30-Game Positional System Update: - 1B

In Queens: Ike Davis was promoted from AAA to the Mets and currently leads the team in hitting, with a .316 batting average. Chris Carter has been called up and will be the backup.

AAA: Mike Jacobs (.278/.322/.463/.785) is playing the most first base; however, Carter (.339/.395/.615/1.015) has also played some, though he spends most of his time lately either in right field or hitting in the DH slot.

AA: Nick Evans (.319/.406/.582/.988) and Marshall Hubbard (.314/.372/.571/.943) have split time here, with Evans also playing in the outfield.

A+: Stefan Welsh (.306/.360/.459/.819) is your every day first baseman, with regular third baseman  Eric Campbell (.340/.429/.536/.965) as his backup. Campbell also can play in the outfield.

A: Jeff Flaff (.158/.246/.248/.493) has played most of the season so far; however, Sam Honeck (.091/.286/.136/.422) was called up to see if he could produce more than Flagg, but is now out for the season with broken bones from head-on collision at home.

Extended Camp: Travis Orga, Marshall Welsh, Marinus Vernooj, Alexander Sanchez, Eddie Lora, and Jeyckol De Leon

Disabled List: Honeck and Daniel Murphy

2010 Outlook: Extremely rosy. The system is currently filled with over-producing first basemen, which is ironic since the last thing the Mets need right now is another new one. Davis may have looked like a bad draft pick at the end of the 2008 season, but, this is why we minor league weenies try not to get too pessimistic about under-producing prospects. Things can go drastically in the other direction as these kids develop in the system and Davis is a perfect example of someone that needed a little time out in the sun to ripen. Barring injury, Davis is the Mets’ 2010 first baseman.

Past that, Murphy will be returning soon and we should all expect him to become a fixture in Buffalo this season. The interesting thing will be at what position. Play him at second, and there goes the future 2B development of Ruben Tejada, who really deserves first shot at replacing Luis Castillo next season. The Mets have a major decision regarding Murphy this season… do you play him at a position that he might be able to play at for the Mets someday, or do you play him where he will look like a better catch in a package deal?

Me? Well, I think Davis is a better first baseman, and Tejada is the best defensive second baseman in minor league baseball. Additionally, they both can hit. Why screw with the soup?

I’m sure the Mets will trade for another SP before this season is over and you have to believe that one of these first basemen (Murphy, Evans, Carter, or Campbell) will be included in that deal.

2011 and Beyond Outlook:  Again, barring injury, it looks like the Mets won’t have to worry about a first baseman for many years to come. Davis has already produced far past the trade bait stage and fans would literally storm the front office if this kid wasn’t part of this team’s future.

Beyond that, all you will need is someone to spot start a handful of games to give the kid a rest. This makes someone like Evans look like a good utility player beginning next season.

There are actually two raw prospects in extended camp (Lora and Sanchez) that should add to the mix this summer.

On The Bubble:  Look for Jacobs to be released if the Mets decide to play Murphy at first this season… and Flagg needs to step it up if he wants to make Lucy next season. We’ll revisit this position after “the trade”.

Overall Organizational Rating:

A+