According to Buster Olney at ESPN.com, David Wright is one of the tangible things that the Mets need to fix for the 2009 season.
In the report, Olney writes:
“They need to help him work through his apparent anxiety in high-pressure situations … He cares so deeply that he puts enormous pressure on himself, and this trait seems to wreck him in big spots. He seems to leap at the ball when he’s trying to hit with the game on the line. They need to address this.”
“I don’t know how they do it. Maybe they get Wright to start talking to a sports psychologist, someone who might get the kind of help that has aided John Smoltz and Matt Garza and others. Wright is a cornerstone player who will be an MVP candidate in most years of his career, so the notion of trading him is silly. But they have to help him find a way to relax — and if the team’s best player relaxes, this will, in turn, take pressure off the rest of the team.”
…i can’t imagine the pressure put on this lineup when you know that no lead, or small deficit for that matter, is safe…granted wright hasn’t been clutch with RISP, but suggesting the guy needs a shrink is a little much…
{ 231 comments }
Dude, I been watchin’ this team since ‘62. I need the shrink!
LMFAO
:lol:
I think Francessa needs a shrink too. He’s obviously crazy (and jealous) for saying they should trade Wright.
Fact is, in the past, Wright has hit very well in the clutch. Even in September. The last critical week of September 2007 he hit .360.
So I think it is the mounting pressure that got to him — the pressure feeling they have to score 8-9 runs every night to compensate for a stinky pen, and the pressure to be a team leader.
I see nothing wrong with visiting a sports psychologist and maybe getting a prescription for something to help calm him down in those situations is a good idea. I bet there are plenty of players who do it and we never hear about them.
Exactly as I said yesterday, why shouldn’t Wright not be pressing when the pen can’t get out of 1 inning without giving up a run and Ramon Martinez is batting 6th?
I’ve suffered seizures every time I’ve seen Ramon Martinez protecting our 5 hitter.
Francessa isnt crazy. He knows October is a baseball month for his job and there is no baseball to talk about. He has to say something crazy to get Mets and Yankees fans to keep calling. He’s just keeping himself relivent.
David Wright is NOT clutch in three years when it matters most David has CHOKED!! I like David as a ball player i believes he plays hard and has good intentions but in three years David has not delivered when it MATTERS!! DO NOT write about the regular season. Talk to me about playoffs and when it goes to the wire – David has CHOKED!! look at the series against the Cardinals look at this year. David is NOT a clutch player. This team needs a BAT that can deliver a hit or a least a fly ball when it is needed. not a strike out or a double play ball.
How about game 1 of the 2006 NLDS. Wright 2 doubles and 3 rbi’s in a 6-5 win. That game set the pace for the entire series. I’d say that’s an example of when it mattered. And I know you don’t want to talk about the regular season, but regular season games do matter and there have been many instances where DW has come through in the clutch. Sure, he hasn’t come through in some big situations, but the same can be said for a lot of other players. DW can play on my team any day.
Do some research before you make dumb claims like that. Look at his numbers with RISP prior to this season.
The Fatsessa should also start calling for Arod to be traded since his beloved Yankee choke artist is the king of choking – even after extensive therapy
stewieeeee….go look at the numbers before you speak like a complete moron….go back to the bronx where you obviously come from
Francesa suffers from insecurity brought on by his on-going weight problem. My analysis is when he was young, a Met fan made fun of how fat he was anFranced he brings this transfered hatred of the Mets into his everyday life. Anyone who thinks this overweight, pompous, arrogant Spin Meister is being impartial when he makes these idiotic statements is kidding themselves. We have a 20 year record of him speaking out against our Mets and when he gets angry it comes to the forefront – like it did yesterday. He likes to make believe that he is an impartial journalist. He’s been a Yankee fan since he was a kid – he must think we are all stupid.
As for Buster Olney, I’m glad he’s decided he now has the training to make a therapeutic diagnosis, however I would bet that his continued diatribe against all things Mets has to do with the fact that he’s just insecure from being less than 5 feet tall.
I have an idea – how about we get ourselves a BULLPEN!!!!!!!
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!
My prescription for helping D-Wright solve all his problems in September would be 20mg of K-Rod plus a daily dose of some new power arms.
This team and this young man cannot be expected to constantly bail this team out after the bullpen blows game after game. It’s the bullpen and the closer. The stats speak loud and clear. Pay no attention to the fat man on the radio.
Ok here the thing for me. 1999, 2000 and 2006 where the BEST years for me as far as watching the METS. Why, its simple, during these years they came back and fought and scratched and never gave up. I felt they they could overcome any team and any score and that the prn would be able to hold, well except for Armando, :} Thats the feeling that has been missing since 2006. We have 162 games to watch and during those games we see how and who comes up big and how often it happens, its that feeling that excites the fans. So to me 2007 and 2008 would have been a waste even IF we got to the post season. I want to feel good about the team and NOT lucky. They have to have a swager and feel that the will find a way to win every game and NOT a way to loose. Those 30 blown saves not only killed the teams chances at the postseason, but, they killed the fans confidence in the team. Face it loosing games is part of it, but, when you have a 10 run lead and win by one run, thats garbage or a 5 run lead and the pen blows it late. Thats my take, I want to enjoy the season andif it goes well th epost season will take care of itself. So in 2009 I want to see a team thats fun to watch and plays with energy and determination to win every game and a pitching staff that can keep us in the game, thats al I ask for.
‘99 and ‘00 the link was veteran Robin Ventura
‘06 was veteran Cliff Floyd
‘86 was Carter and Hernandez
‘69 was Gil, himself.
Last two years the “missing link” was a talented, baseball veteran to keep everybody real.
I believe Jerry has a shot at this next season; but a like minded player would seal the deal!
Lets look at the 2006 team up to now. We still have the same players at first, thirs, SS and CF. We have 3 starters from 2006 and I think 3 guys left in the pen. So we need to make more changes. We need a new guy at first and to corner OF’s as well as a new catcher.
1999 ended quite painfully. I try to forget that it happened. lol.
C’MOn, the grandslam single was awsome!!
That year was f-ing fantastic. They faced elimination over and over and over and kept getting it done.
From your post I would imagine you are a relatively young man. Watching those teams was certainly great, however I think something changed with Mets fans after 2006. All those years with the Yankees winning in this town has literally raised a generation of baseball fans that has never seen the Yankees not make the playoff before this year.Not making excuses for the poor performance of this team down the stretch, but we all must remember how difficult this is to do. Look around the league and see how many teams are actually successful year in and year out,. I’d certainly would like us to get there. But we have to remember the lean years.
Someone on here yesterday said they would be happier if the Mets had fallen out of the race earlier so we wouldn’t be let down on the last game. Having survived the late 70’s and early 90’s Mets teams – I beg to differ.
Brandon, to agree that a man who has unimaginable pressure of the world on his shoulders, as the face of one of the highest profile organizations in a million dollar industry, and has been visibly anxious about it and that it affects his performance, and then to suggest that simply talking about it — with a professional who can help — is “a little much”, only displays your ignorance.
I just came into say this exactly. I know athletes think they are invincible but everyone of them should be getting professional help manage the enormous responsibilities they have. It’s ignorant to think therapy is a bit much. It’s actually a problem he can fix because he is young and the particular problem is so specific.
I couldn’t agree more, and clicked into the comments section to say the same thing, more or less.
Brandon, I normally like your blogs, but it is clear that you simply don’t buy into the concept of therapy. That’s fine (albeit, antiquated and narrow-minded), but you acknowledge that Wright is pressing, which is the exact scenario for which the people who *do* buy into therapy would presscribe it. Again, it’s fine if you don’t believe that therapy has any benefits (as is evident by you referring to the sports psychologist as a “shrink”)–you are obviously entitled to your own opinions–but unless you have some sort of psychological training, the only thing that is “a little much” is you completely dismissing the notion as a possible benefit for Wright.
