Mets First Baseman

As Spring Training approaches (pitchers and catchers report in mid-February) LeRoy will begin its preseason analysis of the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and the hated New York Yankees.  We will continue with the first basemen and go on with the New York Mets.

Carlos Delgado stabilized the Mets first base position for several seasons until suffering an apparent career-ending hip injury in 2009.  After that, first base became a mess for the Mets, being forced to convert Daniel Murphy into a first baseman on the fly.  Last Spring, Murphy suffered an injury in Spring Training and a subsequent setback on his rehab assignment which forced him to miss the entire season.  The Mets opened the season with Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis combining to play first with Frank Catalonotto in reserve, none of whom managed to properly fill the position.  But the situation eventually solved itself.

1.  Ike Davis:  The Mets wanted Davis to get close to an entire season in at AAA before reaching the Majors, but necessity caused him to be recalled much earlier than expected.  Davis didn't disappoint, blasting 19 homers in his abbreviated season and playing stellar defense at first, dazzling with three diving catches into the Mets dugout.  The Mets are hoping that Davis doesn't fall victim to the sophomore slump and are expecting a 20-homer season from him.  Sabermetrics suggests that they'll probably get what they want, but no one can predict the future.

2.  Nick Evans:  Evans has been on the Norfolk/Buffalo express since 2008.  Never playing in as many as sixty games and never hitting more than two home runs.  But the Mets have always gushed about his power potential, and last season he seemed to come into his own, slugging a combined 24 home runs between the Minors and the Mets.  With the Mets not spending on their bench, Evans is extremely likely to make the team as the righthanded bat off the bench.  A natural third baseman, he has not played there since his first season in the Minors and does not figure to get any time there in the Majors without an emergency.  Besides first, he can play the corner outfield positions.  Evans will probably do a lot of pinch hitting, fill in for Davis, Bay, and Pagan when they need a rest, and could spell Davis against tough lefthanders.

The Mets are pretty sure of themselves at first base.  There are still questions about Davis, specifically regarding the sophomore slump and whether or not he can build upon his strong rookie campaign.  Even if he doesn't become the player the Mets are hoping for, they're set at first as Davis provides a stability the team has not had at first since 2008.  Evans has a ton of potential on his own and should be a solid backup, taking some of the load away from Davis against lefty pitchers.