Steve Serby takes some time for a Q&A with J.D. Davis, the surprising slugger who has been a key piece to the Mets’ revival:



Q: What are your career goals?

A: For one, I want to win a Gold Glove at third base. I think that would put a little bit of frosting on the cupcake. The Yankees, they have their Crown Jewels, the shortstop. And over here at Citi Field, it’s third base because of what David Wright has accomplished over here.

Obviously another goal would be to win a Silver Slugger (for the best offensive player at each position), if it’s left field, third base. Then obviously to win a World Series. I know the Astros won a World Series, but I was at home in Sacramento, California. I never made their reserve roster, I wasn’t there in the dugout. It was kind of bittersweet. I wanted to be a part of it, and I could see it now with these guys over here having a young group, we can start building something. … It’s pretty cool to watch young guys blossom, and I think we have something special going on over here.

Q: Boyhood idols?

A: I grew up liking (Derek) Jeter. I liked Scott Rolen. I liked the old-school guys and then around middle school, I started liking David Wright. I liked Pedro (Martinez), Curt Schilling, especially when he had that bloody sock series, oh man, that was incredible.

Q: Did these guys have a common denominator?

A: I like the way they go about their business, on and off the field. They for the most part (stayed) out of the bad press and everything, and then they’re very gritty guys. They play the game right. They’re not rah-rah guys, they lead by example.

Q: Do you consider yourself a gritty guy?

A: Oh, absolutely.



Q: Give me an example.

A: I take pride in obviously spraying the ball around, hustling to first, and then having a good at-bat where sometimes I can go down 0-2 and to really fight to get to that 3-2 count and either get a hit or get a walk by fouling off a couple of pitches in between. … Oh, I get pumped up. That’s better to me than a double, knowing the fact that you got on top of me, I laid off some of your best pitches, and I still won.

Q: So you like frustrating the pitcher?

A: Absolutely. Absolutely. Because they frustrate us hitters sometimes, so (laugh).

Q: From the time your father was your first coach to now, what drives you?

A: I love this game. I love baseball. I love being part of the guys, I love not letting them down, coming through with them. Just being able to have that opportunity to make memories like that and just have him call me or text me after those big moments.

It’s a blast here in New York. I love winning. So many people have talked about they want to be the best, they want to be the greatest. … But you don’t win, you ain’t gonna get up there. … I want to be one of the better hitters.

Q: In what way is it a blast here in New York?

A: It’s just the energy, I love it. It’s a lion’s den. You can’t shy away from it, like you got to go out there, and it’s the bright lights, the Big Apple, got to have fun with it. You know you’re going to fail, know you’re going to get a few boos in there, but I’d rather have fans that are passionate and pay attention to the game than fans that don’t show up at all.

I always tell them like you got to be a lion in a lion’s den. It’s the jungle, man, you got to get ready for it, you got to play hard. I think it just fits my personality a little bit. I try to interact with the crowd, especially out there in left field, just try to have fun with them, and try to bring them into the game, showing them how many outs there are after an out, or strike three.

I try to throw them a ball before every inning, just throw it to a kid. Growing up, I went to so many Dodger games, I was more of the shy, quiet kid. I was always the one holding my glove up, I never screamed, I was too shy or too scared, so I always try to look for one of those kids where they’re just quiet, sitting with their dad or something like that, just to make their day.

Q: Your on-field mentality?

A: Intense. I try to stay locked in as much as I can between every pitch when I’m in the batter’s box or out on defense or something like that … grittiness … toughness. I’m not afraid to get dirty.

Q: Why are you so obsessed with video preparation?

A: We have an app on our iPad where like last night [Thursday night] I was watching Strasburg’s last two starts … coming from the Astros and seeing how they prepare, you see one of the best pitchers in the game, Justin Verlander, he starts, and the next day he’s in the video room watching the next team he’s going to play. He has four days to break down every single hitter. And during the final game, he has like a whole 8×11 front-and-back of just how to break down every single hitter, what they’re looking for.

Q: So when you’re at your apartment you still do it?

A: I think it just goes to show that I love this game and I don’t really get sick of it. You hear stories about guys where they get done with the baseball game, they go home and they don’t want to click on the TV just to watch a baseball game. I live and breathe it, I love it.

Q: After Friday night’s game what would you do?

A: I’ll probably plug in in my iPad tomorrow’s starter, in my apartment, and probably while I’m in bed. The last thing to end my day, I know who’s pitching tomorrow, and just to go to bed so I wake up knowing who’s pitching that day. I don’t know, just a psychological thing for me.

Q: How does your girlfriend put up with this?

A: (Laugh) She’ll help me out too, she’ll break it down with me. She’ll watch some of the film too, she loves baseball, she grew up a softball player and she played softball in college, so she loves watching baseball. Sometimes, especially on days off where she’s like, “Uh, babe, let’s go out to dinner, come on, it’s me-and-you time, let’s go!” She knows that I’m very serious about baseball, and she knows the priorities. But again, it’s good to have a girlfriend that enjoys it and obviously helps out too.

