NEW YORK (AP) – New York Mets coach Chili Davis has not resolved whether to join the team this season due to coronavirus considerations.
Davis, 60, worked remotely from his home in Arizona during the pandemic, doing his best to support Mets hitters at his summer camp in New York this month. At a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, he said he was threatened by physical fitness disorders he liked to keep private.
“It’s a tough decision,” Davis said. “It’s not easy. It’s a boring segment to do what I signed up for.”
New Yor opens the regular season with 60 games on Friday at home against Atlanta.
Davis said he was “very in touch” with all players and with the specific manager Luis Rojas and assistant coach Tom Slater, who contested the site at Citi Field. Davis said he and Slater talk no less than two or three times a day.
The Mets send Davis batting practice videos and simulated games.
“I can see what they’re doing in the box while I’m not there, and if there’s anything I see I’m looking to talk to someone about, first I’m going to text him, then call him and we’re going to have conversations,” Davis said.
“It’s not easy, believe me, ” he added. “I hope to be less complicated, I don’t think it is.”
All-Star hitter Jeff McNeil found the zoom, Davis unexpected and showing a broad smile.
“What’s up again, puppy?” S McNeil.
“What’s new, Mac? How are you? Do you do those exercises?” replied Davis.
“I just got done. Just beatin’ balls up the middle. Every day,” McNeil said. “Try to knock a single up the middle for you today, all right? Good to see you Chili dog!”
Davis is in his season as a Mets coach after taking a similar position with Oakland, Boston and the Chicapass Cubs.
“It’s different, but I do what I do,” he said.
The first batter played 1 nine seasons in the primary in 181 to 1 nineninenina, hitting .27 four with 350 home runs, 1,372 RBIs and an .811 OPS with the Giants, Angels, Twins, Royals and Yankees. He has formed 3 All-Star teams, won 3 World Series championship seasons and the first Jamaican-born player to succeed in the primary leagues.
NOTE: The Mets signed outfielder Juan Lagares and framer Brian Dozier to minor league contracts and added them to the group of 60 players out of five7. The team freed veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera and framer Gordon Beckham. Lagares won a passld glove as New York’s central defense in 2014, but suffered injuries and offenses with the Mets from 2013 to 19. He became a loose agent and signed a minor league contract with San Diepass in February, but released last week. Dozier, a base player of the moment All-Star with Minnesota in 201 five, scored .238 with 20 home races, five RBIs and a .771 OPS in 13 games for last year’s World Series champion in Washington. He also signed a minor league contract with the Padres in February and pitched it this month.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports