Tag: Mets

Ike Davis is coming to Citi Field. The young slugger who the Mets view as the first-baseman of the future is going to get a chance to make his future now — something the Mets should have done on opening day.

The Mets had nothing to lose with this move. Davis either will prove to be ready (either as the bopper they are hoping for or as a future bopper who can handle himself as he grows into a middle-of-the-order guy), or he isn’t and gets sent back down for more seasoning.

The alternative, at the moment, is Fernando Tatis, which is not much of an alternative at all.

Let’s hope Ike makes a splash and turns into the lefty presence the team needs.

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Coming back from 6-1 to tie the game might be enough for some Mets fans to say this team is different than what we’ve seen in recent years. But the faltering of the lineup in the ninth inning — thanks primarily to two ballplayers that should not be on this roster — is more likely to be this team’s hallmark.

Think about how the bottom of the ninth unfolded. With a shaky Leo Nunez pitching, Leo Nunez pitching for Florida, pinch-hitter Ruben Tejada, a 20-year-old shortstop, fouled out to lead the inning off before David Wright walked, putting the winning run on first.

That’s where things fell apart. Mike Jacobs worked a long at bat, but ultimately wasted an out with a pop up to second. Jason Bay came up and, after Wright stole second, was intentionally walked. That brought up Garry Matthews Jr., who grounded out to shortstop with the winning run at second.

The Marlins then scored in the top of the 10th and the Mets went meakly.

But the lack of a real cleanup hitter and Matthews’ rather nominal presence behind Bay in the lineup means that the Mets will have issues in these situations all year, unless they can find a competent six-hitter to keep pitchers honest.

We’re only two games in, but the starting pitching is not the only issue the Mets have. As long as the Mets  have to send out players like Jacobs and Matthews, the team cannot be expected to truly contend.

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Nice inning so far. You have to like Jason Bay’s hustle on the triple — and the Marlins show why the team might be the worst fielding squad in the National League (two errors on pickoffs). Met 5, Marlins 1.

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Johan Santana so far: 3 innings, 1 single, 1 strikeout, 45 pitches, 2 balls out of the infield. Nice.

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One at bat does not a season make, but David Wright smashes a pitch down the right-field line and over the fence. After last year, that had to feel good. Score: 2-0 Mets.

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