I wonder if Brandon thinks Doc Gooden would have been better off dealing with the pressure he was under with the help of someone trained in the field of helping pro athletes with the pressure he was under.
aaaa – ahem!
couldn’t agree more
look at the red sox…they have a coach that is a sports psychologist that is in the digout for every game, and they have won 2 world series in a row…but who would benefit from something like that…
Well, 2 World Series in 4 years, but I get the point. :)
I had no idea that the Sox did this. Good for them. Maybe some other teams–and hopefully the Mets–will follow their lead. Of course, it’s not enough for the psychologist to be there. The players–Wright, or anybody else–need to be willing and open-minded about it. If they see therapy like Brandon and some others on here obviously do, they won’t take advantage of the resource made available to them.
Agree with your support of therapy – however, again – in this case I don’t know why it’s being brought up. Like this late season flop is all Wright’s fault? Please.
Let’s see – we get a lead, the starting pitcher goes 6 innings, the bullpen blows up and D-wright doesn’t give us the lead back. Repeat this scenario over and over. How is this supposed to his fault. Please.
Ok yeah he didn’t get Mrph home from third. Ok.
Leave the kid alone. He’’s the best position player we’ve ever developed. He will bring a championship to this town one day and probably more than one. Mark my words.
I agree that a sports psychologist couldn’t hurt. But let’s not get on Brandon. Buster Olney is an idiot and a Yankees sycophant, so to dismiss something he said is ok in my book. I think Brandon’s criticism should be directed at the fact that Olney thinks Wright is the Mets’ biggest problem.
Agreed that it is silly to think Wright is the Mets’ biggest problem, but Brandon’s comment clearly wasn’t just dismissing the suggestion of therapy because of who suggested it–it was dismissing the suggestion of therapy, period.
Also, while Buster Olney is far from the best sports reporter around, he’s also far from the hack many people on here make him out to be.
These guys are all a bunch of buffoons. I think Olney is the one who needs the shrink.
I have had it with this team, UNLESS Omar gets a “PLAYER” on this team that can delver the hit when it is needed I am staying away. I have been a season ticket holder since ‘69 but this team is pathetic!!! Considering the price increase the Wilpons has asked for my tickets and the value this team offers i turned down my renewal. I don’t know about the rest of you guys but unless you guys are very wealthy and can afford to throw away money I recommend you send a serious message to the Wilpons and tell them to STICK it. I heard Omar on the FAN yesterday and all he offers is LIP Service and BS!! well maybe the Wilpons need to remember that tickets pay the freight and maybe we should send them a message and show them. I WANT A REAL BAT this CORE does not have it
More tickets for the rest of us
its entertainment…the price will go up…so pay it or leave it…just stop complaining!!!
I am JUST trying to FIGURE out Stewart’s random CAPITALIZATON.
*CAPTIALIZATION
I only have one thing to say. Why all this talk of throwing heaps of cash at K-Rod? Does anyone realize that this guy blew 7 games this year? Imagine how many that 7 will become when he joins the New York Mets.
Because he is the best available. 60/67. Wagner blew 7 saves in half the chances.
My bad 62/69. LOL. 90% save ratio. Wagner’s was 79%. Hmmm. I would have no idea how Krod could help.
I also think switching leagues could be beneficial to K-Rod. He was a dominant pitcher in the AL his first few years. I think his deceptive motion had something to do with that. It would be nice to sign him and Fuentes (unless Fuentes is dead set on closing).
I was reading an article in the NY Post this morning about how the Mets should sign CC Sabathia. I was all over here yesterday suggesting a package headed by Wright for Roy Halladay. I happen to agree with Sherman that the Mets need another starter to go deep into games….as this will have a ripple effect through the bullpen. I would not get into a bidding war with the Yanks however. I would set my sights on the guy they aren’t going for (Sabathia or Burnett). We already have our ace. I wouldn’t hesitate to build this franchise around two dominant starters and three younger guys (Maine, Niese, Pelf). Obviously, I have no problem signing Manny for 3 years either :-)
therealsince86, you do realize that 7 blown saves is still 7 potential losses. Look how that hurt us this year. It doesn’t matter if it comes out to 79% or 90%. 7 blown saves is 7 blown saves.
Please don’t put K-Rod on a pedastool because he brook the saves record. He benefited from an Angels lineup that struggled to put teams away. Saves are not a real baseball stat. His WHIP this year was 1.30, that is not an encouraging number. He walked way too many batters. HIs strikeouts were down and his BAA was higher than it has been since he came into the league (albeit .216).
So, judging by his history and his age, wouldn’t you expect a bounce back year?
He is 26 yrs old. We aren’t talking about a 35 yr old man.
That’s true, he could have a bounceback year, and he is a dominating closer. I’m just reiterating the fact that he’s not going to solve all of our problems. I’d much rather throw money at another hitter or Sabathia or Lowe than spend 50+ on a reliever. It’s a big risk. In 2004 we could have signed Wagner or Ryan. Within in 4 years BOTH players had Tommy John surgery. Ryan was 27.
sorry, sign k-rod. you can find every excuse in the book not to sign him but the mets need a closer. guys with his pedigree at that age don’t grow on trees.
sign k-rod, omar.
No they don’t, but they cost an arm and a leg. We don’t have an unlimited wallet, and Manaya has proven since he came here that he won’t always overpay. If we can sign K-Rod and afford a SP and another bat then I’m all for it. I just don’t think Manaya can sign both KRod and other big name talent.
We don’t have an unlimted wallet true. But we need a closer more than any other position on the team except maybe SP. If we can’t get anything but league average in LF that will be fine. Krod is the best closer available thus that should be our GOAL. Now yes 7 losses are 7 losses. How many did the Mets lose? Percentage is everything. If your closer only saves 79% of the games instead of 90 then you are missing about 5 wins typically. That’s a lot of wins when you keep losing by 1. If Wagner had stayed healthy would you not imagine that he may have blown 12 saves instead of the 7 he had when he left?
it’s not our money to be concerned about. these guys have plenty of dough. sign him up!
We do need a closer, but we need a few other relievers, too. Maybe the guys we have could bounce back if not abused like they have been the last 2 or 3 seasons. Still, that’s a big “if” and I think Heilman may need a change of scenery at this point.
You have to go by save percentage especially since he had so many save opportunities. So, essentially he converted 90% of save opportunities. If just Wagner had done that, he would have had 4 less blown saves and the Mets would be in the postseason now.
A 90% conversion rate is very good.
Plus, having a very solid reliever can really solidify a pen and take pressure off the other relievers.
Exactly. There is a lot of confidence knowing that you have a guy that can get it done 62/69 times waiting for you in the 9th. Look at what the effect of Lidge was. I don’t like playing guessing games but if we had Krod and the Phillies had an average closer then we would have won by 10 games+
Also you have to go out and rebuild the rest of the pen. When Heilman, Show, Sanchez, Feliciano come in there is a sense of uh oh. They have to go
Rebuild with Krod, Stokes, Ayala, Smith, new LHRP, and new 8th inning guy.
You can go either way on this and I understand both arguments…but I think Duaner deserves another shot.
Yup, a lot of the current inmates in the pen have to go.
But I am not sold on Stokes for next year. I agree that Ayala and Smith (and K-Rod of course) would be good for our pen. Then, lets just see who “chokes” next year.
I also would give Duaner another shot. But only if they are willing to replace him mid-season if he’s not working out.
I don’t know, I’m a big Duaner fan, but his reduced velocity (95 to 91) and his inability to throw strikes at the end of the season were disconcerting.
My hope is that he just tired in his first full season since this injury.
