Jacobs, not Davis, to replace Murphy in Mets lineup
New York Mets' Mike Jacobs swings at a third strike in the first inning during the spring training baseball game with the Florida Marlins. (March 31, 2010) Credit: AP
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Daniel Murphy hurt his right knee Tuesday on a simple change of direction while running. That has forced the Mets to change direction on their Opening Day first baseman, but not in the way that many fans of the team would like to see.
Murphy has a Grade I sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL), the Mets announced Wednesday, and will be out a minimum of two to six weeks.
Mike Jacobs, and not top prospect Ike Davis, is the choice to replace Murphy in the lineup, according to general manager Omar Minaya.
"I'm going to let Ike develop," Minaya said. "Jacobs is a veteran guy. He's played in the major leagues. I think he's done a good job at first base. One of the reasons we brought him into camp was because if anything was to happen, we thought he could be a guy who could fill that role."
Davis, 23, had a sensational spring, batting .480 with three home runs and 10 RBIs. But the Mets don't want to rush him; his two-year professional career includes only 55 games above Class A. "Right now our plans are to let Davis develop in Triple-A," Minaya said. "We want him out there developing."
Minaya did say he "reserves the right" to change his mind, although it's not clear what would cause him to reverse the decision before Monday's opener at Citi Field.
Jacobs, who hit .228 with 19 home runs and 61 RBIs last season for the Royals, signed a minor-league contract Feb. 10. The 29-year-old has been battling Frank Catalanotto and Chris Carter for the final bench spot, but now it appears that two of the three will make the club. Minaya said it's possible the team won't make final roster decisions until Saturday.
Jacobs, batting cleanup against the Marlins Wednesday, went 2-for-4. He is hitting .194 with two homers and four RBIs and likely will platoon with Fernando Tatis at first base.
"You never want to see any of your teammates get hurt," Jacobs said. "I've always been a big believer in not rooting against guys you're competing against. It's just baseball. We're all out here trying to do the same thing.
"Hopefully, it'll be an opportunity for me, and for however long he's out, we'll be ready to step in there. It's nice knowing we've still got a few days left so I can start getting some more regular at-bats and be ready for Opening Day."
Murphy was hitting .196 with two home runs and eight RBIs before getting hurt in a rundown between third and home against the Cardinals. The Mets initially called it a bruise, but an MRI taken Wednesday showed the Grade I tear, which is considered the least severe. He will not require surgery.
"I just got caught in between where I wanted to go, tried to go one way," Murphy said. "A couple of the therapist guys said they went back and looked at the tape, said it really wasn't that bad, so they weren't that concerned going into today even before I got the MRI. I didn't really think it was that bad. I felt I tweaked it just a little bit there."
