From the desk pf: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
NEW YORK METS - Ike Davis, Mike Baxter And Robert Carson Demoted To Las Vegas.
That's more like it - action, because June demanded it. Like I said yesterday, nothing ventured, nothing gained. But with respect to the last three days of roster adjustments, manipulating the farm system is all the GM really has. Major trades and signing big free agents have been out of the question. In the general manager's defense, blame for lack-luster execution of the grand plan gets easily confused between all that can be done in light of an ongoing prohibitive ownership situation, and the GM doing everything he personally can to build a better team. All that said, finally, the GM acted with haste and conviction.
I would have treated the Ike Davis dilemma differently, by summoning Josh Satin to Flushing a month ago to platoon with Ike at first. That would have effectively brought the pressure of competition home to Ike, rather than shipping the crowd favorite to Vegas. Although no one ever accused him of being the answer at first base, Josh Satin, who is no stranger to Flushing and has been putting together a fine campaign for the 51's, gets a deserved opportunity now. After fifty-eight games and 216 at-bats, Josh was batting .306, slugging .491, with a stellar .491 OBP. He had thirteen doubles, nine home runs, and thirty-two runs batted in. Defensively, he only committed one error as a first baseman in 421 chances, for a .998 pct.
Ike Davis however, fizzled like a bottle rocket shortly after displaying a spark of progress during the subway series, and during last week's series against the Marlins. By the end of Sunday's game, Ike was batting just .161 after 186 at-bats, with sixty-six strikeouts. With just three doubles and five home runs, Ike was slugging at a paltry .262 mark. At times, his fielding and decision making were clearly affected as well. Working in Ike's favor, are his good standing with the fans, and the club's confidence in him. However, Davis has done everything possible to get himself included in a trade next month. How long he spends playing for Las Vegas or Flushing is clearly up to him.
Accompanying Ike in Vegas will be Mike Baxter and Robert Carson. Josh Edgin and Collin Cowgill appear to be their replacements. This comes on the heels of Rick Ankiel getting DFA'd and Collin McHugh getting sent back down to Vegas on Saturday. Taking McHugh's spot on the active roster is David Aardsma.
Accusing Sandy Alderson of rearranging deck chairs on the
Titanic S.S. Wilpon is the easy thing to do. It might even be warranted if he doesn't start promoting from a wider pool of Mets prospects. Collin Cowill and Kirk Nieuwenhuis were already given a change to open the season together, and wound up in Vegas together. They return to Flushing as a pair again, to compete with Juan Lagares, which is fine, and Marlon Byrd, which is not. I still contend Marlon Byrd's roster spot should be going to someone else who projects more prominently into the Mets near future.
Mike.BTB
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