Exactly, napes, it was his first year back to full pitching. It may take a while for his velocity to return. But he’s still young. So he’s worth seeing it that can happen. .But again, only if they’re willing to change things up should he falter. What gets me about the Mets and how they handle the pen is that they are all too often too reluctant to jettison underperforming relievers in the middle of the year.
If I recall correctly, in his first few appearances, Duaner was hitting 93/94. He had major shoulder surgery and it takes a while to bounce back.
I agree that we hold on to Duaner. He’s young and he’s only getting 850K this year, and will not get much more through arb. You keep him and rebuild around Smith
Ayala and Duaner
Ayala scares me, but if he can return to the releiver he was in prior years with the Nationals, he can be very good.
I don’t think Dirty can be trusted. I guess if he was the last guy it would not be a bad thing. I just think if we are going to overhaul it we need as much flex room as possible.
I would bring back
Ayala, Stokes (as the long man), Smith, Parnell. If you want to add Sanchez to that mix then we only have room for Krod and one other guy. Does 2 guys really overhaul the pen?
hey hey hey dammit lol
ive proposed we keep duaner and see what he can do in ST. If he seems to have recovered and has his velocity back then we got an 8th inning guy real. Again at this point no case can be made because this is his first year after major surgery but if he can come back to form next year..that will go along way to helping the pen imo. I would have stokes and parnell audition for the pen or be pieces of a trade for a better arm. Dont forget we need either pedro or show for L handers. I think they should trade show and heilman but we need pedro there at least.
The problem is most fans seem to think we need Street, Fuentes and K-Rod in our bullpen. That is plain and simple not how bullpens are built. My suggestion for the pen next year is this.
Keep: Sanchez, Smith, Ayala and Feliciano (need a lefty)
Trade: Heilman and Show (try and get ML or minor league relievers in return, the more relievers we bring to camp and keep in the system the better)
Bring Up: Give Kunz and Parnell a chance to be in the bullpen.
Sign/Trade: K-Rod/Street. Get one of these guys. maybe some deal can be worked out with Heilman and few others to get Street thus killing two birds in one stone.
Long Man: Stokes/Figueroa. Part of the problem this year was this team didn’t have a long-man if a starter wet the bed early we taxed the pen with innings from everybody or multiple innings from 1 inning pitchers.
I do not like the way Stokes throws. He was overthrowing all year and was up in the zone. He could be another guy who gives up a lot of HR’s. Hitters just need to time him and he will be getting whiplash like HR Heilman.
K -Rod is one player. Not a quick fix. We need a full bullpen overhaul. He has a herky jerky windup and is somewhat prone to a shoulder injury because of it. I’d suggest pulling in multiple guys. I have a feeling the only releiver coming back next season are Parnell and Smith.
Hmmm … didn’t someone say Kazmir was prone to serious injury too? And didn’t the person who said that have an extensive knowledge of biophysics and pitching? Do you have such a knowledge?
Knew I shouldn’t have made the injury comment. The main point is that K-Rod can’t single handledly fix our bullpen woes.
I agree…but it is a really good start. Phillies probably don’t come back on K-Rod 6-3 in the 9th. Padres and Rockies probably don’t sweep us with K-Rod out there for the 9th. I think this is the no-brainer of no-brainers. After this season’t experience of closer by committee, we need a stud at the back of the bullpen.
I don’t think anyone is advocating just adding K-Rod. The thinking is to add him and also maybe 1 or 2 other new relievers — as well as getting rid of bad relievers such as Heilman and Show.
K-Rod would serve to anchor the Mets pen. Not to be its sole savior.
Especially with the way Johan helped ease the pain of 2007 at least for the start of 2008….Krod could do the same for 2009. Obviosuly, he wouldnt/shouldnt be the only reliever we get…there should several other arms that should be added to the mix. What we need, is 1 or 2 hard throwing pitchers, not just a pen full of specialists…We need both.
2006 showed, that with a few power arms (Duaner healthy, even Heilman in 2006) combined with the specialists (bradford and feliciano) it made those specialist match ups more effective.
Obviously we can’t JUST add Krod. We have to get Krod and a setup-man. We don’t have either a closer or a setup. We have a lot of money to spend and in my opinion every penny possible needs to be spent on 2 BP pitchers and 2 SP.
would ayala be a good canadate for the setup-man role considerting he has saved 7(i think) games for us this year with a groin issue?
Depending on which Ayala shows up after the groin issue is healed, I don’t see why not. In the past he has been a very effective reliever.
Have you watched him since he completely changed his delievery?
Heard this comment about Kazmir as well. I believe we also heard this about Vlad’s back…how did all that work out? It’s never good to worry about, and anticipate problems before they are actually problems.
Well, it’s one thing if there is no rational basis for the concern (Kazmir), but, if there *is* such a rational basis, it’s foolish to ignore it. Of course, sometimes it will blow up in your face (Vlad), but most times you’ll be glad you heeded the warnings (like the Mets would have been, had they not hitched their wagons to constant DL residents, Moises Alou and El Duque).
Moises and El Duque were 90 years old. It’s not the same. My point was that I’ve heard these arguments before about young players having potential delivery issues and yes it was a rational argument by the Mets when they discussed Kazmir and why they traded him. K-Rod is what 29 years old?
I think K-Rod is even younger than that. But, regardless, as I said, rational bases for concern should not be ignored. Concerns regarding K-Rod’s windup are not rational. If anything, I would be more concerned that he’d get hurt if he changed it to something he’s not used to. But there should be concern about K-Rod being overworked. Overworking relievers has screwed up the relievers we already have–there is reason to worry about spending way too much money on a very talented reliever who is a prime candidate to break down, like pretty much every reliever who gets used too much.
And before anybody starts in with the “K-Rod never gets more than 3 outs, and many times less than that,” remember that he has to warm up, too, and his frequent use gives his arm less time to bounce back between appearances.
test
Olney should stick to what he knows best… nothing.
how come the rest of his teammates arent as fazed by it or dont look lost in a situation with a guy on base in the 6th inning or later…only wright does, and he did it when his pen was rolling earlier in the year too….
its amazing, if anyone else put up that crap in a big spot in any game let alone dozens people on this site would kill them but they are so quick to defend Wright, he’s a great player but he has much to improve on, period, stop excusing it
It seems that only Beltran had key hits in key games in late September this year. So where were the rest of Wright’s teammates that you refer to?
It wasn’t just Wright.
Also, Wright is about the only player with pressure being put on him all year long to be a team leader. Both by other players and the organization.
how is olney defending wright? His lack of production all year in that spot is telling. He presses. It’s not a skill issue. It’s a mental thing. He needs to learn better habits at the plate so he approaches the critical at bats like all his other ones. This is not a bad suggestion.
I’m defending him because I have seen what he can do…He can be a very consistent run producer…plain and simple. The problem is, he had so many opportunities in big spots, that its just unrealistic to expect him to come through every time…In a sport where judge hitting a ball 3/10 times as good, why is it that we expect a hit every time in a big spot…My point is, his troubles are magnified due to him having so many more opportunities than other hitters, and that comes with #3 hole.
He did hit his first career walk-off HR this year (Aug 7)…and he had two big game tying hits in the last week of the season. But people will remember striking out with a runner on 3rd not outs.
totally agree – he needs to improve and I believe he will. we’re talking about some people’s idea of trading him though which is totally insane imo.
Olney is a joke. Even quoting this moron for what he said about Wright and a shrink is ridiculous. Why even give it legitimacy?
This is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen a “journalist” put on paper.
Danny,
You are clearly a teenager (grammar). The Olney comment was excellent and courageous. We,(mature adults) all know that Wright needs help with his mental approach to the game. Most pro athletes need help.
When you get older and if you ever are involved in elite activities, then you will understand.
Courageous? Please. Spare me. Olney is another Mets hater who is looking to make our golden boy look even worse. Again, if this bullpen was any good nobody on the team would have to press as much as they have had to.
