Ike Davis Admits Fatigue Was Major Issue Last Spring

During a chat with Mike Francesa this past Tuesday, Ike Davis said the following about whether he was affected by Valley fever (or whatever the exact malady was) at the beginning of last season:

Apr. 7, 2012; Flushing, NY, USA; New York Mets first baseman Ike Davis (29) throws his bat after striking out during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

"It definitely did [affect me] in spring training because I was just worn out.  As far as everything, I just didn’t know how long I was out of baseball…as far as the ankle and stuff I lost a lot of mobility, just last year…I started playing like myself in the second half. From most people that have seen me, they know that the first half isn’t usually how I play.  But people go through weird things in their life and obstacles, and that was definitely one of them for me.  But I stayed with it and the Mets stayed with me and I ended up turning it around a little bit."

…in the above quote, Davis alluded to the fact that he was affected in some way by the Valley fever, but held back.

Today to Adam Rubin of ESPN, Davis divulged what he had previously only told team trainers.  According to Rubin, during spring training last year, Davis would head straight home from the ballpark each day.  Once he arrived home, he was relegated to his couch because of “exhaustion.”

Davis told Rubin:

"I had to limit a lot of things last year as far as workload.  I didn’t have a beer all of spring training last year. I went home and laid on the couch. And I usually fish for another six hours every day [after Mets workouts].  I didn’t say anything to anybody, besides maybe the trainers."

…when Davis was in the midst of his almost impossible to believe cold streak during the first few months of last season, most fans had written off the illness as the main cause (due in large part to Davis’ refusal to admit that it was in fact bothering him).

Now that Davis has divulged that he was a shell of himself due to the sickness and his ankle at the beginning of last season, fans should be even more confident that how Davis played in April, May, and part of June was an anomaly – the work of someone who probably shouldn’t have even been playing due to a combination of illness and injury.