OK so we all know at this point who Ike Davis is. He’s the guy that was drafted last year, stunk and then is having  an incredible 2nd year. .307 BA, .940 OPS in AA. He has garnered enough attention that there are even some optimist that say he will be ready next year. We also all know that Murphy has struggled this year and first base remains a hole for the foreseeable future. Thoughts were either upgrade 1B in the off-season or allow Murphy to hold the position for one more year then Ike would take over. Well then someone answer me this question, why the hell is Ike now playing RF? The last two games the starting RF for the Binghamton Mets has been our hope for 1B.Â
I do not pretend to have a clue what this means. I don’t know if it is to make him more attractive in a trade, to allow another prospect to play 1B, that the team is committed to Murphy or they have plans to bring in a long-term solution. Anyone that is more in-touch is welcome to give an idea.
41 comments
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-1:17pm at 1:17 pm (UTC -4)
It means nothing. Bingo is shorthanded and since Davis played RF in college it helps them juggle the lineup some.
Anyway, versatility never hurt anyone.
trs86
8/31/2009-2:41pm at 2:41 pm (UTC -4)
How do we know it means nothing? If he is our FUTURE at 1B then why is HE being moved and not someone else?
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-2:53pm at 2:53 pm (UTC -4)
You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill.
There are only three outfielders on the Bingo roster right now with Lucas Duda on the DL (he was playing LF). One of them, Manny Garcia, is an infielder by trade. None of the three can hit.
Davis was moved because he can be. Salvatore Paniagua, primarily a catcher, was moved to 1B so that Davis could fill in the outfield.
Sometimes the answer is as easy as the shooter was the guy found to have had a gun in the warehouse. Ike did not kill Kennedy.
trs86
8/31/2009-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe, who are you to say? My point is that IF Ike is the future of the team at 1B then you move someone else. You don’t think that there are other players on the team that have played LF? Being that they are 51-81 does it matter if someone can hit or not? Just cover the position and let Ike keep playing 1B.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Who am I to say what?
I’m sorry to challenge your authority on this one. But the facts sare that there’s three outfielders listed on their roster right now and that Ike Davis played RF in college LAST YEAR.
I don’t see who among the others could play a competent outfield? Can you? The always injured and slow-footed Shawn Bowman? The 5’9″ tree stump and recently injured Mark Kiger? Tejada? Coronado? Jonathan Malo, the only backup infielder on the roster, who had to come in play 3B the other day because of yet another injury?
Playing outfield for a few days, a few weeks or even the remainder of the season is not going to set back Ike Davis’s development. In fact, his defense at 1B is already rated very highly.
trs86
8/31/2009-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Call someone up from Single A? I am not in any authority and neither are you. I am saying I find it very strange that we would move our future 1B to RF because someone got injured. We shall see if it’s nothing but I find it very strange.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
When you asked for people to give an idea in your original post, you should have specified that that the idea should be consistent with a conspiracy theory.
Sorry if you didn’t like my idea. I think it is pretty reasonable.
Another possibility is that he might have to play OF for team USA in the upcoming tournament… but I think it is more likely that he was playing the OF because he could and because someone had to.
I still fail to see how this could possibly be a negative. Do you mean we have a power hitter capable of playing two positions that are weak spots for the major league team? PANIC!!!!
trs86
8/31/2009-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
No you are welcome to your opinion Wanny. You know that so don’t go there. Now that 2nd one I like and it’s very possible.
And where am I panicing Wanny? I have just stated that I think there COULD be something to it. I don’t think you just move him because you need a RF. I could be wrong. It’s more about how you approached it. Again saying that I am making a story about nothing because you THINK something else? We don’t have a clue. But again you are welcome to put your thoughts down too.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
You should re-read your post if you don’t see where too much was being made of this.
I’m glad you like the second idea. But you don’t think the first one is even possible? A depleted roster, with one outfielder who was 3-21 v. the team they were playing, and his experience as an OF don’t add up to a mere possibility?
