While Jerry Manuel has talked up Jenrry Mejia potentially making the Opening Day roster in the bullpen, he’s been far more cautious/realistic in assessing Ike Davis’ chances.
Davis went deep for the second time this spring, off Alberto Arias in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 8-4 loss to the Astros. The first baseman is hitting .524 this spring, but Manuel noted it’s a long shot for Daniel Murphy not to be the Opening Day starter at the position. Murphy is 1-for-12 to start the Grapefruit League exhibition season.
“Some unforeseen things would have to happen in my opinion for that to happen,” Manuel said. “… It’s a little bit more difficult to make that decision based on a position player unless everybody just has to be 100% in agreement that that’s the right way to go. I would say more young pitchers have made the jump than more young, unproven position players. I could be wrong, but I would think.”
Of course, that didn’t stop the praise of Davis.
“Well, I tell you, he has a real fluid, powerful swing,” Manuel said. “You’ve got to give him some thought. When a guy keeps hitting the ball out to center field, grand slams and so forth, you’ve got to give it some thought. What we’ll probably do is just keep him and watch him play. He played nine innings today. He probably won’t play tomorrow. He’ll go with us. Just kind of watch him play and see what we have.”
Said David Wright: “He looks good. He’s hitting about .800. I think that speaks for itself. I don’t know how you can say anything negative about a guy that seems to be hitting the ball as well as he has. He’s got a great approach up there, a lot of power. It looks like mentally he’s really advanced as far as a hitter. It looks like he’s got a ton of upside.”
Wright homered for the second time this spring, off Brett Myers, while Gary Matthews had three hits.
“I just got to a count you feel comfortable in, 3-2, and put a good swing on a good pitch,” Wright said. “It’s about putting yourself in that good position. Jerry and HoJo have got me comfortable with where I’m at offensively. Now it’s just about going out there and trying to see some pitches and practice in the games what we’ve been doing for a few months now.”
- It’s unlikely we’ll get a verdict on Jose Reyes tonight. Reyes is not expected to even be at the complex in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday.
- Catchers Mike Nickeas, Kai Gronauer and Francisco Pena were dispatched to minor-league camp.
- Interesting revelation: A team official said the Mets would not have done the Brian Stokes-for-Matthews trade if Cory Sullivan had re-signed with the organization. The Mets nontendered Sullivan in December, but tried to bring him back after Carlos Beltran had mid-January surgery. The Mets couldn’t guarantee Sullivan they wouldn’t go out and get a player such as Rick Ankiel later, so Sullivan soon afterward signed with the Astros instead and the Mets swung the trade with the Angels.
- Roger Clemens was in attendance as his son, Koby, entered the game in the seventh inning at first base and later reached on an error by shortstop Luis Hernandez.
