "Valley Fever, even when it's symptomatic, often clears on its own. Yet for older adults and others at high risk, recovery can be slow."

Davis, who turns 25 in three weeks, believed he had no such problem when he returned from New York. The club characterized what had been detected as an infection in the lung. It said no antibiotic treatment was necessary. At the time, Davis already was quite aware of former Diamondbacks player Conor Jackson, who missed most of his 2009 season because of Valley Fever.

And Collins had witnessed the debilitating of Joe Vavra, now the Twins' batting coach, when he and Vavra were with the Dodgers. Collins noted that, in Vavra's case, one of the symptoms that developed was a hole in the lung. Vavra's playing career never resumed.

At the same time, Collins worried about possibly playing another season without his primary source of left-handed power if Davis became unavailable. Davis missed most of last season after suffered a bone bruise on his left ankle May 10. The manager immediately made contingency plans for first base.

"Had to," Collins said. "Have to be prepared. Can't be blindsided."

Collins indicated he considers Davis' presence most critical to the teams' success this year because his defensive prowess at first base helps the other infielders, and because his left-handed power in the No. 4 positiion provides protection for No. 3 hitter David Wright and No. 5 hitter Jason Bay.

The manager and his staff discussed the ramifications of a defense without Davis.

"It was going to depend on the length of time," Collns said. "If Ike was going to be out for two weeks or a month, we'd make slight modifications. If it was supposed to be a significant amount of time, Lucas Duda would move in to first."

The batting order wouldn't be repaired so easily.

There is no indication at this point that Davis will miss more than an occasional game, if that. Later Saturday, Collins acknowledged that Scott Hairston, injured during the late-morning intrasquad game, and Mike Baxter would familiarize themselves with first base, but gave no indication either would be need to play the position.

"We're going forward," Collins said in the morning, "as if Ike will be in the lineup just about every day." And Davis prefers that approach.

Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



Not sure what to say about this. I'd never heard of this ailment before, but anything can happen where this team's concerned. At least it's not tubercular distended rectum, which can be fatal:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fred_Dunlap

[Paulypal]

It has become too easy to attack the medical staff. I will say Ike is one one of handful of players I was interested in watching in a Met uniform in 2012. Mostly because of the new stadium. I just hope thos Valley Fever comes and goes and isn't a lingering thing.

[Zito75]

Sucks to hear about this. I contracted Valley Fever the first winter I lived in Arizona back in 2004. I was sick for months. It's like having the flu constantly - although there are different "potencies" of Valley Fever. It's nothing to mess with. Once those spores get into your lungs they never really leave. All you can do is treat it.

[Gr8Beldini]

The Mets should get their crack medical staff on this at once. Does anyone have a Valley Fever coupon to pass onto Fred?

[Ralf]

I'm expecting a down year offensively from Davis. I'm not down on him as a player per se but with the way he swings the bat, I have a hard time believing he'll put together a consistent season considering how much time he lost. I think he'll probably start off slow and have some flashes but overall I'm expecting a 'meh' season. Duda will take his place in the cleanup spot by early May.

[Mongoose]

Other teams have been denying Davis pitches to hit because he's too good. He saw only one fastball and nothing but breaking balls in the Braves series. Opposing teams recognize his power and have pitched accordingly.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...ach-ike-davis/

I'm responding to a discussion in the 2012 Season thread, but I'm responding in the Davis thread because I'd like to make it easier to follow talk about his season. I think seeing how he progresses will be one of the more interesting aspects of what promises to be an uninteresting season, as far as contending is concerned.

At least he got a hit off Stephen Strasburg, which was probably not too easy and good to see.

[mandrake]

Davis needs to grow up and fast. These tantrums about the strike zone will only work against him. He seems to have a diva attitude with showing up umpires.

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/...m_content=Mets


I don't know about sending him to AAA, but he is acting Bush league with his act right now.

