Spring in his step: Mets' Davis psyched
Ike Davis #29 of the New York Mets connects on a fifth inning RBI broken bat single against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. (Aug. 10, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Ike Davis was happy to be back on a baseball field, swinging a bat.
The Mets first baseman was off to a great start last year -- hitting .302 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 36 games -- when his season ended May 10 after he injured his left ankle in a collision with third baseman David Wright.
Davis and Wright were among the Mets' early arrivals at their spring training complex, along with Daniel Murphy, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas, and had their first batting practice.
After the workout in cool but sunny weather Monday, Davis said the ankle feels fine.
He said the layoff forced by the injury was at least twice as long as any he'd had since he started playing baseball at age 6.
Davis said he learned what it was like to be in limbo.
"It's not a great feeling," he said. "I couldn't do anything and didn't know when I was going to get back."
Though the layoff made him realize how much passion he has for baseball and how much he missed it, he didn't feel much like watching game video.
"If I would have kept studying, it would have driven me crazy, so I just concentrated on getting healthy," he said.
He said he doesn't think the long layoff will affect him.
"Once it's over like two months, it's the same," Davis said. "That's why you need spring training."
He started hitting Jan. 2 off a tee and against pitches thrown by his father, former major- leaguer Ron Davis, at his father's home in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Mets manager Terry Collins said Davis looked good.
"He's got a great feel for the game," Collins said. "I know he's been hitting a lot with his dad. I wasn't real concerned about him."
Davis is eager to put the injury behind him. "I'm ready to stop talking about my ankle and start the season," he said.
Collins said that once Davis shows he is fully recovered, he is his first baseman.
Though the young slugger won the first-base job in 2010, when he placed seventh in Rookie of the Year voting, he said, "It's never really yours."
Still, he's more confident than a year ago.
"If I go out and play my game, I feel like I've gotten to the point where if I prove I'm healthy, I'll be out there until proven otherwise," he said.
Said Collins: "He just needs a lot of reps. I can see him getting 20 more at-bats [in exhibition games] than the other regulars."
More MLB news
