Mike Lowell + ? = One Good Offensive First Baseman

By now you've all heard that the Mets are scouting Mike Lowell.

He is an intriguing possibility, and could be very useful as part of a platoon.

Just for kicks, I decided to compare Murphy's 2009, with the combined numbers of Mike Lowell and Mike Jacobs in 2008.

I used Lowell's numbers against lefty's and Jacobs numbers against righty's.

First Murphy:

	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Total	508	60	135	38	4	12	63	38	69	4	2	0.266	0.313	0.427	0.740

Now, our Mike and Mike Platoon:

	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
vs. Left	143	17	43	8	0	7	22	13	18	1	0	0.301	0.363	0.503	0.866
vs. Right	358	54	92	23	2	25	70	31	83	1	0	0.257	0.315	0.542	0.857
Total	501	71	135	31	2	32	92	44	101	2	0	0.269	0.331	0.528	0.859

The obvious issue with a "Mike and Mike" platoon is that neither player offers up much in the way of flexibility.

Lowell has only played 4 professional games at first base, and Jacobs is a VERY poor first baseman, and as an emergency catcher he is frightening.

The issue with Murphy is that we truly don't know what he will give the Mets this year.  He is not a great fielder (don't be fooled by his UZR--he goes after EVERYTHING), and his hitting was positively atrocious in 2009.

Tatis, who plays many defensive positions (he played 1B, 3B, SS, 2B, LF and RF for the Mets in 2009), is something of a safety blanket for Jerry Manuel, but I am 100% convinced he is still banged up, and right now his numbers reflect that (1 for 17).

I do believe the Mets need offense, and the Mike and Mike combination could provide that, but...

Another intriguing but VERY distant thought would be for the Mets to scrap what hasn't worked for them, cut ties with Jacobs, bring on Lowell, and let Ike Davis take the job now with Lowell as a caddy and starter when Davis needs a rest or struggles (which he will).

This could work because Lowell can start against lefty's and be a pinch-hitter, spell David Wright kind of guy.  If Tatis is healthy, he can continue in his super-sub role and play everywhere and anywhere.

It just seems that Ike Davis is a guy who is ready now--why wait when there is an option out there that makes this very doable?