I have to hope this post was made in jest. If so, well done.
If not, errrr
I wonder if we could make this entire post about “How to fix Buster LOLnley”? Maybe talk about how he always chokes on ESPN at the trade deadline or picking his teams for the postseason.
I think your anxiety level is a little high, TRS86. Perhaps you should consider some help.
I mean, it helped John Smoltz!!!!!!
LOL I wish I could be as nervous as a 25 year old single multimillonare who plays a game for a living in NY and is considered by most to be a superstar. Must be terrible.
Man I am not surprised that people are so ignorant about this subject, but this statement is ridiculous. Being rich is not all fun and games. Money and fame does not buy you love. More money more problems. It’s not a madeup thing.
I already posted David’s September stats, and they are great.
Here is David in high leverage situations this year: .324/.420/.477/.897
David in tie games this year: .308/.414/.523/.937
David in close and late situations this year: .286/.412/.464/.876
A couple of bad September clutch at-bats does not a friggin shrink make.
if you dont see how david wright presses in big situations, you are not watching the same games as me. he puts a ton of pressure on himself.
he has been like that his entire career. remember two seasons ago when he had to learn to say no?
his RISP this year for a player of his caliber was pathetic. he had the most situations in BASEBALL runners in scoring position. he did NOT do well, no matter how well he hit overall. it was those specific situations that are glaring for a guy who has that much talent.
we arent asking him to get committed. everyone should go to therapy, if they could afford it. therapy isnt complaining. its addressing issues that are keeping you from succeeding or achieving your personal goals.
You’re overreacting to a couple of at-bats.
And these situational stats always fluctuate wildly from year to year. You would be amazed at how these guys career stats in all of these situations end up lining up almost exactly with their career rates. It’s sample size.
Check out David in close & late and tie game and high leverage situations last year. His numbers are through the roof! And his career stats in those situations line up almost exactly with his career stats.
Check out his splits page on b-ref.com. It’s all there.
I think you, and many others here, are overreacting to the term “sports psychologist.” For whatever reason, so many people freak out about the notion of therapy, thinking it automatically makes the patient “crazy.” Wright speaking to a sports psychologist would not mean that he will be getting fitted for a straight jacket. He clearly presses in big situations, so, whatever his results, it wouldn’t hurt for him to speak to somebody about this pressing. Who knows…maybe his good stats would get better, and his bad stats would get good.
The Hardball Times measures ‘clutch’ using a formula developed by Bill James.
Of all NL players, Wright is 99th on the list, right between Miquel Tejada and Chipper Jones.
Howard and Rollins are first and third on the list. Beltran is the highest Met.
is hardball times published in philly or something? Howard and his .240 avg and 170 k’s and hes 1rst? for September i’d believe it. he was raking.
but that does make sense…ya know, playing in a williamsport, all you need is a sac-fly and boom its a home run.
whats wrong with suggesting a shrink? he obviously stiffens and struggles when under pressure…but then you could say that about the whole team
They coudl not play under pressure when Willie’s job was on the line and they can’t play under pressure in a pennant race. Maybe tehy need a team shrink, either that or some drugs…oh, wait…..
It’s idiotic. Are people really pointing to TWO at-bats and saying this guy needs a shrink. Wright hit .340/.416/.577/.993 in September.
OMG he can’t handle the pressure! Give me a break. He picked a couple of bad spots to strike out.
it was NOT just two AB’s. it was all season. his RISP were BAD.
Geez–did the suggestion hit a nerve, Danny?
Maybe he could use a couple of players to get the job done when he doesnt, this way fans like you guys and Olney wouldn’t focus on it so much. Everyone has a down year every so often. Luckily, when Wright has a down year he still puts up MVP type numbers. Stop trying to fix him and let him work this out on his own. Remember last season when he started off April batting under .200?
“Stop trying to fix him”? Oy.
Improvement is *never* bad. And if he presses this much, he could eventually screw up his career. Every failure will be magnified in NYC, and it could just make him press more and more, until he is grinding the bat into sawdust and *never* doing anything in *any* situation.
Well of course improvement is never bad, but he doesn’t need fixing. David Wright has changed his approach at the plate in all 4 seasons. This year was a bad change. He’ll get back on track.
So if improvement is never bad, why shouldn’t Wright try seeing a psychologist? Maybe the psychologist will help him learn that, if he does well, he *shouldn’t* make any changes.
I prefer the term sports psychologist to the derogatory term “shrink”
All you have to do is look at Wright in his high pressure at bats to see he presses to the point that it’s detrimental to what he’s trying to do. There’s clearly something at work mentally there. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. He just needs to learn to take a step back mentally, almost. I see nothing wrong with suggesting a sports shrink. Lots of people use them to very good results. We know the talent is there for Wright. If this helps him get the most out of it, what’s the problem?
If it helps Wright, then why not
The idea that Wright needs a shrink because Buster Lonely says so?
Oliver Perez needs a shrink.
here here
The idea is that Wright might need a sports psychologist because he puts too much pressure on himself. It shouldn’t matter who pointed it out.
It’s not necessarily even that he NEEDS one. It’s more that it couldn’t hurt, and might help, so why not? Especially when it’s clear that if he has a problem, it’s more mental than physical.
Absolutely. He *may* need one, but maybe not. But like you said, it could only help.
Unless, of course, it helps him realize he never wanted to be a baseball player and he retires! :)
Maybe not a shrink, but def talking to someone who’s been in his shoes like Strawberry or Keith.
Ok, ok…just as long as Keith isn’t talking to Jose Reyes :-)
Jose, the key to hitting in key spots is cocain. Lot’s of cocain.
Why not a sports psychologist, though? After all, even though Darryl and Keith were both stars on the Mets, that doesn’t make their situations identical–to each other’s, or to Wright’s. People handle pressure differently. Obviously Darryl and Keith had their issues–more specifically, with drugs–but that may have had nothing to do with the pressures of the game, and everything to do with society in the 70s and 80s. They may not understand Wright’s anxiety at all.
I don’t think a counselor is a bad thing. Maine uses a visualizing technique before he throws. Maybe Wright would benefit from something similar.
3/4 of the infield should return next year. Hudson isn’t the answer. his range factor is decreasing steadily, and he is on the otherside of 30.
I could live with Manny in LF and Murphy at 2B. One signing. two spots
Reyes
Murphy
Beltran
Manny 4/80 well worth it
Delgado
Wright
Church
Schneider/Castro
Nothing but fear in that lineup.
David Wright is your best hitter and you haven’t signed Manny. You want to hit DWright 6th with no protection?
You ever watched a baseball game?
If you sign Manny, Delgado is gone.
Half the pea brain GM’s commenting on this site need a shrink!!!
it’s true. lots of people on this website would benefit from therapy. you can tell so much about a poster with some of their most insane posts.
Yes I’m afraid so..
The Mets won;t give Manny 4 years, even if it is worth it. I think, or I hope Manaya has learned from Pedro, Delgado, Alou, and Castillo that giving old players long term contracts will backfire after the first or 2nd year.
Does manny have chronic injury/pain issues?
Has his bat speed slowed at all?
Hank will give it to him and laugh all the way to Boston
The thing is you can’t predict when a player will break down. He’s 36, and most signs will point to it happening sometime soon. My only point is that anything longer than 2 years for a 36 year old is very risky. It might not even end up being his skill diminishing. Alou did not lose any speed on his bad but lost the ability to stay healthy. Same thing is happening to Chipper Jones.
I agree with your point, though I do have to ask the question: when did Alou ever have the ability to stay healthy?
We were hoping against hope that he would be able to turn that around. Unfortunately, he couldn’t. While Alou was a great hitter (and I do feel like he could pick up a bat today and go 3 for 4 as long as he didn’t have to run), he wasn’t the lineup presence that Manny is. This would be an enormous signing.
