This is what everybody didn’t see five hours before Ike Davis blasted his game-winning, pinch-hit grand slam. They didn’t see his teammates in the clubhouse trying to keep his spirits above sea level.
Davis lost his job on Friday and his confidence was waning, but he didn’t lose his teammates, including David Wright, who was leading the banter.
They were kidding with Davis about the new hierarchy — now that he is a bench player — who is the most handsome Met on the bench?
The two finalists were Josh Satin and backup catcher Anthony Recker. Davis laughed along with the joke and then went on the field for batting practice, trying to find new rhythm to his new role.
He hit a little in the cage late in the game to stay loose. When Dillon Gee came out with one out in the eighth after surrendering a two-run home run to Brandon Phillips that put the Reds ahead, it was Davis who was the first Met to greet him in the dugout.
Davis insisted on Friday night he would remain a good teammate and try not to get too down now that Mets management handed the first base job to Lucas Duda, who responded with two home runs Friday night.
Davis gets it in every way. He understands this management group would like nothing better than to trade him away, but the Mets don’t want to get burned on the deal.
So when Davis unloaded on a hanging 0-1 curveball from J.J. Hoover for a walk-off grand slam on Saturday afternoon to give the Mets one of their most inspiring wins in years, a 6-3 victory at Citi Field, it was Davis’ teammates who were the happiest people in the ballpark as they met him at home plate in a raucous victory celebration, and then Jon Niese added the pie in the face.
One of those teammates was Matt Harvey. This is why Harvey insisted on staying in New York when the team is in New York. He wants to be there to support his teammates and remember what it is to be a Met — even if he is coming back from Tommy John surgery.
The thrill of victory isn’t quite the same in Port St. Lucie.
“That was so great,’’ Harvey told The Post of Davis’ big moment. “Ike is one of my favorites of all time, we needed that, the team needed that, Ike needed that.
“It was a big lift for him.’’
Yes it was.
Hours before the game someone asked Davis if he had ever heard of the proverb, “He who laughs last, laughs best.’’
Ike said he had. And on this day, he got the last laugh with the last swing of the game.
Davis was asked what he was saying to himself as he was rounding the bases.
“I was just happy. It feels good to hit the ball on the barrel, come through in the clutch and get a ‘W’ for the team,’’ said Davis, who will get the pre-planned start Sunday at first base. Duda, by the way, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
In many ways, first base is still up in the air. Duda may not hit and Davis could do well in his new role. But manager Terry Collins, who won a critical umpire challenge in the ninth inning, is sure of one thing — Davis is deeply respected in the Mets clubhouse and for now, he has accepted the role.
“It’s a morale shock,’’ Collins said of Davis being replaced by Duda. “You’re not wanted, nobody likes you and to be on that bench and come up in a clutch situation, it takes concentration, and he was ready to do it.
“He wants to win and he’ll do whatever he has to do to produce.’’
Davis produced, getting his first home run and first RBIs of the season.
And his first whipped cream pie in the face of the season. By the end of the day, he was the best looking Met on the field.