It's official: Ike Davis is now en route to Citi Field and is expected to be in the lineup for tonight's tilt against the Chicago Cubs. While Mets fans rejoice, grown men cry, and little leaguers in Queens have someone new to look up to, what's a fantasy owner to do? More to the point, what can we expect? As far as PT is concerned, it's no secret the Mets are desperate for a first baseman. With Mike Jacobs DFA'd and Omar Minaya-fave Daniel Murphy (knee) still on the shelf, 35-year-old Fernando Tatis is the only player on the roster besides Davis capable (and I use that term loosely) of playing the position. Davis' reputation as a strong defender should net him everyday at-bats versus righties to start, even if he does struggle with the lumber. Besides, his bat can't possibly be worse than the Jacobs/Tatis tandem who combined to go 4-for-48 (.083 BA) with one homer and five RBI through the team's first dozen games.
Offensively speaking, we know Davis has power. Davis hit 20 homers between Double-A and Triple-A last season, homered three times in 25 at-bats this spring, and already had two long balls through 10 games at Triple-A in 2010. But while scouts inside and outside the Mets organization believe he'll someday flaunt 30-35 HR muscle, it'd be silly to expect more than 15-20 long balls in his inaugural campaign. The major concern, at least in the short term, is his knack for the whiff. Davis struck out 160 times in 182 games down on the farm, and eight times in 25 at-bats this spring. His hole-y swing and low contact percentage don't necessarily mean he'll hit .220, but if you're expecting him to hit around .300, you'll most likely be disappointed.
There's also the issue of Daniel Murphy's return. Based on the Mets' decision-making thus far, it's entirely possible that Murphy could unseat Davis as the team's primary first baseman when he returns. According to ESPNNewYork's Adam Rubin, Daniel Murphy won't be back for at least a few weeks, but it is something to keep in mind. A Davis/Murphy platoon wouldn't make much sense; they're both left-handed hitters who struggle against southpaws.
In the meantime, if Davis can get off to a good start at the plate and show a good glove in the field, he could change a lot of minds within the organization. Of course, this is the New York Mets we're talking about.
In summary, those in mixed re-draft leagues should probably avoid this situation altogether; there are too many variables at play. Not only would the add leave you at the mercy of Omar Minaya's whim, but Davis is still a rookie with just over a full season of minor league experience, including just 65 games above Single-A. On the other hand, if you're in a dynasty/keeper/NL-only league, you should've already had Davis on your roster. There's little doubt he'll have the position all to himself at this time next year and he might even pay big dividends down the stretch in 2010.