Manny has had more healthy seasons than alou…if alou could’ve stayed healthy he’d be in the same stratosphere as Manny…We all know he could hit.
Like the above posts…I’d take him for 2 years, but would he take that? He is almost perfect for a DH team.
I agree. Hank will be all over that. One thing is for sure. We need K-Rod and either Manny, CC, or Burnett (#3 on my list because of injuries). We need to either shut teams down or slug them to death.
in that case I wonder what it would take to get Nady from them.
Manny, Damon, and Matsui, around Melky … thats some OF defense to have out there with one of the worst defensive 2B/SS combo’s in the game. Who would want to pitch for them with that mess behind him?
I think the Yanks are going ot sign CC, Burnett, Sheets (even though he’ll miss the first year of the contract with Tommy John Surgery, but it didn’t stop them from signing Lieber), Manny, and Texeira. Hanky poo is a loose canon. He did not like missing the playoffs.
I think Manny should be way down their list of needs. obviously then need a 1B and starting pitching. I think their OF is ok as it is without Abreu, but what they think might be different…
Hank doesnt really do anything, he just talks…
Manny’s bat speed is fine, but he supposedly has knee issues. Nobody believes they were legit–just part of his manipulating his way out of Boston–but that’s no better. I’d hate to think that the second things got less than perfect, Manny would fake an injury.
The lighthearted way Manny goes about his work would be an excellent influence on this team of overly serious veterans (Bentral, Delgado, Castillo) and younger guys (Wright and Murphy)
His production is more of a given than Delgado’s.
The Mets were very weak against LHP, Manny balances out the lineup.
I cant think of a reason they shouldnt sign Manny to a 4 year deal…
Nate,
I’m with you on this one. Manny is a beast. Putting him between Beltran and Delgado would give us the most formidable lineup in the NL.
Not to mention, it hedges against the bet that Delgado can repeat his post-June success of this year. It also provides us a huge bat when Delgado leaves after next year.
I’m all about the Manny instead of Delgado scenario. I dont think both are an option. There isnt payroll room to do that and address the pitching needs.
He’ll be 37 next year. Which means 40 in the last year of a 4-year contract.
How many 37 year olds perform at close to their peak levels?
How about 39- and 40-year olds?
Do you think it’s a good idea to have such a high risk contract like that?
well they are getting rid of about five other high risk contracts…
I dont know where else you get that kind of production, as well as the lightening of the mood that this team needs, at a position they have a need at, all in one player. It seems ideal. You have to overpay for a player like that.
3 years with a vesting option maybe?
I have two words for you — Gary Sheffield
Look at his age and his production to get an idea of how quickly someone can fall off.
Is Manny really worth that risk?
to half the metsblog posters yea…
Barry Bonds :) HAHAHAHHAHAHA Sorry I had to go there…He got better with time (and juice)
lol had to be one…………….
yes Manny is worth getting. Guy has carried the Dodgers to the playoffs. He’s an animal. Sign him for 4 trade him after 2 to a team looking for a DH.
I just saw an interesting suggestion that was apparently printed in the Arizona Republic. Seems the Dbacks may try to shop Eric Byrnes, but worry that no team will want him, because of his salary (owed 2 years and $22 million), so it was suggested that they try to match up with another team’s bad contract–like the Mets and Luis Castillo.
Byrnes may not be worth 2 years and $22 million, but he’s a lot better than Luis, we need a left fielder, and he is the sort of fiery personality this team could use.
We should sign Pat Burrell and sit him on the bench for every game.
Wes Helms, Dobbs, and Norton too…
I think we should get Brett Myers’ wife and use her as a pinch hitter whenever he goes against us. We’ll be guaranteed a baserunner as he can’t help himself from hitting her.
Sign Willie Harris too. Please. Put him at AAA if you have to, but just sign him so he can’t kill the Mets anymore. He killed the Mets more the last two years than Burrell did.
I think the Mets should go trade for Brian Roberts of Baltimore, probably Castillo would be include in the trade and he’s the perfect 2 hitter behind reyes, you can keep Murphy in Left with Tatis and Chavez as back up and use Evans in a trade for H. Street from Oakland to be the closer.
Then i signed A.J. Burnett instead of Perez. Both of them allow 3 or 4 runs in a bad day….but probably Burnett will do it in 8 or 9 innings, instead of 5 or 6 like Perez. Burnett is an Inning eaters that’s what this team needs.
1 – Reyes
2 – Roberts
3 – Beltran
4 – Delgado
5 – Wright
6 – Murphy, Tatis
7 – Church, Tatis (you can rest Church with a Left SP)
8 – Schneider / Castro
If the Roberts trade can’t be done, then i try to aquire Matt Holiday, he’s younger than Manny or other option and i’m sure he’ll be on the move, then move Murphy to 2B
1 – Reyes
2 – Beltran
3 – Holiday
4 – Delgado
5 – Wright
6 – Murphy
7 – CHurch, Tatis
8 – Schneider / Castro
Santana
Burnett
Pelfrey
Maine
Another SP for the 5th Spot
J. Smith
B. Stokes – he do a good job, you can give him a less stress job as a long relieve man.
3 more RP, maybe Ayala as a Setup as one of them
Closer – H. Street
ok first of all evans will NOT net h.street and i dont know what “mysterious” player will get us matt holiday. Why not just sign ollie and AJ?
If the Oakland A’s aren’t using Street as a closer anymore like i think they are, then it’s possible he can be swap for a promising outfielder 1 on 1.
In the Holliday trade you can include Fernando Martinez, that no longer is our best prospect, a Bobby Parnell and a 3rd player from the system. Holliday is only 28 and he can give you 6, 7 or even more good solid years, you can trade Martinez for him, this team is ready to win now, Martinez wouldn’t help until at least 2 or 3 more years.
You lost me later but I have been big on Roberts for a while. We can get him and dump Castillo. The O’s know they can’t keep him. Thus you send Heilman (who would be their #2 starter) Niese, Evans, Castillo and cash or some variation of for Roberts and Mora(his contract would be an incentive for them).
As Met fans we are absolutely kidding themselves when it comes to David Wright.
I can’t count how many times I hear fellow Met fans bash Alex Rodriguez for his comical inability to come through in the clutch. Well… Wright does the same thing, and doesn’t come close to putting up the numbers A-Rod does.
Is it because he’s pressing? Maybe… maybe he does need to talk to a sports psychologist. The numbers don’t lie… look at his batting average with runners in scoring position, his RISP with 2 outs, his average with the bases loaded… he only has a few more RBI with the bases loaded than Jason Marquis for pete’s sake.
Yes, his numbers on the year were good. But they could have been much much better… he could… nay… SHOULD have had a 140 to 150 RBI season this year. If he had hit close to .300 with runners in scoring position, he would have… and the Mets would be in the playoffs, and Wright would be a run away MVP.
Look at Ryan Howard’s batting average, and you’d say he can’t be the MVP because of how low it is. How could he have possibly driven in 140+ runs and hit in the low 200’s? Easy… look at his situational stats as compared to David Wright’s and A-Rod’s
Ryan Howard
Bases Empty: .196
Runners On: .309
Runners In Scoring Position: .320
RISP w/ 2 outs: .322
David Wright
Bases Empty: .314
Runners On: .290
Runners in Scoring Position: .243
RISP w/ 2 outs: .247
Alex Rodriguez
Bases Empty: .329
Runners On: .277
Runners in Scoring Position: .271
RISP w/ 2 outs: .264
“but suggesting the guy needs a shrink is a little much…”
Totally disagree with you. Why? Do you see a stigma with psychiatric help?
I believe he IS pressing and HAS to get his head straight. If that is the solution, so be it. The kid does not lack talent.
It is all ‘up there’. He needs to address it any way he can.
