After looking like one of the up-and-coming young sluggers in his first major league season in 2010, Ike Davis' 2012 appears to be the exact opposite.But what is even more perplexing is the cause. Is it the Valley Fever diagnosis finally taking it's toll? Or could it be due to Ike missing almost all of last year due to an injured ankle. There is no easy solution to this problem. Do you send him down to the minors and let him work out his problems there? Or do you continue to let him play in the majors where he has struggled all season?

Hitting a measly .162 with an on base percentage of .219 and slugging barely over .300 in 135 at bats, Davis has become the equivalent of an automatic out. With runners in scoring position he is doing even worse (which is hard to imagine), hitting at a .155 clip, a .210 on base percentage and slugging an appalling .293 Ike simply looks like a shell of his former self. If  Davis was demoted to Buffalo, it wouldn't be the first time that an established player has been sent down to AAA. The Braves sent Jair Jurrjens down earlier in the year (where he still is currently), and back in 2001 the Mets sent down pitcher Steve Trachsel who before his demotion had an ERA near 9. After he averaged an ERA in the 3.50's. The main reason why one would be against this move would be because it would possibly damage Davis' psyche. At this point with the team still surprisingly in contention, the move that is best for the team is the one that needs to be made. I personally believe that sending Ike down would be the best of both worlds. It would allow Ike to rediscover the swing that made him a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate and would allow the Mets to take what has become a major hole in the middle of the lineup.

Ike is a key member of the future, and sending him down should allow him to regain the form that made him such a dangerous and valuable member of this team in the first place. Read More...

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What began with glimmer of hope, that sank to the deepest spots, has now began to climb out of the hole that was dug. The rough offseason for the New York Mets began with the loss of Jose Reyes to the newly christened Miami Marlins. Instead of siting idly by, General Manager Sandy Alderson used that money to acquire some new pieces to help sure up a bullpen that struggled mightily after the trade of closer Francisco Rodriguez during the All-Star break. None of the pieces that were acquired were quite as flashy as the man they replace but still effective. Jon Rauch, Frank Francisco, and Ramon Ramirez all have the task of strengthening a 'pen that consists of Tim Byrdak (aka Hulk Hogan), Pedro Beato, and Manny Accosta.

In January the Mets waived the once highly touted outfield prospect Fernando Martinez, after struggling to stay even remotely healthy for the past two seasons. Later in the month it was revealed that the team's financial struggles were even worse than previously thought. It seemed as though the team would be caught in the middle of a tug-of-war that would cost the Wilpon and Katz family millions of dollars.

February started out quiet but soon became tragic with the passing of Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter after a long battle with brain cancer (on a side note, please buy the "RIP Kid" t-shirts from our good friends at The 7 Line. All proceeds go to the Gary Carter Foundation). Things soon took a turn for the better with the first bullpen session Johan Santana threw. It marked the beginning of his comeback attempt since his last major league appearance in September of 2010. The diagnosis of Valley Fever for Ike Davis came as a shock to all. Many believed that it would be a similar situation to Conor Jackson. Jackson contracted the disease back in May of 2009 and has yet to reach the potential that he once showed. It still may affect Ike but after a full and successful spring it shows no signs of the disease.

It was not that successful of a spring for the Mets record wise. But with the successful springs of most of the starting rotation (outside of Mike Pelfrey) and a many of the lineup (except Jason Bay), the Mets may do better than many have predicted.

COMING SOON: Mets 2012 Season preview. Read More...

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