Yes, it is once again time to start building the 2012 25-man squad.
This is the 7th year I’ve done this, and, it really isn’t my list. It’s the obvious list that this team starts off with the day before the Hot Stove League kicks in and ends with the last day of spring training. All I do is start it off with the 10-15 obvious guys that will be back and then, we’ll talk it up from there.
My first pick is an obvious one.
1B – Ike Davis – Davis will play 2012 as a 25-year old and is a star in the making. We worry so much about rushing prospects and yet, when Daniel Murphy went down in the beginning of the 2010 season, Davis just hoped a plane and took over a slot most experts thought it would take at least another year for him to mature into. Out most of 2011 with the phantom Wright collision, his Bigs totals for two years are: 684-AB, 26-HR, 96-RBI, .271/.357/.460/.817. Sure, he strikes out too much but he plays stellar defense at first. No, this is an easy keeper who has a long Mets career ahead of him. He should step up to the cleanup position now that Carlos Beltran is gone. Youth, great defense, team attitude, and pop.
Some history:
Davis was drafted in the 1st round of the 2008 draft by the Mets.
His stats at ASU were: .394/.468/.778, 198 AB, 62 R, 78 H, 26 doubles, 1 triple, 16 HR, 73 RBI, 30 BB-31 K, 3 errors in 49 games, .993 FPCT
MLB.com’s scouting report on draft day:
Hitting Ability: Davis tends to be a slow starter, but showed a smooth swing from the left side.
Power: Davis has some untapped raw power that could be developed as a pro.
Running Speed: He's a tick below Major League average in terms of speed.
Base running: Not a base-clogger by any means, he's a decent baserunner.
Arm Strength: Also a pitcher who throws about 87 mph, his arm plays fine from the outfield or first base.
Fielding: He's a solid corner outfielder and can handle himself well around first.
Range: He's got good instincts in the outfield and would have no trouble covering enough ground to stay there.
Physical Description: Davis has a good, projectable and athletic body.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: Smooth swing from the left side; good athleticism; good bloodlines -- former big league pitcher Ron Davis is his dad.
Weaknesses: He doesn't always repeat his swing, leading to incomplete at-bats at times. Sometimes he appears to be a little low energy.
Summary: On radars since high school, when he was a 19th-round pick of the Rays in 2005, the son of ex-big leaguer Ron Davis has a sweet left-handed swing that should generate more power in the future. He's not speedy, but he is a solid base runner and would be fine as a corner outfielder or first baseman at the next level.
In June 2008, BA did a post-draft adjustment of their top 10 Mets prospects and Davis was ranked #2, with the comments: “hulking lefthanded slugger can handle the outfield and pitch, too.
Scoutingbook.com on Ike Davis:
18. Isaac Davis, 1B, NYM - Another slugger who went a little earlier than expected, and again it's to a team that could sorely use some power from the first base position. Ike is a legitimate threat to hit 40 homers in the big leagues, and his refined college approach to the strike zone means he should do it without Howardesque strikeout numbers. One of the draft's most polished picks, Davis could be ready as soon as 2009.
In mid-June 2008, Baseball America on Ike Davis:
The son of former big league reliever Ron Davis, Ike was not a scouts' favorite coming into his junior season. A decorated high school career that included a star turn with Team USA's youth national squad and an MVP award at the 2004 Aflac Classic, and his pitching family pedigree, had most scouts regarding him as a pitcher out of high school. He decided to go to Arizona State rather than sign as a Rays 19th-round pick, and he started on the mound and batted cleanup in his first game as a Sun Devil. He struggled with wood in the Alaska League in 2006 and in the Cape in 2007, when he cut his summer short to have right wrist surgery. He returned to the mound as a closer in 2008 and played first base to keep his arm fresh. He also worked to incorporate his lower half more and was having a banner season, leading the Sun Devils in the triple crown categories as well as saves, before missing time with a ribcage injury. Davis has excellent raw power, comparing to former ASU star Jeff Larish, but he's a much better defender with a better swing and better pitch recognition. Davis is above-average at first base and should be able to play an outfield corner as well due to his plus arm; his below-average speed could limit him to left.