I absolutely agree. I think a sports psychologist would be of great benefit to Wright. He clearly puts a lot of pressure on himself and it shows in high-pressure at-bats. In fact, I think it would behoove the Mets as a team to have a sports psychologist on call 24/7.
Clearly, Brandon and several commenters here haven’t joined the rest of us in the 21st century with respect to therapy. Therapy *does* still have a stigma attached to it, so some people will never get the help they could so desperately need, and will prevent others from doing so because of how they will be judged.
You do realize that RISP stats fluctuate from year to year for basically every player?
Wright will probably be awesome in those situations next year.
of course they fluctuate, but didnt you watch him this year? wright has always had problems in this situation. for a guy of his talent, he visibly presses.
maybe all he needs is a reliable bullpen and that will calm him down. it doesnt have to be therapy. saying he didnt have a problem this year is just not true. couple that with the collapse, and he could be affected for a lot longer.
danny, the problem with that is none of that helped david this year. it would have been nice if he had gotten a couple of this past week. notably the cub game.
I’d like to expand on your stats here:
Anyone who has watched most games this year, as well as ‘05-’07 have noticed that Wright seems to be pressing in “clutch” situations, where in past seasons, he has excelled. For example:
Wright (2008): .302/.390/.534
Men on, 2 out: .252/.362/.541
Men on 3rd, <2 out: .259/.271/.426
Men on 2nd & 3rd: .167/.313/.167
Bases Loaded: .235/.364/.353
RISP: .243/.328/.376
RSP, 2 Out: .247/.376/.416
I would think that the above situations are a fair measure of “clutchness”, and we can see that Wright struggled in most of them. One thing I will say in his favor is that with runners on 2nd and 3rd, he was pitched around quite a bit, as evidenced by the nearly .150 point difference between BA and OBP. Now, lets look at Davids 3 year stats, from 2005-2007
Wright (2008): .314/.396/.534
Men on, 2 out: .282/.390/.503
Men on 3rd, <2 out: .514/.540/.876!
Men on 2nd & 3rd: .500/.644/.964!
Bases Loaded: .459/.478/.946!
RISP: .326/.428/.548
RSP, 2 Out: .269/.395/.458
The difference is stark, is it not?
Sorry- the 2nd set of stats should say Wright (2005-2007)
Career Numbers:
Howard:
Bases Empty: .266
Runners on: .292
RISP: .282
RISP w/2 Outs: .294
Bases Loaded: .263
Wright:
Bases Empty: .306
Runners on: .312
RISP: .300
RISP w/2 Outs:.259
Bases Loaded: .393
Looks a little better now, huh? All this was was an off year for Wright (an off year where he hit .302 with 33HR and 124 RBI). I can’t beleive how many posts I’ve seen advocating trading a 25 year old 3rd baseman who has averaged .310 29 HR and 112 RBI and hit .300 with RISP for his first 4 full years. This is not a guy you trade for “a couple good arms in the pen” as some people here have suggested.
I agree…the trade scenarios I see are just baffling….Wright is a superb player. However as Keith Hernandez has pointed out many times this year, David’s approach at the plate has changed, as he is looking to be more of a power guy. Hopefully, he goes back to the approach he displayed earlier in his career, as that worked very well.
Agreed, but that change in approach really started last year and he still hit .310 with RISP and carried the team in September. That’s another thing, I keep reading on this site that Wright is not the kind of guy who can carry a team. I know nobody wants to think about last year, but you should be able to remember that Wright hit .370 with 12 HR and 41 RBI in August and September last year. If that’s not carrying the team down the stretch I don’t know what is.
To me, the biggest problem Wright had was driving in runners from 3rd with less than 2 outs. This year he hit .259 with 37 RBI in 54 AB. For his career he has .447 with 167 RBI in 170 AB.
All this means to me is that Wright had an off year in clutch situations in a career during which he has been very clutch.
Check out my post right above yours – I listed Wrights stats in a number of situations in 2008 and compared them to his three year avg from ‘05-’07…the difference is pretty significant
he had a down year with RISP….do me a favor and look at the last 3.5 years….better yet look at the totals for his career…then come and tell me that the guy hasnt been good in these spots…and to suggest someone should have 150 RBI is comical…..you have lost sight of the issue here….DW is not the problem here and thank god you have nothing to do with decisions for this team
Speaking as a licensed “shrink” with a degree in clinical psychology, as well as being a regular poster on MetsBlog, let’s clear up a few misconceptions.
First of all, there is a difference between psychiatrists (medical doctors who utilize medication) and psychologists. Look it up.
Somehow, Brandon, you must fall into the category of uninformed people who think that the only people who need “shrinks” are people who have some really severe type of mental illness, are suicidal, just plain crazy, or those who are weak-willed or simply gullible. Others just think that psychology is some form of hocus-pocus.
Can I tell you that all the process of counseling is meant to do is help someone understand themselves better. And who can’t benefit from a bit more self-awareness. It’s often what we don’t know or understand about ourselves that then creates problems and stumbling blocks for ourselves. That increased understanding and awareness can help us learn to better deal with stress, losses, and anxious situations like hitting with RISP.
Next time, don’t be so quick to dismiss a profession that you obviously know nothing about. Or better yet, maybe schedule an appointment yourself. After these past two seasons, we all could use a “shrink”.
Well said.
but, where have you been in our time of need?
Well said, indeed. Society, in general, needs to change how they view the concept of therapy. I’m sure way too many people are not getting help they could use because of narrow-minded opinions like Brandon’s and some others on this site.
Wright is a fine baseball player ,but he should NOT bad 3rd in the lineup.. He is much better suited to bat 5th…. Wright doesn’t have the ability to carry a team on his shoulder like Manny,Pujols,Arod,Howard,Guerrero but he is a fine ballplayer.. If the right option comes available Wright should be considered for a trade…
For everyone that wants a complete overhaul of the bullpen…
who would rather Pedro Feliciano play for next year?
1) Mets
2) Phillies
3) Marlins
Mets
two words: roy halladay.
Exactly!
David Wright for Roy Halladay…straight up. I was saying this all day yesterday. Rumors in July that he wanted out of Toronto. Signed at a reasonable price thru 2010.
please tell me your kidding…
Not kidding at all. Perhaps we can squeeze Scott Rolen out of them as well. Our rotation would be sick…at minimum cost. If no Rolen, then Murph can move to his natural position of 3B. We’ll need to fill LF with Manny. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I completly disagree and i dont feel like spending time writing why.
you guys do realise doc halladay is the face of their franchise, right? he’s never leaving that team.
what you are not getting is, this isn’t working for the mets with wright, or the blue jays with halladay. granted, the jays have tried for longer. have you bothered to look at what halladay has done the last 5 yrs?
he is an ace in every sense of the word. do you feel more comfortable going to philly for a 3-game series with santana, halladay, maine…..or santana, maine, pelfrey?
He’s the face of their franchise, yet they haven’t done anything with him. They even added a complementary piece in Burnett. Halladay’s trade value will only be this high for so long. I think it’s at its peak right now.
D-Wright is the face of our franchise too, however starting pitching is tougher to get than a 3B stick. Toronto could be willing to do it because Rios and Wright could be cornerstone guys to build a team around. They are young enough.
Your willing to give up one of our key offensive players for a kid(murphy) that has only been up here half a season to replicate that kind of production both on the field and at the plate. We already have an ace in santana. Starting pitching is not our biggest problem. How many wins would santana have had if the bullpen had done its job. Holladay would be effective every 5 day. Yes he has CG but i doubt he will go for the CG every time out and if he is imagine the stress on his arm. Look like i said if you believe we should trade one of our offensive keys for ANOTHER ace when our problem has been closing games out by all means. I completly disagree
Wright doesn’t have the makeup to be a great 3baseman like Chipper Jones… Chipper when all is said and done is 3000 500 club. The main difference between the two are Chipper has Guts and thrives in pressure situations and D Wrong shrivles up like an old man when the heat is on… Honeymoon is over with DWrong and it’s time to move him for an absolute Stud Ace like Halladay or Oswalt…..
