General manager Sandy Alderson spoke on SNY during Tuesday night’s Mets broadcast, acknowledging his disappointment at the seasons several core players are having, saying “At this point, we’re going to live with Ike [Davis] for a little bit longer.’’
Davis was 0-for-3 last night, grounding out with men on second and third to end the fourth inning. The badly-struggling first baseman is 0-for-his-last-24 with men in scoring position; and after going 1-for-36 with 13 strikeouts over his last 10 games, has seen his average fall down to just .149.
Alderson was unclear about how much “a bit longer” is, but it’s clear Davis is on thin ice and a demotion is possible. If that happens the Mets could put Daniel Murphy at first base, which would allow them to finally get Jordany Valdespin on the field at second base.
Alderson added highly touted pitching prospect Zack Wheeler will start Wednesday for Triple-A Las Vegas in Iowa, his first appearance since May 11 due to mild inflammation of the AC joint in his right shoulder. Alderson expects Wheeler to start every five days going forward, and hopes he’s in line for a promotion after two or three outings.
Alderson preached caution concerning Travis d’Arnaud since the minor league catcher has played so few games in the past year due to injuries, but hopes he can be playing by July 1. Alderson added authoritatively if d’Arnaud is healthy he will be in the majors this season. He also singled out pitcher Rafael Montero as another prospect who could get promoted.
* The day after the devastating tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., Mets pitcher Jeremy Hefner — who grew up just a mile from where the tornado hit the hardest, and still has family in and around the area — said all his family members are safe.
“It’s good, everyone was safe. I had a cousin that was three blocks away from the path of the storm, but his house was fine,’’ said Hefner, who now lives in Tulsa. “But that’s the way tornados work — one side of the street completely gone, and the other side of the street perfectly fine.’’
Hefner was a nervous wreck Monday upon hearing about the mammoth tornado that killed at least 24 people, including nine children, and caused widespread carnage. But he spoke with his mother after Monday’s game and again before last night’s game. She had been in touch with a host of family members and reassured Hefner they were all fine.
“My dad was at work at the hospital in Stillwater, which is an hour from Oklahoma City, so my mom was able to call my dad’s side of the family and my mom’s family,’’ said Hefner. “It was very nerve-wracking, because I’m thousands of miles away, and I want to be there. I want to be there to help people. But that’s all I could do, is sit and wait and pray and hope for the best.’’
Hefner went to kindergarten and first grade at Briarwood Elementary, the school where children survived despite the tornado hurling cars into the building and tearing the structure’s roof off.
“You go in the hallway if there’s no safe room,’’ Hefner said. “A safe room is a four-to-five [foot] cement wall able to withstand 200 mph winds. If you don’t have one of those, you’re just in a hallway with your head between your legs and your hands behind your head hoping the roof doesn’t cave in.
“I think that’s what happened at the Plaza Tower, the elementary school. The roof caved in.’’