The New York Mets currently employ two former members of the Houston Astros’ team that won it all in 2017. That same team was the one punished by MLB for using technological equipment to steal opposing squads’ signs.
Jake Marisnick already issued his apology, and in the past few hours, it was J.D. Davis’ turn. The 2019 breakout star of the Mets, who was with Houston in 2017 and 2018, opened up about what happened back then and backtracked from comments made in the offseason, where he said he wasn’t aware of what was going on.
“Back in December we had that same question, and I spoke a little bit prematurely. I spoke before the MLB or during the investigation. And so again, I was a rookie and I was going up and down the system and I was fighting for my life. MLB called and I cooperated with them. I made my statements. Again, back to the December comment and the interview — I spoke prematurely,” he said to the New York press, quoted by Danny Abriano of SNY.
When asked if he was embarrassed by his acts, Davis said: “I think not only the fans want the game to be fair. I know you guys want it to be fair as well. You want to cover a game where it’s fair to everybody. Again, to the peers as well. And of course, everybody that’s part of the 2017 Astros, they feel regrettable about that decision. Looking back, as a young guy being exposed to that in 2017 and looking back now and getting a full season under my belt, of course, it’s regrettable. You feel ashamed (to be) a part of it. I’ve learned what not to do and I’ve applied it to the 2019 season having a breakout. Again, (you have to learn) from it and get ready for the 2020 season with these guys.”
A new clubhouse
When Davis broke on the big leagues, he came into a clubhouse that already had a scheme to steal signs in place. Today, he is a New York Mets’ player and intends to leave it all behind.
“Obviously as a 24-year-old at the time I was pretty starstruck with the whole thing of being around some of the veteran guys, being in a big-league clubhouse,” Davis said. “Just growing up there through the system. And again, what I’ve applied as the years (have gone by) and I applied last year. And again, having a breakout season last year and I’m trying to learn from the failures and the success and apply it to this 2020 season. And I’m excited.”
He was, indeed, aware of the system. But the Astros’ clubhouse was the first one for him in the bigs and he explained he wasn’t sure if what they were doing was applied on other teams. The Mets are only his second organization.
“Didn’t really think much of it going up there fresh, new, being part of the major league clubhouse, among major-league guys,” Davis stated. “Maybe what they did was the norm. I have no idea. I had never been in another big-league clubhouse to compare the two. Looking back at the situation, the details of it. It’s terrible. It’s terrible for the game of baseball.”
A couple “steps backward”
He recognizes that “baseball took a couple of steps backward because of these events and the investigations that applied to it. Anybody that gets crowned World Series champion, it’s not only a big deal but it’s a big deal for the baseball world for how they’ve earned it and gone through 162 games and through the playoffs and everything. To have the incident is very unfortunate for the game of baseball.”
Davis said he wasn’t sure if the Astros would’ve won the World Series had it not been for the scheme. “That I do not now. They’re a pretty talented team. That’s a pretty big ‘if’ question. I really don’t know. Their up-and-down the lineup is pretty good and their pitching staff at that time was incredible.”
He is now fully focused on the upcoming New York Mets’ season. He is slated to earn a lot of at-bats and defend left field.