The point is, Murphy wouldn’t be replacing Wright’s production. Manny Ramirez would be playing left and his offensive production makes Wright’s look like Luis Castillo.
The bullpen can be revamped relatively inexpensively. Not counting for arbitration eligible players or increasing salaries, this team’s payroll could swell only $10MM for next year by making this trade and doing all of the other things I am suggesting.
not every team feels the need to trade their star player. you guys kill me. for all this bs about keeping our homegrown players now because of a couple of dissapointing seasons, you’re ready to throw them out the door?
man, we really have become yankee fans.
tech: i wouldn’t go so far as to call him d-wrong. you don’t watch enough baseball if you think he is a problem with this team. i just think the trade is a good fit for both teams.
we will have to agree to disagree…i believe that would be a horrible idea that will set us back more than help us move foward.
agreed warrior….
Starting pitching has not been the problem with the mets. Offense has but frankly wright finished with 124 rbis….nuff said. We have 2 holes in sp to fill and there are some arms available this year that can help make the rotation more formidable with keeping the keys to our offense in tact. Yes we need a different dynamic in the lineup but that too can be obtained. Dwright is 25 years old..his best days are ahead of him…even with manny he will only be good for what 2 or 3 more years….dwright will still be 27/28…IN HIS PRIME and you want him to have that with another team…geezzz…….like i said i disagree totally but thats my opinion.
fair enough. at least i didn’t propose argenis reyes, nick evans, and jon niese for halladay. :-)
lmao there ya go 09….just couple that with omars jedi abilities and the mets are set lol
If only we still had Anderson Hernandez to add to that offer! The Jays would certainly go for that, right? :)
I wonder if they would do Parnell straight up for Halladay. We’ll even throw in Luis Castillo.
Although, I have heard rumblings that Eric Byrnes may be trade bait. He is owed $22MM over the next two years. Arizona Republic is speculating the Mets may be a good trade partner. Bad contract for expensive contract.
you might be on to something there 09…..
TA09….Halladay is a great pitcher and i would welcome him in a heartbeat…but the obvious lack of respect you have for the Greatest Player the Mets have ever produced is obsurd…..to compare his production to that of casillo….ummm…there is no hope for you here….and tech, please go look at his numbers over his career and then come back here, because you are just lost
I would do that trade in a heartbeat and if D Rod needed a ride to toronton I will personelly drive him there…
D Rod for Halladay..
Pull the trigger Omar….
Baseball is built up the middle. Solid Catcher, SS, 2B and Centerfielder… Great pitching always beats great hitting.. IN wright’s case good hitting not great… You can get guys who can hit 25-30hr 100rbi’s basically what Wright has done all his career from other teams.. 3b is a power position and can be gotten from other teams… DWrong for Halladay or Oswalt straight up… Lets Do the deal Omar….
Any more meaningless cliches you want to throw out there, Tech? One of them might eventually be right.
Teams need to be solid *all over*, not just up the middle. Your scenario suggests the Mets don’t need solid corner infielders or outfielders, which is ridiculous. The best teams are solid everywhere, not just in five positions.
And, of course great pitching always beats great hitting…except when it doesn’t. Or, was I hallucinating when Luis Gonzalez got that championship-winning hit off of Mariano? Or when Pujols took Lidge deep? And that’s why All-Sar games always end in scoreless ties!
The only thing to fix is Wright?
Um…..wow.
Yeah…that odd and inaccurate comment has gotten way too little attention in light of people freaking out over the use of the word “psychologist.”
Why does everyone feel the need to rip on the Mets… okay they didn’t make the playoffs, but last year was so much worse.
Can’t trade Reyes and his upside is much higher than Wright.. You can live with a descent 3basebam… Remember Yankees won 4 world championships with Scottie Brosius playing 3b and Charlie Hays… WRight also seems too soft in my opinion always playing politics in the locker room and for that matter against other teams. I always I mean always see WRight talking to opposing team players when he is on 2b or 3b giving them the tap and making friends. He was doing that against the Marlins in the last series of the year when he knows the Marlins hate the Mets… Wright is SOFT PERIOD>>>>>>>>>>
I’m a huge fan of Wright. I think he is a great player. He is a great hitter, has great instincts, has a great glove, but a shaky arm. Santana and Halladay would be a devastating 1-2.
Bottom line on Wright is in 4 years I can’t remember ONCE where he carried the Mets for months on or any big hit except for that regular season hit off Rivera last year to win it… Last september he hit well ,but the METS came up short meaning he didn’t lead his team like PLANET MANRAM lead his team to the playoffs… Wright is a nice kid and will have a good career not great like say schmidt or chipper per say but it’s time to cut loose the kid and get an ACE STud for him…. Plus one thing that pisses me off is Wright never says anything with substance it’s always politcal correctness from him.. Like when the mets got their lunch handed to them by the braves in atlanta last week he said and I quote “this is what baseball is all about this is what makes it fun”.. When the Mets are about to collapse for the second time and when the braves are mocking the mets and beating their brains in he says something like that…. He tries to be cute with other oppossing players always jabbing them when he’s on 2b or 3b… D Wrong really has no killing instincts and is just a nice guy with nice stats who can’t come up big….. Let’s get him ooooout of here for a Stud Ace….
Wright has been a great player, not a good player for the Mets and wanting to trade him is ridiculous. Wright represents everything the Mets system has done right in the last few years. Why people seem to think the Blue Jays are looking to trade Halladay is something else entirely, but trading Wright, the second best third baseman in the major leagues would almost guarantee not getting a good value for him. Wright finished 4th and 6th in OPS+ in 2007 and 2008 respectively in the NL, and 2nd and 5th in NL Vorp in those years. You’d have to be crazy to replace this guy.
Wright was great with RISP in 2006 and 2007 so I’d hold on a bit before we all of a sudden attribute his poor numbers to anything another than a statistical aberration – if he wants to do anything he think helps, then by all means go for it, but I’m not worried. Give me a team of David Wrights, and the Mets will have no problem making the playoffs.
techwonV27 are you freaking kidding me? You can’t remember Wright once carrying the team? Let me try and refresh your memory, we really don’t have to go back that far:
Last year in August and September Wright hit .370, that’s right, .370 with 12 HR and 41 RBI and an OPS of 1.100. Let’s also remember how bad Reyes and Delgado were during this same stretch. If not for Wright, they would have lost the division by about 5 games last year instead of being in it on the last day. If that’s not carrying the team, then I don’t know what is.
How about the walk-off HR he hit in August? How about the walk off hit he hit in Sept 2007…How about the 2 game tying hits he hit this past week? How about the huge sept he had in 2007 to even keep us close…
Have you ever watched a baseball game? EVERY player jabs it up at 1rst and 2nd base…its sportsmanship. These players are in the fraternity of professional baseball players, Wright is not soft because he talks to players…Thats ridiculous.
No killer instincts? How do you know? Do you hang out with him? I dont think you have any idea what he feels like. I remember reading articles in the past about Wright being a big smarta$s on the team, and that he puts up a lovable front for the media.
I can’t believe you’re just gonna bury Wright b/c he had a few bad weeks.
the guy just doesnt like DW…not sure why, but he does…oh well, i guess everyone has their opionions….some are just right and some are WRONG
This is truly idiotic. Working with a sports psychologist to get the most out of your mind is no different from working with a trainer to get the most out of your body.
But perhaps he doesn’t need trainers either! He’s a young healthy guy, just get out there and run some laps!
I don’t know about those laps, Tina! If he hasn’t been running laps up until this point, it may not be a good idea. He might [gasp] build up his endurance, or something!
