Things to Dislike About Ike Davis

Everybody's talking about Ike Davis. Oh, he's so wonderful. Ah, he's so talented. Ooh, can he sign my shoes?

It's time for a little reality check before we got all hot and bothered about Mr. Davis. So to keep things real here's a list of all the things to dislike about Ike Davis:

1. His sideburns (Dylan McKay called and would like them back)
2. His number (#29? What are you a backup QB?)
3. He's better looking than you are
4. He's more talented than you are
5. He strikes out (Who does he think he is striking out? David Wright?)
6. His name is Ike (A stale chewy candy)
7. He appears to be clean cut (ahem, Tiger Woods was once thought to be that too)
8. He had Mike Jacobs fired (Sure, Mr. Nice Guy)
9. He made you forget about Daniel Murphy (Remember him? Remember those Pete Rose comparisons?)

Yeah, Ike Davis. I like him a lot.

The Mets Opening Day Lineup

According to SNY's Kevin Burkhardt, the opening day lineup for the Mets will be as follows:

1. Alex Cora - SS
2. Luis Castillo - 2B
3. David Wright - 3B
4. Mike Jacobs - 1B
5. Jason Bay - LF
6. Gary Matthews, Jr. - CF
7. Jeff Franceour - RF
8. Rod Barajas - C
9. Johan Santana - P

Yes, it's a formidable lineup if you're the Royals but not exactly the one Mets fans wanted to see. Even with the players that are on the DL I'm baffled at just how bad this lineup is. There are ways to improve this lineup even with players the Mets already have on their bench.

I don't get why this isn't the real lineup:
1. Angel Pagan - CF
2. Luis Castillo - 2B
3. David Wright - 3B
4. Jason Bay - LF
5. Mike Jacobs - 1B
6. Jeff Franceour - RF
7. Rod Barajas - C
8. Alex Cora - SS
9. Johan Santana - P

I think Angel Pagan has done enough to deserve the opening day start and batting Cora leadoff is just absurd. At least with Pagan, or even Matthews for that matter, you have the potential for some early game doubles or triples.

Matt Cerrone at Metsblog.com made an assessment which I also uphold and that is why on earth or you giving Jacobs the potential for more at bats than Jason Bay? Sure Bay batted fifth with Boston but he is a more than capable clean up hitter who definitely deserves more AB's than a guy who probably shouldn't have even made the team.

It is what it is though and maybe I'm over thinking things. I'm anxious for the season to start though and see if Bay's and Wright's spring performance are sign of things to come.

Ike Davis is my Starting First Baseman

Ike Davis is currently on his way to minor league camp. You see when you bat nearly .500, come through in clutch situations and drive in more runs than the other two first baseman combined during spring training, you're bound to be sent to the minors.

Why the Mets feel so attached to Daniel Murphy is beyond me. They went out and got Mike Jacobs this offseason and it wasn't because Jacobs is a must have talent. They got Jacobs because they figured they needed another legitimate option at first if/when Murphy fell apart.

But now they have an exciting, young and energetic player in Ike Davis who has done nothing but prove himself this spring and he's rewarded by being sent back to the minors when he's potentially better than both the first baseman that will make the Mets roster.

What's the worst that could happen with Ike on the opening day roster? He fails and gets sent back to the minors. If he's a solid player, he'll be back up eventually. If he succeeds, you have just excited the Mets fan base and the organization.

Let the kids play. Mejia, Davis, Tejada. This team needs some new life. If Murphy goes on to bat .300 and drive in 80 runs, I'll gladly eat my words but I doubt I'll have to.