Mets’ Ike Davis not using oblique as excuse

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Feb 20, 2014; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis (29) in spring training action at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2014; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis (29) in spring training action at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not uncommon for players to play through an injury or not tell management they’re hurt so they can stay on the field.

When you hit .205/.326/.334 with only 9 homers after a year in which you hit 32 homers, people will start to ask questions. That was the line for Mets’ potential first baseman Ike Davis, who suffered through a poor 2013 and ended up being demoted to Triple A in June. The 26-year old told the New York Post that he didn’t tell the team of his injury because he didn’t want that to be viewed as an excuse or reason for his demotion to Las Vegas.

Davis ended up needing to be shut down at the end of August, when the oblique finally gave way, and this week in Spring Training, he cleared the air with reporters about whether the oblique was the reason for his struggles.

"Everyone has injuries and then they get hurt. So it was pointless to write an article. I sucked last year because I sucked. It’s not because I had an injury. You always have injuries. And now it just looks bad."

Ike continues to be in trade discussions as some teams look for a first baseman. He has been primarily linked to the Brewers and Pirates, although a trade seems far and far less likely as Opening Day approaches.