Q: You were a closer at Cal State Fullerton.

A: I think I popped like 95, maybe 96.

Q: Could you close in an emergency here?

A: Absolutely. I’ve been messing with Mickey. We were at the Giants, (Chris) Mazza gave up the walkoff, but before that, “Hey, if you need me, I’m still in this game, let me know, I can go out there and throw 1,2,3 innings,” and maybe get the day off the next day or something where I play, I don’t know, first base or somewhere it’s not so taxing on the arm.

Q: So what did Mickey tell you?

A: He just chuckled (chuckle).



Q: What do the guys think about Mickey?

A: I think they love him. I think guys absolutely love playing for him. He’s got great energy. I haven’t heard or felt any disconnection with him or anything like that or guys getting pissed off at him.

Q: Can Jeff McNeil win a batting title?

A: Absolutely. Just give him a few more hot dogs and he’ll do it. Oh, he loves ’em. We got like chicken or pasta before the game — here comes a hot dog for McNeil.

Q: Pete Alonso — 50 home runs?

A: From where he’s swinging right now the last week, yeah, I think he’s got it, if he stays on it. But that’s tough, we’re going to be facing a lot of tough pitching, but I think he’ll do it.

Q: How often do you hear from your father?

A: Every day, every other day, he’ll send me a text after a good game, and he’ll send me a text after a bad game.

Q: You can face one pitcher in MLB history to test your skills.

A: Nolan Ryan. I think it would be a great test just to see how fast that fastball is. I don’t shy away from competition,

Q: Why do you hit so well at home?

A: I don’t know, I guess it goes back to being here in New York, I love playing here. You go to stadiums where like the batter’s box is really sandy, you’re slipping and sliding in there. Lights can be at home plate, it could be dim. Texas Rangers, it’s a little dim at home plate, it’s weird. I wish I had the formula and everything, I would take it on the road with me (chuckle).



Q: Describe what it was like to hit a 114.7 mph home run in April off Patrick Corbin.

A: That was just a turning point in my career I felt like.

Q: How did you win the PCL (Pacific Coast League) batting title?

A: A lot of luck. There were a lot of hits that I thought were squeaking by, but when you’re hot you’re hot (smile). I switched my swing up a little bit where my bat was too vertical and so it created a loop in my swing where I wouldn’t be able to foul pitches for tough pitches to extend the at-bat or put balls in play. So I basically just twerked it behind my ear which you see a lot of really good hitters do, you see Mike Trout, you see Carlos Gonzalez, you see (Anthony) Rendon. … I fixed that and so that really helped me spray the ball all around, and then being able to be quick to turn on a fastball inside down the left field line in a way.



Q: Your brother Ben is a redshirt senior guard at the University of Minnesota.

A: He’s like 6-foot-5, 315. He’s a monster.



Q: You played football in high school.

A: I broke my leg going into my junior year. I was quarterback, I was scrambling, and the guy basically grabbed my leg and went crocodile style and just twisted my leg. It was kind of a sign, do I rehab and try to play both baseball and football, or do I just give up football and just concentrate on baseball?

Q: Your dog?

A: I got a little yellow English Lab.

Q: Name?

A: Yogi. Like Yogi Berra.

Q: Why did you name him Yogi?

A: We were thinking about a baseball name. My brother’s dog who is huge, he’s a chocolate lab, his name is Koufax after Sandy Koufax, so we were just like, “All right, we got to get a catcher,” and he’s very short and a little stubby (laugh), so …

Q: Superstitions?

A: I did have a superstition last year. … I went to Tacoma up in Washington, and I hit six home runs in like four, five games. Before the first game I hit the home run, I had lobster. So I was like, “I got to have lobster before every game,” so it just went on for the rest of the season where even if it was like a $9.99 little tail of lobster (smile). It was a fun way to play with the guys and everything. But right now, not really, I don’t really have a superstition.



Q: Why did your parents call you J.D. growing up if your middle name is Greg?

A: That’s more of a question for them (laugh). Never asked.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Babe Ruth; Ted Williams; Ken Griffey Jr.



Q: Favorite movies?

A: The Natural and Step Brothers.



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A: Christian Bale.



Q: Favorite actress?

A: Jennifer Aniston

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Italian. I love the penne vodka with a little bit of chili flakes on top, and then some shrimp or some chicken.

Q: Favorite New York City things?

A: Pizza.

Q: Why does this team believe right now?

A: I think just because we look around in the clubhouse and we see all this talent. We see the experience, we see the talent, and we all notice that we all have a will to win. We have a good camaraderie, we go out to eat all the time with each other if it’s on the road or at home. But we really care about playing the game the right way, and then obviously winning.