http://risingapple.com/2012/04/24/do...d-to-triple-a/

On Monday, April 23, Ike Davis had a day that appeared to be the bottom of the barrel. The young man went 0-5 at the plate in the Mets’ two losses to the Giants. Of the 20 runners the team stranded on the bases during the doubleheader, 11 of them were left out there by Ike. He looks lost, uncomfortable, frustrated, distracted, etc; so many different words can describe what we are seeing from our first baseman. After being absent from the game for 5 months last year, he is only 8 for 54, translating to a unfathomable .148 average. He is slugging a measly .315, has an OBP of .207 and has walked only 4 times. Worst of all, he is striking out at the rate we wish he was hitting at: a ridiculous 29.3% of the time. If this continues into May, the best thing for Ike and the Mets might be for the 25-year-old to hit the reset button and head back to Triple-A.
Every pitcher seems to be tossing breaking balls low and away from Ike, and he has yet to make the adjustment (such as inching closer to the plate to take away that weapon.) When they do pitch him on the inside part of the plate, he is timid, letting that pitch go by hoping it’s either too inside or too low. His swing is so long right now, and he hasn’t been able to shorten it and go with the pitch like we have seen from him in the past. Each at-bat he continues to fail, and each at-bat his confidence level appears to take a nosedive. Heading back to the minors for a little bit might help him clear his head and get him some hits, raising his confidence level to a point he can make the proper adjustments to succeed in the Major Leagues.
The last thing I want is the scenario I just laid out. Clearly, I hope he can find his groove again while plating some runs for the New York Metropolitans. Ike Davis is fan favorite for a reason, and I do believe he will emerge into the light once more. If he does not soon, however, the Minor League scenario has worked for many greats in the past.
After basically a year out of baseball, it might just be want brings Ike into the upper echelon of The Show.

[Ralf]

I'm expecting a down year offensively from Davis. I'm not down on him as a player per se but with the way he swings the bat, I have a hard time believing he'll put together a consistent season considering how much time he lost. I think he'll probably start off slow and have some flashes but overall I'm expecting a 'meh' season. Duda will take his place in the cleanup spot by early May.

Prophetic.

[mandrake]

Prophetic.

Having a down year is one thing; acting bush league is another. If he keeps arguing strikes, or even throwing his bat....the umps will have a four foot wide zone when Ike is up. Keith has mentioned this a few times on the air; can't Collins read him the riot act ?

[PVNICK]

Having a down year is one thing; acting bush league is another. If he keeps arguing strikes, or even throwing his bat....the umps will have a four foot wide zone when Ike is up. Keith has mentioned this a few times on the air; can't Collins read him the riot act ?

Wasn't he like this, if not last year then as a rookie? I'll also try to watch and listen for how he is being pitched. If, as the article above says, they just throw him curves and he can't adjust then he's gonna be throwing those tantrums in Buffalo or from the bench in a year or two.

[Strawman]

Wasn't he like this, if not last year then as a rookie? I'll also try to watch and listen for how he is being pitched. If, as the article above says, they just throw him curves and he can't adjust then he's gonna be throwing those tantrums in Buffalo or from the bench in a year or two.

Ike being pinch-hit for late in a tight game was the real on-field baseball story last night - and not a good one. A blue-chipper comes apart...

[mandrake]

Mets will not send Davis down to Buffalo. His current .159 avg is the second lowest of anyone in MLB. Why Buffalo is not an option, even a temporary option, is beyond me.“I could go down to Buffalo and hit .400 and then I’d have to come back here and prove I can hit here,” Davis said. “I didn’t want to go down because it might give me a mental break, but it’s not going to prove anything or help me out at this level." Is this much different then Ollie refusing to go to Buffalo????

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...#ixzz1vtPvN0TB

[LI METS FAN]

Want vs. refuse? Mets have the choice here, not the player.

[PVNICK]

Mets will not send Davis down to Buffalo. His current .159 avg is the second lowest of anyone in MLB. Why Buffalo is not an option, even a temporary option, is beyond me.“I could go down to Buffalo and hit .400 and then I’d have to come back here and prove I can hit here,” Davis said. “I didn’t want to go down because it might give me a mental break, but it’s not going to prove anything or help me out at this level." Is this much different then Ollie refusing to go to Buffalo????

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...#ixzz1vtPvN0TB

Maybe Steve Trachsel should give him a call. The logic is inane. So then why take BP or practice at all, after all it's not a game.

[Strawman]

Maybe Steve Trachsel should give him a call. The logic is inane. So then why take BP or practice at all, after all it's not a game.

Ike is showing his "I'm not a team player" stripes right now, and it's not very pretty. Thought better of him.

[Paulypal]

Ike is showing his "I'm not a team player" stripes right now, and it's not very pretty. Thought better of him.

What did Ike do or say to make you believe what you posted?

If you read the article it was Collins that said he Ike is going to work out his tough times up here. Wait...lets blame Alderson.


The problem as I see it with Ike is that he is trying everything up there. Hands high, low, etc etc. My opinion he needs to go back to what got him here. His own basic stance and hand position. This I put on the hitting coaches shoulders. I hated when they hired Hudgens and I still hate it. Reading a lot of his material vs. some other hitting coaches Hudgens is seriously lacking..in my opinion.

[Strawman]

What did Ike do or say to make you believe what you posted?

If you read the article it was Collins that said he Ike is going to work out his tough times up here. Wait...lets blame Alderson.


The problem as I see it with Ike is that he is trying everything up there. Hands high, low, etc etc. My opinion he needs to go back to what got him here. His own basic stance and hand position. This I put on the hitting coaches shoulders. I hated when they hired Hudgens and I still hate it. Reading a lot of his material vs. some other hitting coaches Hudgens is seriously lacking..in my opinion.

