TORONTO — After last week calling it “doubtful” Ike Davis would be a consideration for a demotion to the minors, Mets manager Terry Collins yesterday sounded less certain about the situation.
“There is nothing etched in stone,” Collins said before the Mets’ 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure we wring the rag dry. Coming into this road trip we said, ‘Here are some pretty good opportunities, this is a pretty good hitting park, Pittsburgh is a pretty good hitting park, we’ve got right-handers coming up. Let’s just see if we can get him going.’ ”
Davis, who is battling flu-like symptoms, finished 1-for-4 with an RBI yesterday and raised his average to .163. The first baseman is hardly shocked by the talk he could go to Triple-A Buffalo.
“If you don’t play well, unless you have a huge deal you’re not going to be up here,” Davis said. “Until it happens I can’t really say anything.”
* Mike Baxter could be headed toward more playing time after going 3-for-4 with an RBI and coming within a home run of the cycle.
Collins indicated Baxter won’t start tonight against Pirates lefty Erik Bedard, but probably will see action against right-handed starters the following two days. Baxter is batting .390 in 41 at-bats this season.
As a sign of how far he’s come, Blue Jays fans seated in left field behind Baxter chanted, “You [stink], Baxter,” in the late innings yesterday.
Collins said Baxter doesn’t have enough experience at first base to be considered in that spot if Davis doesn’t heat up.
* Miguel Batista was placed on the disabled list with a lower-back strain and replaced on the roster — at least for yesterday — by Chris Schwinden. The team is expected to add a position player, perhaps Vinny Rottino, before tonight’s game in Pittsburgh and Schwinden is likely to depart.
Jeremy Hefner is slated to take Batista’s turn in the rotation on Thursday against the Padres. Hefner allowed two earned runs over five innings in relief after replacing Batista on Saturday.
* With a 2-for-4 performance, David Wright moved ahead of Jose Reyes for second place on the Mets’ all-time hits list. Wright has 1,302 hits. Reyes had 1,300 hits with the club. Ed Kranepool (1,418) is the Mets’ all-time leader.