Back In The Swing?

As Mets fans, we've been waiting since last May to see the power threat that is known to be Ike Davis.  He showed some glimpses of it during Spring Training and all fans started to dream big.  Another season of Ike in the middle of the lineup, bashing home runs and driving the ball to all parts of the park.  Making a charge to be one of the best first basemen in the National League.

And then the season started.  And Ike began the season 0 for what seemed to be a century.  And he never picked it up.  Keeping his batting average around the .165 mark for the first two plus months of the year.  Everything was wrong.  He had a horrible eye.  Was out in front of way to many pitches.  His hitch was a problem, not a power source.  It translated to some rough defense at times.

There were many a time and many a people (mostly fans and the media) who thought that Ike belonged in the minors for a period of time.  Get his swing back.  Get his confidence back.  But that didn't happen.  Terry Collins stuck with Ike, yes, further down in the lineup but still in there.  The hits would come said the Mets.  Ike is too good for him not to turn this around.

And ya know what?  They may be on to something.  This isn't me saying that Ike is back and he's once again been the force he was last season.  But, he does seem to be coming back around.

During the Mets three game sweep of the Rays, Ike went 6 for 11, including a home run, a double, 3 walks, and 6 RBIs.  Adding on the final two games against the Yankees from last weekend, Ike is 8 for his last 14.  His average has climbed to .188.

The Mets still need not to rush Ike.  They better not push him up to the 4- or 5- hole in the lineup and watch him get exposed again.  Keeping Ike down for the next couple of weeks is crucial.  But let's keep the fingers crossed that he's found his flaw and is getting back into his groove.