And I still don’t see what the big deal is. Why is it a big deal if he plays 1B or RF for a few days or even the remaining few weeks in the season? Where’s the harm?
trs86
8/31/2009-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
Sure the first one is possible, maybe even likely. I just don’t think so. I think it is a very good question why our best 1B prospect is being moved to RF. Sorry to waste your time buddy. LOL.
Now this does not work perfectly but if Thole, who already plays 1B but say played LF in HS, was moved there for the rest of the season would you not be asking why?
trs86
8/31/2009-3:46pm at 3:46 pm (UTC -4)
Oh and I went back and reread MY post, still can’t find where I am making too much of it. I still find it strange that they moved him. Not good or bad but strange. I can’t seem to accept that was their only option.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:50pm at 3:50 pm (UTC -4)
Comparing apples to oranges is a waste of time.
Davis played OF LAST YEAR — Thole was in high school 6 years ago.
So yes, it would seem peculiar in that instance.
And who says Davis won’t play at least some OF for the Mets at some point next season?
trs86
8/31/2009-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny you are right, it’s most likely nothing. To me it COULD mean something. You got something better to talk about today?
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:54pm at 3:54 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, slow day at the office.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
According to Mattsblog.com, Jerry has stated that Thole will likely only play against right handed pitchers when he gets called up. Of course, Thole’s batting average v. lefties is nearly identical to his average v. righties.
Only Jerry…
If not for everything else, Omar deserves to be fired for keeping this boob around.
trs86
8/31/2009-2:42pm at 2:42 pm (UTC -4)
I think it’s only about the fact they still want Santos to get AB’s so the most logical thing to do would to be a platoon
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
Did Jerry tell you that? Because according to this quote from bart Hubbuch (via Toby Hyde’s Mets minor league blog) it sure sounds like it has nothing to do with Santos and more to do with Jerry not knowing what he’s talking about.
“Jerry Manuel says Josh Thole probably won’t play against lefties. ‘I want him in spots where he can have success and build on that.’â€
trs86
8/31/2009-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
No but why should we listen to anything Jerry says in the media?
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
My point was that what he said sounds stupid and is obviously uninformed.
Sorry I brought it up. I should have known you would know what he was really thinking.
trs86
8/31/2009-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
Damn Wanny so did you want me to tell you what I thought or just agree with what you said. LOL.
Anyway, Jerry always sounds stupid and uniformed. But don’t you think it is logical that Santos gets the starts against LH? Considering Santos will most likely be one of the catchers next year?
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
No.
Santos should get at bats so they can get a longer look at him. But it hurts Thole’s development to put him in a L/R platoon — especially when there’s no reason for it.
There’s no reason Thole can’t play two games and then Santos one.
This L/R platoon stuff is nonsense.
trs86
8/31/2009-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
True, but I am guessing that whatever the situation next year Thole will still be in AAA and Santos will be up. Santos would likely still be in a platoon with someone. Do you think 1 month of only seeing RHP to START the game will hinder his development?
And for the 2/1 ratio, why would we give Thole the 2/1 lead when Santos is most likely the guy competing for a spot on NEXT years team?
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
Because Thole is the young developing player and Santos is the 28 eight year old who is currently suffering from a stiff back and who is what he is.
If Thole is going to be here, there’s no reason not to see what he can do v. all kinds of pitchers. It won’t hurt Santos to sit a little more at this point. He’s not at a sensitive point in his education as a hitter.
trs86
8/31/2009-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
True, I just think it’s an interesting situation. Thole is the future at C and Santos is the future for next year maybe. I guess you are right that Santos can’t really show us anything more and we wil have to decide on next year based on what we have already seen? I for one am just hoping that he is still up for debate and I hope he is still auditioning for the team.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-4:07pm at 4:07 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t love Santos either. He’d be good as a backup or in a secondary role in a rotation with a more reliable hitter.
