MLB

Serby’s Sunday Q&A with … Ike Davis

Steve Serby chats with Mets first baseman Ike Davis about his battle with Valley Fever and his thoughts on the upcoming season.

Q: How scary was it when you learned you had Valley Fever (a lung infection)?

A: The worst-case scenario was I’d have to stay home and miss the season, which I don’t want to do. It’s better than a lot of people’s alternatives that they get.

Q: Your lung could have collapsed and you would have been sidelined for a second straight season, which would have been difficult on you.

A: Knowing you’ll at least be alive is a good thing.

Q: Have you changed your regimen?

A: I do a pretty good job of eating healthy and getting sleep, but I just got to make sure I don’t get too tired and make sure if I get tired, instead of fishing for five hours like I used to, I’ll go relax on the couch.

Q: What expectations do you have for yourself this season?

A: I want to have a good mental approach at the plate. I want to improve on things by the end of the year. I want to be a guy your team wants at the plate with the game on the line and have full trust in me with the game on the line. And I want to be up there in tough situations. The best way to be a clutch hitter is doing it in tough spots.

Q: Do you need mental toughness to play in New York?

A: You got to believe in yourself. You got to know who you are. You’re going to go through struggles and have slumps and people are going to tell you how bad you are, and you’re the worst player they’ve ever seen. … Right now [they’re] right, I am pretty bad, but I’m not bad all the time. It doesn’t bother me. I know I’m going to hit well and people are going to go, “You’re really good!” I try to keep an even keel. Do your job, everything will fall into place for you. … The smallest little thing you have to talk about with anything that happens on the field or off the field. It can be draining, you have to talk about it so much.

Q: Your view on the Mets settling with trustee for Bernie Madoff victims?

A: I haven’t really followed it that much. I haven’t gotten involved. I think it was on purpose so when someone asked me, I can’t give an answer.

Q: Are the low expectations for the Mets a good thing?

A: I don’t know if it’s good. I want to go into the season where people are saying, “This team is the best.” But if no one believes you can do anything, we can definitely surprise some teams with how well we play and how hard we play.

Q: Where will you be living this season?

A: I’m in the city this year. I wanted to live in the city for a year or two just to say I’ve done it.

Q: How would you describe what last season was like for you?

A: It was disappointing. Just the fact it was my sophomore year, or my second year. I wanted to prove I was a better player than my rookie year. I started off well, felt real comfortable at the plate. … [It] was just a freak, weird little [left ankle] injury sidelined me the whole time. Now I got to regroup and start all over again. I’ve got to prove I am better than my first year.

Q: Why is that so important to you?

A: Everyone said, “You had a great rookie year,” but it wasn’t like, “This guy’s going to be here for a while.” I felt I could improve a lot. I wanted to prove to myself I was a better player than I was that year and kind of establish that I do belong wearing a major league uniform, and I should stay here a while. I’m trying to be an every year big leaguer, a 10-year, 12-year player. I didn’t want to make it a three-year career.

Q: Your thoughts on the new Citi Field dimensions?

A: As a hitter, the fences coming in brings a smile to your face, especially knowing how big the place was. It was kind of daunting sometimes.

Q: Manager Terry Collins?

A: I hate to say the word — old-school. He brings energy. All he asks is to play the game right. If everyone plays the game right, then after the game there’s no reason to hang your head. If people aren’t going to play the game the way it should be played, that’s when he has a problem.

Q: What athletes in other sports do you admire?

A: My favorite football player was Deion Sanders. I’m not flashy, I’m not like Prime Time, I don’t do anything like that kind of thing. I loved watching Kevin Johnson from the Suns when I was a kid. … Barry Bonds was the best hitter I’ve ever seen.

Q: What would you say to Mets fans about this upcoming season?

A: We’re young. … The good thing about being young, with mixed-in veterans like Jason [Bay] and David [Wright] and the pitchers we got, you never know what we’re going to do. We’re going to be a fun team to watch. We have me, Lucas [Duda], Josh Thole, [Jonathon] Niese, [Dillon] Gee — one or two or three of us could have All-Star years, or become the next All-Star.

Q: How is Johan Santana looking?

A: He looks great. I’m really excited having him back on the mound.

Q: What is the upside for Duda?

A: I really don’t think you can put a cap on a guy like that. He has the tools, the power, the approach and the swing to do whatever he wants in this game.

Q: Can the same thing be said about you?

A: I hope so. The only thing is you got to go out there and you got to do it. It’s easy to say, “This guy’s got five tools.” You got to prove you can do it.

Q: Do you think of yourself as driven?

A: I’m a competitor. I don’t like to lose. If a guy gets me out, it’s frustrating. I want to succeed every time. Obviously it’s not possible. Being never satisfied, especially as an athlete, is a key thing.

Q: Will you be batting cleanup?

A: I don’t know. I’ve hit fourth every game so far. 4, 5, 6, who cares?

Q: Do you like hitting cleanup?

A: It’s the same as hitting sixth or fifth.

Q: Will you continue texting your dad (ex-Yankees reliever Ron Davis) after each home run you hit?

A: Of course.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Mets losing Jose Reyes?

A: It’s the nature of the game. He went where the biggest amount of money was for his family. You can’t be upset with a guy for doing that. Obviously he loved New York. He was a great player and a great teammate, probably one of the best shortstops I’ve ever seen. But he’s not here. You have to move on.

Q: What do you know about Tim Tebow?

A: That he’s a great competitor. The will to win is always there. You can see it on his face. He just wants to win. He’s always fun to watch. I’d bet he’d be a fun guy to play with.

Q: What advice would you give him about playing in New York?

A: I think he’ll handle it great. He’s very good with the media already, the way he handles interviews about how people don’t think he’s good enough to play.

Q: What are your thoughts on Jeremy Lin?

A: I think he’s just a sound player. He’s one of those sleeper gamers people overlook sometimes.

Q: Do you consider yourself a gamer?

A: Usually you want other people to tell you you’re a gamer. I would hope they would, obviously. I can live with myself with what other people think.