(Please make sure to note the sarcasm.]
No way the Mets go after Halladay. This is moronic. That’s like the Yankee fans who think that they’re going to sign CC, Tex, Manny, and Burnett…No way the Mets even offer up Wright. The most the possibly do, is ask DW to move to 1B. Then either allow Murph (which they’re not going to since they asking him to play 2B in Fall Ball) to move to 3B, Tatis, or go out and sign someone like Casey Blake.
However, before any of that can even begin to be thought of, the Mets need to sign Manny (who Omar loves) and fix the pen.
I really like the idea of a 2009 lineup with Manny and hate the idea of a 2010, 2011, 2012 lineup with him in it. It’s just not a good idea. That ship has sailed.
Manny wants 20+ million for 4 years. If you do that and Krod that is all you will really be able to afford.
However, you could get Burnette, Lowe and Krod for a little more.
I would get Texiera before I would even consider Manny.
Manny is a putz
I agree Santana Halladay would be nice. But why not keep Wright and go after 2 big name FA pitchers?
Would you rather have Halladay and nobody or Wrigh and a big name FA pitcher. There are a lot of good starters on the market this season and no decent options at 3rd. It makes no sense.
brandon, why is “needing a shrink” a bit unneccessary? First, it’s not a shrink, he would see a sports psychologist and performance specialist. these types of guys do great things for not only individual players, but teams as a whole. Did you know that the read sox actually have a sports psychologist that is an official coach and sits with them in the dugout? How many world championships have they won since 2004? oh right…2. and how many times have the mets? oh right, none. and not to mention collapsed 2 years in a row.
I happen to think its a great idea, b/c the mental composure of some of these guys was beyond the reach of manuel or hojo or whoever, and i think would be a really good idea for the mets to consider, besdies, after the past 2 years, wouldn’t you be open to anything?
sorry i don’t mean to come across bitter, its just a pet peeve when people say “seeing a shrink” is bad, and its my profession, and we are not all “shrinks” and you don’t have to be “crazy” to talk to someone, we all need a little help, so eah sorry to come across bitter
i hope whatever they do, they fix it, otherwise 3 years in a row of this, we are all going to need a “shrink”
Working with a sports psychologist is extremely common for professional athletes.
I would be shocked if Wright wasn’t already working with one but you never know. He doesn’t act like he’s learned much about control in pressure situations.
Most pro athletes could use a sports psychologist just as most pro athletes should have formal traing and supervision concerning strength, flexibility, balance and stretching.
Gotta give there’s Always 09 credit for this one. Castillo to the Dbacks makes a lot of sense. 22 million left for Byrnes to 18 million left for Castillo. Throw in a few prospects here and cash there and it could be a match.
My lineup would be
Reyes, Murphy, Beltran, Wright, Delgado, Byrnes, Church, Schnieder/Castro.
I would go:
Reyes
Byrnes
Beltran
Delgado
Wright
Murph
Church
Schneider/Castro
Pitcher
I trust what both Keith and Ron had to say after the game. There is no way you can move into the new ballpark with this core of players. That doesn’t mean I would trade Reyes Wright or Beltran but I think Delgado’s time is up. Wright obviously feels he has to do something “big” and that is when his swing goes to hell with that uppercut. Witness Lou Piniella choosing to go after him instead of pitching around him. If I could get Jason Varitek to platoon with Schneider, I would say goodbye to Castro. Varitek is a leader and feisty. Or like Joe B and Evan R. said what about AJ Pierzynski? If you really want to shake it up and are resigned to change the core, how about Reyes or Beltran to Padres for Adrian Gonzalez? They want speed up the middle and we need a young agile first basemen that can put up 30/100 every year. You could exercise your option on Delgado and package him with Heilman for a shortstop or centerfielder. If I had to choose, between moving Reyes Wright or Beltran, it would have to be Reyes.
My lineup would be
Reyes, Murphy, Beltran, Wright ,Texiera ,Byrnes, Holliday, Pyerzinski
Wright doesn’t need a sports psychologist more than ANYBODY else in baseball. Those of you who are defending the profession are missing the entire point. It’s the singling out of Wright that is ridiculous here. It’s patently absurd.
agreed. nothing needs to be fixed with wright. he didn’t have good risp numbers this year, so what? last year he had great ones. the way RISP numbers fluctuate from year to year, i wouldn’t be surprised if he put up some ridiculous ones next year (not that I care about worthless stats such as RISP, etc.)
He doesn’t have to need it more than anybody else in baseball–he doesn’t have to *need* it at all. The fact is, he puts too much pressure on himself. Whether that affects his production, or not, is debatable but, if there’s the slightest chance that it does, why shouldn’t he try to address the problem? Even if he was the most successful clutch hitter in baseball this year, it would not be good for him to put such pressure on himself.
This reluctance and/or fear some people have about therapy is mind-boggling.
it’s a joke how the media and some of the dopes that post on metsblog have grabbed hold of the concept that david wright can’t hit “in the clutch” like it means something.
you are talking about a 25 year old who is surely going to be a hall of famer, who any other team in the majors would jump at the chance to acquire, and who had a fantastic year. why can’t met fans see how lucky we are to have such an amazing young talent on our team, who is just going to keep getting better? this was only david’s 4th year in the majors.
all this talk singling out wright is ridiculous.
It *is* ridiculous to single out Wright but, on the other hand, that is one of the biggest reasons for him to see a sports psychologist. *He* acts as if he is solely responsible for the team’s successes and failures, putting the weight of the world on his shoulders, and pressing in clutch situations. Someone needs to sit him down and tell him to relax. That he has 24 teammates who all have to play well for the team to succeed. That he cannot do it alone. On top of everything else, David Wright is not just a ballplayer, he is a human being. I am not a trained psychologist, but one doesn’t have to be to know that it is unhealthy to set such lofty expectations that can never be met, just to end up failing to meet them time and time again. The fact is, Wright–like every other ballplayer–is going to fail sometimes–more often than he succeeds, in fact. He needs to accept that, and accept that he needs his teammates’ help for the Mets to win consistently. None of his teammates seem to have this same problem so, regardless of their stats, they do not seem like they need a sports psychologist as much as Wright does (though, he may not *need* one, either).
Xanax
This is totally out of hand. I didn’t read all of the posts so if this repeated, deal with it.
Wright is a freaking KID. This is called the maturing process. he seems to be an intelligent guy so to me, he will LEARN what it takes to be a leader and get over this supposed non-clutchness. lets just all take it easy and enjoy watching this kid grow into one of the all-time greats.
Wright would also benefit from some serious support around him. the chemistry of a ball club is way overlooked. when everyone is producing, its much easier to be clutch. when all eyes are on you, like you are the second coming, it aint that easy. Wright, like most young players, needs to be in an atmosphere that promotes not just winning but how to be a winner.
things will work out eventually, and Wright will be in the hall one day and we all will look back and say thank you sir, thank you for letting me have my first mancrush.
Chemistry is overlooked because it rarely means anything. When a team wins, the chemistry will be good. That’s not to say *bad* chemistry will not harm a team–it certainly can–but that was not the case this year, anyway. The players seemed to get along just fine, and there were never any reports of anything more than “cliqueiness,” which exists in all areas of life.
Wright will most likely be fine, but the insistence of some that he do so without the help of a psychologist is frighteningly ignorant and antiquated thinking.
Why don’t they give the poor guy a day off here and there?
Reyes and Wright do not get enough rest. Sit them a few times during the year to keep them fresh. If one of them is in a slump, sit him down!
The real problem is all the yankee fans (Francessa, Olney, Klapish, Micheal Kay, Brandon Tierny, et al) in the media saying what the Mets need. They all hate the Mets and see everything though pinstripe colored glas-ses.
They need to just worry about their over-the-hill team.
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