Ike Davis – whose Pirates lost 7-1 to the Yankees Saturday – was back in town for the first time since being traded by the Mets. He doesn’t hate them and said they didn’t hate him, at least not until now. But he admitted the constant trade questions were annoying and said it’s great to finally be with a team that wants him.
“It’s nice to play for someone that actually wants you, or thinks you can help the team. Obviously the Mets thought I could help (for) a couple years, because I was there for almost five. I had one bad season and they had to make a change, and traded me away,’’ said Davis. “It’s nice to be with a team that likes you. I don’t think the Mets hated me… until you know.
“It takes away the pressure of the nonsense off the field, having to answer questions about going 0-for-4. When you have to talk about your bad streaks every day you think about it more than you want to. Here, I had a stretch where I went 1-for-20 and no one said a word. In New York, the count-off in the paper would be like 1-for-19 or 0-for-20.’’
Davis – 0-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts – always knew two left-handed first basemen was one too many, with either he or Lucas Duda having to go. On April 18 GM Sandy Alderson picked Duda and finally dealt Davis; now, back in New York, he was answering questions about the Mets all over again.
“Having to answer questions about something that didn’t happen or wasn’t going to happen was annoying, just because I don’t know if I’m getting to get traded or not. Wait ‘til I get traded to talk about it,’’ said Davis. “(But) it’s New York: It’s an aggressive media place. You have to make a story, got to write something. I don’t have any hard feelings.’’
Especially after escaping cavernous Citi Field, which he admits can wreak havoc with a player’s confidence. Batting .208 before being dealt, he’s hitting .274 since. He’s hitting .326 in May – among the NL leaders – and .429 in his last nine games. But he scoffed at the idea being traded has given him added impetus.
“I don’t hate them. They’re not really in my focus anymore. I had a great time, made great friendships, but I’m on the Pirates and there’s not a hatred toward the Mets, (a feeling) of vengeance. I’m happy,’’ said Davis. “I’m not going to do anything weird to the Mets. I’m just going to go play, and try to beat them.’’