Justin Turner will back up Ike Davis at first, not Lucas Duda
Mets' Justin Turner works out at first base during spring training infield drills. (March 1, 2012) Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Justin Turner made his debut at first base Thursday during infield drills, but the Mets' reluctance to use Lucas Duda as the primary backup to Ike Davis provided some insight on how Terry Collins is thinking about his roster for the coming season.
Duda was a first baseman before he was moved to rightfield to clear the position for Davis. But Collins is so concerned with making Duda more comfortable in the outfield that he doesn't want him getting any reps at first.
"He's got enough on his hands right now to play rightfield every day," Collins said. "I told him this winter, look, you've got enough to learn in rightfield, so I'm going to leave him out there. He's got enough on his plate to do the things we want offensively and learn how to play a position instead of scramble him around trying to play multiple spots. I don't think it's fair to him."
Although the plan is for Turner to spell Davis occasionally, if Davis is lost for a longer period of time -- say a DL stint -- Collins said he will move Daniel Murphy to first and use either Turner or Ronny Cedeño at second.
As for Turner's ability at first, he looked fine during drills and got a thumbs-up from Davis.
"One thing you have to know about Justin is he's like a chameleon," Davis said. "He can do anything on the field, any position."
Extra bases
David Wright on the expanded playoff format, which will include two wild-card teams and a one-game playoff between them to determine which advances: "That's not something that's in the back of your mind. You just try to get into the playoffs no matter how many teams make it." . . . Dillon Gee will oppose Matt Harvey in Friday's intrasquad game, the first of three scheduled for the Mets. The first two will be seven innings each, but Collins left open the possibility of canceling the third on Sunday, depending on the team's condition. R.A. Dickey faces Chris Schwinden Saturday, with Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese on tap for Sunday.