In late July 2008, ProjectProspect.com updated their top 10 Mets prospect list and Davis was ranked 2nd.
Davis had a so-so 2008 season, though he did ralley near the end. He played the entire season for Brooklyn, going .256/.326/.326 in 215 at bats. Davis had 0 HRs and only 17 RBIs in 58 games.
February 2008:
From Toby Hyde: - #14 - 1B Ike Davis - Why Ranked Here: Davis, who had a rough professional debut, shows off plus big league raw power in batting practice. He has not taken that leverage to games yet, failing to homer in his first season as a Brooklyn Cyclone, but it’s in there. Davis has sound footwork at first and as a former pitcher in college, the arm for right. However, those other attributes are of secondary importance to a player who was drafted 18th overall for his offensive gifts. 2008: After hitting .385/.457/.742 in 52 games with Arizona State, Davis began his professional career with a 15 game hit streak over which time he hit .292/.288/.385 without drawing a single walk. By July, Davis’s average was lurking around .250 and he was a mess at the plate. The only pitches he was hitting hard were fastballs thigh-high, middle in. He was getting beat by heaters up or in and was lunging hard onto his front foot chasing breaking balls. As Brooklyn made a late dash to the playoffs, Davis appeared to relax. In his final 58 AB, he hit .310/.394/.379 with 8 BB and 12 SO. Projected 2009 Start: St. Lucie. Davis will take on the pitcher-friendly FSL.
MWOB on: - 2008 Top Pick: - Ike Davis 1B - The Mets were rewarded with this pick when the Braves felt nostalgia was in order and signed Tom Glavine as a free agent. Ike signed for $1.575 million and is the son of Ron Davis. Like his dad, he was a closer for Arizona State as well as a slugging first baseman. The Mets drafted him and have him playing first base. In 215 at bats for the Brooklyn Cyclones Ike forgot to be that slugging firstbaseman, failing once to send a ball over the wall. He did hit 15 doubles, but most teams are looking for better than a .326 slugging average from their first baseman. The Mets are hoping to see a little more pop in 2009. His could move to the outfield, but his speed restricts him to left field, and that is also a power position.
February 2009: Mike Rodgers on Ike Davis:
Ike Davis had (at the time of the draft) room to grow. Conversely from Raben, Davis' swing does lend itself to high contact, but not a ton of power, according to Alex Eisenberg of The Hardball Times. He feels that Davis' hands get too far out in front which fails to let the ball travel into his happy zone -- for the lack of a better term. However, the PG Crosschecker scouting report from earlier notes a very balanced, upper-cut swing which shows great power potential. Unfortunately he struggled in the Alaskan Summer League in 2006 and lost valuable time to prove what he could do with wood bats in the Cape Cod league due to his wrist surgery. However, he was sitting in the lower-90's when he took the mound for the Sun Devils as a left-handed closer, which means he does profile as a potential right fielder with his athletic frame and above-average to potentially 'plus' arm strength.
In March 2009, Rotoworld ranked the Mets Top 10 Prospect:
9. Ike Davis - 1B - DOB: 03/22/87 - ETA: 2011
.256/.326/.326, 0 HR, 17 RBI, 43/23 K/BB, 0 SB in 215 AB (SS-A Brooklyn)
Davis, the son of former major league pitcher Ron Davis, looked like the bust of the first round after failing to homer in 215 at-bats after the Mets made him the 18th overall pick last year. The team is hoping that it was a strained oblique that sapped his power. More than anything else, it was his 30-homer potential that made him an early pick. The 6-foot-5 Davis doesn't project as much of a hitter for average and he doesn't run very well. On the plus side, he likely will develop into an excellent defensive first baseman. Maybe he'll be the new Rico Brogna.
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