LAS VEGAS — Ike Davis didn’t let the two hits he got Wednesday night in his second game since becoming a minor leaguer again fool him into thinking he was fixed at the plate.
“I’m starting to feel better,” Davis said before going hitless in three at-bats for Triple-A Las Vegas in an 11-0 loss to Tacoma Thursday night. “Obviously, baseball is not like a game where you can change your life in one day. I’m going to be here for a little while and I’m going to keep working. That’s life. I can’t change it.”
Davis and Las Vegas manager Wally Backman seem to have figured out that there’s not going to be a magical answer to Davis’ problems.
Backman, who issued some bold proclamations about getting Davis back on track quickly even before Davis’ arrival, has toned down his rhetoric since then.
After raising some eyebrows throughout the organization by saying he thought Davis had too many people telling him what to do while with the Mets, Backman has been more diplomatic the last few days.
“There have been suggestions given to him,” said Backman, who spoke
with Terry Collins yesterday. “Me and Terry talked at length today about it and said basically the same things I’ve told you guys,” Backman said. “He got better. He’s looking better. It’s not something where he’s just gonna jump over the top of the hill. He’s got to work at it, but he’s going in the right direction.”
Davis, who was hitting .161 when he was jettisoned to Las Vegas, has two hits in 11 at bats- along with a pair of walks — in three games for the 51s.
“He’s lost up there,” said an AL scout. “You can tell his mind is swimming and he’s getting in his own way. It’s probably the toughest kind of thing to get out of.”
Though Backman first said he and hitting coach George Greer immediately removed Davis’ hitch, Davis brought it back consistently Wednesday.
“I stuck to the same one for all five, got a couple of hits and felt a little better,” said Davis, who constantly made adjustments in his debut in Vegas Tuesday. “We’ll see what happens. That’s why I’m here: Play some games, get some good at-bats and get comfortable.”
Davis said he’s trying to adjust to life in the minors.
“It’s definitely different,” Davis said. “It’s something you have to do. A lot of players play in Triple-A, so it’s not the end of the world. It’s a good place to get work done.”
Davis also has managed to keep a low profile in his new home.
“I don’t want to come here and start throwing knowledge at people, especially because right now is not the best time to do it,” Davis said of his struggles.
When Davis was asked if he has been recognized at all, Davis said, “In Vegas? No.
It’s awesome. It’s pretty low-key here, which is nice.”
Davis continues to take early batting practice each afternoon in hopes of slowing down his swing.
“He’s out there every day working,” Backman said. “He knows he has to work on some things. It’s just day-to-day. We’re just trying to let him find himself a little bit.”
That search may take a while.
