Those Mets

IKE DAVIS LOOKS RIGHT IN A MET UNIFORM

After announcing that Ike Davis had been promoted to the big leagues, a move that shoved the Mets into their future, general manager Omar Minaya was reluctant to say that the 23-year-old first baseman was here for good. Clearly, though, Davis was brought in for the good of a team that was in need of offense and perhaps an injection of something different. So many factors are in play, not the least of which are Daniel Murphy's injury and the Mets' caution, that Minaya can't say. But already, in four at-bats and nine innings, Davis has polished his candidacy to be the Mets' regular first baseman, almost regardless of Murphy. It's not so much that he singled twice and drove in one run in his big league debut, but rather how he seemed at ease in his new role. Manager Jerry Manuel's characterizations were that Davis "didn't appear fazed" and "totally understood." He noted the rookie's "coolness." And the most astute observation was this: "He seems like one of the guys." Davis appeared that way in Spring Training, and when he walked on the field before the game on Monday night, it was for a reunion, not an introduction. His easiness belies his age and lack of big league time. He took his first batting practice swings, first hits and RBI, and a postgame shaving-cream pie in the face with equal aplomb. He knew what to expect, and if he didn't, so what? He'd roll with it. "I'm in the big leagues," Davis said after the game. "What's not to like?" He cackled when he found 118 text messages awaiting him -- and those didn't include the multitude he received before game time. He proudly showed a photo of his shaving cream-covered face a buddy had sent him within 10 minutes of Jeff Francoeur's attack. Francoeur had nearly emptied the can. "That kind of stuff helps a lot," Davis said. Only "one of the guys" would feel so good about it. "I consider myself personable," he said, and no one questioned his assessment. Angel Pagan hit the two-run homer than provided the Mets a two-run lead in what became their 6-1 victory over the challenged Cubs. Jon Niese pitched effectively for most of six innings. But this evening belonged to the player who in less than a year had passed every position-player prospect in the organization. Davis had been summoned from the Mets' Triple-A Buffalo affiliate on Monday afternoon -- he had taken batting practice for an afternoon game -- and was immediately inserted into the starting lineup by Manuel. He was the No. 6 hitter and, of course, the first baseman. His pregame introduction was hailed, his in-game introduction prompted a sitting ovation from a modest gathering at Citi Field, and his first at-bat -- in the second inning against right-hander Randy Wells -- produced a single and a semi-standing ovation. When he drove in a run with an up-the-middle single in the five-run rally in the seventh -- off left-hander Sean Marshall, no less -- he heard full acceptance from the 27,940 in the stands. "It was real cool, the crowd actually knowing who I was and cheering for me," he said. "Pretty cool." He had even signed an autograph after he deplaned at LaGuardia when a worker recognized his name in the manifest. Such celebrity. As much as Davis embraced his opportunity, Citi Field embraced him. The crowd wanted something to cheer, and Minaya and Manuel accommodated. And as Minaya said, "He's here to play." There will be no platooning, as there was with Opening Day first baseman Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis. The developments of recent days had created circumstances that made Davis' promotion almost a given. Once the Mets summoned Tobi Stoner to add temporary depth to their unrested bullpen on Sunday and designated Jacobs for assignment, the next natural step appeared to be returning Stoner to their Triple-A affiliate and promoting Davis, the son of former Yankees and Twins reliever Ron Davis. The fatigue of the bullpen, the by-product of Saturday's 20-inning game, was one factor, but Minaya said he had begun thinking of summoning Davis last week -- before the marathon game and after watching Jacobs provide insufficient offense and awkward defense. Minaya finally acted on an assessment he'd made in the final week of Spring Training, after Davis had been assigned to the Minor League complex and before Daniel Murphy injured his knee. "We could have gone either way," Minaya said then. "Ike is ready to play." But the Mets opted to use Jacobs, who has a 32-homer season on his resume, and let Davis sample Triple-A pitching for the first time. The rookie clearly found it to his liking, batting .364 with two home runs and three doubles in 33 at-bats. With the Mets unsure when Murphy will return -- he hasn't done more than light running at this point -- it was time for Davis. Minaya declined to discuss what impact Davis' promotion would have on Murphy when the latter has healed. During the offseason, shortly after Davis had impressed the club during the Arizona Fall League, a member of the hierarchy said the team was not opposed to assigning Murphy to Triple-A if the club imported a better first baseman. Davis, the Mets' first-round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, said "I was pretty excited" after his arrival at Citi Field and his second batting practice. His expectations for 2010 didn't include a trip from Buffalo to Queens. "It was completely out of my control," Davis said. "Did I want to be here? Yes!" He had a sense he would be promoted this season, but not this early. He spoke by telephone with his father, who was in Arizona, after he was told by Buffalo manager Ken Oberkfell that he was making the trip to New York. "He told me to play my game and enjoy it," he said. His parents are expected on Tuesday. One will get the ball used when his broken-bat line drive landed in right-center in the second inning. Davis acknowledged feeling nervous, though he said that would be eliminated after one pitch. After five more pitches, he had a 1.000 batting average, which will do a lot to eliminate anxiety. "It's nice to know that all my hard work paid off," Davis said matter-of-factly before the game. Davis added that he felt no extra pressure being summoned while the Mets were struggling and after Jacobs had underperformed. "I put expectations on myself," he said. Manuel already had said that being promoted in-season, as opposed to at the beginning of a season, is more challenging. "This way there's more attention paid to you," Manuel said. Manuel expects Davis to provide "easy power, fluid power." That's what caught his eye in Spring Training. "He's a rhythmic player. He understands the flow and rhythm of the game. He's a smooth, young player," he said. The manager was particularly impressed by Davis' long fly ball to right in the sixth. "He knew the game was on the line and he took his shot. He just missed," Manuel said. Home run hitters know when to take their shots. Earlier, Manuel had offered a precaution, as the Mets are wont to do with every young player. "I'm not sure he has to be the savior of [the 2010 Mets]," he said. "He's a good complement for what we have. Be careful of high expectation." Moments later, Davis took his first big league swings in a cage. He hit one pitch over the Geico sign in right center, the deepest point in the outfield, and another over the roof in the visiting bullpen. "I can hit out there," he said. He has his own expectations. (MLB.com)