I do like what I’ve seen from him behind the plate.
dirtysanchez
8/31/2009-2:26pm at 2:26 pm (UTC -4)
Well could this mean that Fmart could be a trading chip for agonz?
the mets make a trade for agonz to pay 1st(including fmart in the trade)
and to not block ike from coming up, move him to the outfield where we will have a hole…eventually.
trs86
8/31/2009-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
That’s what I am saying, it could be 100 things. It could be as small as just needed a warm body to play OF but to me even that says something. If we needed a warm body for RF we would not move Wright out there just because he played RF some in HS.
Mr North Jersey
8/31/2009-3:49pm at 3:49 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny Trs what is wrong with you two? Now shake hands and play nice LoL
trs86
8/31/2009-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, we always go back and forth. That is why I hunted him down when he was still in Metsblog limbo. LOL. It’s always in good fun.
Mr North Jersey
8/31/2009-3:51pm at 3:51 pm (UTC -4)
trs86
8/31/2009-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, he loves it. Where else could he go and waste an entire afternoon for free?
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
…and get paid for it, no less.
trs86
8/31/2009-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, that’s the best part. Even though I can go home now, so I am a real loser for still being on here. But wait a minute if one of you will go click on an ad I can make .13 cents and have a reason to hang around. I will just wait patiently.
Mr North Jersey
8/31/2009-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
Wanny when you wrote “Playing outfield for a few days, a few weeks or even the remainder of the season is not going to set back Ike Davis’s development.” I agree with you that is why I also feel that Thole playing only vs Righties for the remainder of the season is not going to set back Thole’s development. Is it possible Mets are trying to show Thole’s best side to maybe stir some interest in a possible trade down the road?
trs86
8/31/2009-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
Had not thought about the trade angle, I sure hope not. Also, what we are forgeting is in September no starter goes the max in innings unless that team is still in the hunt. So unless Jerry is running out there to pull the catcher when the starter is taken out in the 5th inning then both will see LH and RH.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-4:04pm at 4:04 pm (UTC -4)
MNJ:
I’m not sure those are necessarily analogous situations. And I agree that it probably won’t hurt him; but it won’t help him either.
I also hadn’t thought of a trade angle and I agree with TRS in that I hope that’s not the case.
Anyway, teams might find his value higher if they saw he could hit LHP too.
By the way, his BA and OBP are nearly identical v. L and R. His hits for less power against L.
Mr North Jersey
8/31/2009-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
Is that lifetime BA and OB or just this season?
Also with 30+ games to go Thole being called up is just a look see. Nothing he does will get me excited or disappointed in the coming weeks.
wannybackstra
8/31/2009-4:36pm at 4:36 pm (UTC -4)
this season. .320+ BA and .400 OBP from both sides.
metsfan4decades
8/31/2009-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
I did read earlier back, a couple of months ago, that the Mets plan was to get guys in the minors as much exposure at several positions as possible so that they could get a good look at what might be best for them AND they would have some experience at a few positions when brought up to the ML.
So…this could be nothing more than that for the last few weeks or it could be a combo of that and they have absolutely nobody left to stick in the outfield.
Now….if they start playing around with it come next year for most of the season, I can’t say I’ll be very happy with that.
I will admit to not paying enough attention to all minor league prospects as some of our other posters on here do, so mine is just an opinion off the top of my head….
metsfan4decades
8/31/2009-7:16pm at 7:16 pm (UTC -4)
On another note, I’m excited to see Thole called up from Triple A. Gives me something to look forward to since you all know I’ll be watching the games the last month of the season.
I see Beltran is due to start rehab games with Brooklyn. If nothing else, you have to admire his determination. He could have ‘sat out’ the rest of the season and I don’t think anyone would have said a bad word about that decision. I’m anxious to see, if he does come back to play a couple of weeks, how it all plays out for him. If he plays w/o pain, I’ll be breathing a sigh of relief….
baseballmercenaries
8/31/2009-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
woo go thole