You'd like to hear him say if they want me to go down, I'll go down for the good of the team, work there, and come back.

Agree with you on (non)hitting coach though - terrible.

Not sure you're right about blaming Alderson for this, though!

[Paulypal]

You'd like to hear him say if they want me to go down, I'll go down for the good of the team, work there, and come back.

Agree with you on (non)hitting coach though - terrible.

Not sure you're right about blaming Alderson for this, though!

That's exactly what I don't want Ike to say!!!!!

I want Ike to know he belongs here regardless of his struggles. What I wouldn't like is Ike refusing or arguing with management about going down if he was asked or told ala Perez. He wasn't asked or told to go down therefore I don't want him volunteering it.


Don't blame Alderson? Strawman are you ok? After reading your posts for two years I have been conditioned to blame Alderson for everything. Weather, traffic, global warming, eroding shore line. Etc etc. all that is Aldersons fault.

[Strawman]

That's exactly what I don't want Ike to say!!!!!

I want Ike to know he belongs here regardless of his struggles. What I wouldn't like is Ike refusing or arguing with management about going down if he was asked or told ala Perez. He wasn't asked or told to go down therefore I don't want him volunteering it.


Don't blame Alderson? Strawman are you ok? After reading your posts for two years I have been conditioned to blame Alderson for everything. Weather, traffic, global warming, eroding shore line. Etc etc. all that is Aldersons fault.

Yeah seems like this is Terry's call but I don't like it - why the special treatment for Ike on a team that's still in the race? Mets can't give away that many at-bats.

Re: Alderson - I'm not liking his general passivity in doing anything for this year's team, but that's for another thread....

[Shea Knight]

The Mets are still in the race?

...

For a season with less than 90 losses, maybe, hopefully...I'll be happy if we finish .500, ecstatic if we can somehow hold in 3rd place with a winning record and enter this offseason on a high not for a change with--MAYBE--a bit more cash to spend on, say, a couple of decent bullpen arms, and another bat (gee, where have I heard this before)...

But 25-21 and 3rd place is hardly "in the race," even in May--

Talk to me when we're in 1st or 2nd and it's late June or later, THEN, maybe, we'll have the beginnings of being in the beginning of being at the beginning of being in some sort of a race to some degree.

Maybe.

Before that--not this year, not again, we're in no race but for the one with the .500 line.

Get through the year...

Look and see if Thole and Ike both bounce back, if not, maybe we'll have enough cash to look around a bit for help, even if it's not an outright replacement...
Hope Murphy's defense gets better (or trade him to an AL team wanting a decent DH bat) and hope Tejada gets healthy and can continue to improve...
Resign Wright (he's earned it and he's clearly rebounded and I think most of the fanbase wants him to stay, and he wants to stay...if he leaves, it'll be a RIOT in Queens)...
I like Nieuwenhuis in the outfield, nice young prospect...Duda is a so-so fielder with a decent bat...see about Bay...

And then you have the staff--Santana/Dickey/Niese/Gee/???

Santana's still good, he just can never get run support, it seems, or the bullpen blows up on him (poor guy...he may have really derailed is HOF chances by leaving MIN)...
Dickey's been one of the few diamonds in the rough few years we've just had to shine through, he's a keeper (I'm still pulling for him to throw the first Mets no-hitter)...
Niese has shown himself to be a solid young #3 man...
Gee's been up and down, but for how young he is and the promise he's shown, he's worth the #4 slot...
And we'll see about #5.

Dump Pelf, and Young if he doesn't pan out for us, and maybe give Harvey or Wheeler a look-see sometime in 2013.

As for the bullpen--keep Bobby and Byrdak, and blow up the rest of it, ridiculous, so bad it's making me miss K-Rod, the guy may have been something of a herk, but at least he could get the job done most of the time...

And in 2013, we'll see.

Probably more like 2014, but we'll see.

For 2012, again, I think 81-81 is doable, and 82-80 will be a great step forward for a team that's gone nowhere but backward the last few years, and imploded when Shea imploded, really, 2009-onwards has been a nightmare.

So yeah...we're not "in a race" by any realistic means until we're nearing the Break and we're in 1st or a close 2nd and we carry over well into July.

Otherwise, again, we're sitting at home this October, but as long as we're sitting above .500, or at it, I'll be happy for the year.

[Paulypal]

Yeah seems like this is Terry's call but I don't like it - why the special treatment for Ike on a team that's still in the race? Mets can't give away that many at-bats.

Re: Alderson - I'm not liking his general passivity in doing anything for this year's team, but that's for another thread....

