PITTSBURGH — Ike Davis’ grip on the Mets’ first-base job continues to weaken.
After saying as recently as Friday that Davis wasn’t a candidate to platoon at the position, manager Terry Collins last night put the slumping first baseman on the bench against Pirates lefty Erik Bedard and started Vinny Rottino, who arrived from Triple-A Buffalo.
It came as the Mets are considering whether Davis should be shipped to the minors — a possibility that looms larger with each passing game in which he doesn’t produce.
Davis entered as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning of the Mets’ 5-4 loss to the Pirates and finished 0-for-2, dropping his average to .161. He is 1-for-9 (.111) on this road trip.
“Besides trying to make sure we have patience with Ike, we’re trying also to win baseball games,” Collins said when asked about benching Davis against Bedard. “The worst thing I want to do is put this guy in a situation where he’s going to fail. I’m trying to get him in situations where he’s going to be successful.”
Davis, who is battling a head cold, met with Collins for about 15 minutes in the manager’s office before batting practice. Davis said he’s been a victim of bad luck.
“Honestly, the last five or six games I have hit the ball solid, I just haven’t gotten hits,” Davis said. “A couple of those fall and it’s a different story.”
Davis is mechanically sound, according to Collins, other than a slight glitch that has him lunging and sometimes getting in front of the ball. The manager said Davis’ slump is more about mental approach and bad luck.
The Mets are hesitant to demote Davis because they believe he is close to breaking out.
“The thing with Ike, everybody is looking for home runs,” Collins said. “As I told him the other day, I’m just looking for that good swing that he’s got. The home runs will come — he’s just got to start making good solid contact there.”