First-base competition slowed by injuries to Ike, Duda

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Ike Davis walked with a discernible limp on Sunday and his badly bruised calf featured enough colors to compete with a Lindsey Nelson sports jacket or a Jimi Hendrix headband.

At the same time, the word in the clubhouse is that Lucas Duda's left hamstring is not improving. It seems clear now that the competition for the Mets' first-base assignment is not a matter of survival of the fittest but rather survival of the least unfit.

Three weeks remain before Opening Day. Davis and Duda have combined for 13 at-bats. Mets manager Terry Collins wanted Davis to get at least 100 at-bats in Spring Training games in the hopes that, if Davis was to have a slow start, it would occur in Florida.

"He'll have to get a lot of AB's on the Minor League side," Collins said.

Mets Minor Leaguers begin playing next week.

Collins said he'd like to have both first basemen playing by next weekend.