Its May 26th. How many teams are in the race??? I think Terry is taking the right approach. Terry knows what kind of team this is no matter what he says in front of a camera. There is no need to make someone work it out in Buffalo when basically many on his team would be playing in Buffalo.

I never blame a manager or coach all that much for success or failure. The players play..they win or lose. BUT Hudgens was a horrible choice. I am not sure he has the skill set to work someone through what Ike is doing or isnt doing.

[milladrive]

The Mets are still in the race?

...

For a season with less than 90 losses, maybe, hopefully...I'll be happy if we finish .500, ecstatic if we can somehow hold in 3rd place with a winning record and enter this offseason on a high not for a change with--MAYBE--a bit more cash to spend on, say, a couple of decent bullpen arms, and another bat (gee, where have I heard this before)...

But 25-21 and 3rd place is hardly "in the race," even in May--

Talk to me when we're in 1st or 2nd and it's late June or later, THEN, maybe, we'll have the beginnings of being in the beginning of being at the beginning of being in some sort of a race to some degree.

Maybe.

Before that--not this year, not again, we're in no race but for the one with the .500 line.

Get through the year...

Look and see if Thole and Ike both bounce back, if not, maybe we'll have enough cash to look around a bit for help, even if it's not an outright replacement...
Hope Murphy's defense gets better (or trade him to an AL team wanting a decent DH bat) and hope Tejada gets healthy and can continue to improve...
Resign Wright (he's earned it and he's clearly rebounded and I think most of the fanbase wants him to stay, and he wants to stay...if he leaves, it'll be a RIOT in Queens)...
I like Nieuwenhuis in the outfield, nice young prospect...Duda is a so-so fielder with a decent bat...see about Bay...

And then you have the staff--Santana/Dickey/Niese/Gee/???

Santana's still good, he just can never get run support, it seems, or the bullpen blows up on him (poor guy...he may have really derailed is HOF chances by leaving MIN)...
Dickey's been one of the few diamonds in the rough few years we've just had to shine through, he's a keeper (I'm still pulling for him to throw the first Mets no-hitter)...
Niese has shown himself to be a solid young #3 man...
Gee's been up and down, but for how young he is and the promise he's shown, he's worth the #4 slot...
And we'll see about #5.

Dump Pelf, and Young if he doesn't pan out for us, and maybe give Harvey or Wheeler a look-see sometime in 2013.

As for the bullpen--keep Bobby and Byrdak, and blow up the rest of it, ridiculous, so bad it's making me miss K-Rod, the guy may have been something of a herk, but at least he could get the job done most of the time...

And in 2013, we'll see.

Probably more like 2014, but we'll see.

For 2012, again, I think 81-81 is doable, and 82-80 will be a great step forward for a team that's gone nowhere but backward the last few years, and imploded when Shea imploded, really, 2009-onwards has been a nightmare.

So yeah...we're not "in a race" by any realistic means until we're nearing the Break and we're in 1st or a close 2nd and we carry over well into July.

Otherwise, again, we're sitting at home this October, but as long as we're sitting above .500, or at it, I'll be happy for the year.

Sooo, then, by that logic, and considering every single one of the 162 games counts in the final tally, no team's in a race this early in the season, correct?

[mandrake]

Sooo, then, by that logic, and considering every single one of the 162 games counts in the final tally, no team's in a race this early in the season, correct?

Exactly right. The Mets won a pennant with 82 wins. I think the Cardinals won a WS with 84 wins. The Mets are not a complete team....but I thought they would lose 90 games and I admit they are much more entertaining than I thought they would be. And a bit more frustrating at times too.

Bill Madden of the Daily News predicted the Tigers would win 109 games. I guess the Indians and White Sox don't read the daily news.

But....no matter who it is, you really are not ready for the Majors if you are hitting a buck-sixty on Memorial day. I hope Davis gets red hot....but I just don't see pitchers feeding him dead red.

[Shea Knight]

Sooo, then, by that logic, and considering every single one of the 162 games counts in the final tally, no team's in a race this early in the season, correct?

No, other teams are...other teams that haven't been utterly disappointing the last three years and collapsed the three years before that are in it...

At the risk of sounding Pauly-level pessimistic--

I'm done seeing the Mets as in a race for now until, again, they're still "in it" going into late June or July.

THEN maybe I'll shout "Ya Gotta Believe!" but for now...after 6 years...

Ya Gotta Be Real About This...

That being said, awesome 9-0 shutout win today for Santana with the Grand Slam.

[Shea Knight]

Also, not for nothing, but while that was an awesome win today...

It was an awesome win against the Padres...not exactly the class of MLB.

(That being said, as good as they are this season, I'm now really looking forward to getting to finally Meet the Mets and see my first live Mets game since Piazza's days at Dodger Stadium when they're in town June 30th...who knows, if they're still in contention by that point...)