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David Wright hit .462 during the 13 games prior to June 17, since then he’s batting .222 in his last 12 games.
In other words, Wright continues to be hot and then cold in 10 to 20 game stretches, back and forth, up and down.
The thing is, Wright looks like he needs a nap.
I mean, he’s basically the only regular, legitimate, all-star caliber hitter on the team right now, shouldering the absence of half the offense.
Thanks to the World Baseball Classic, it may as well be August to Wright, who has been playing day in and day out pretty much since early March.
He has started in 73 of his team’s 74 games this season.
Lately, it looks like he’s been sluggish, like he’s not running out fly balls, and he’s starting to seem slow with the bat – not to mention the constant mental pressure he must be under, considering the number of injuries he has had to make up for.
He’ll be honored to make the All-Star team, I’m sure, but I hope he is not able to go – because the guy looks like he could use three consecutive days of sleep.
WBC; I love the concept. Hate the time it’s scheduled.
I’m sure the Red Sox with Dice-K would agree.
I was wondering if this effected Reyes also. Tough to say because they got knocked out after 2 games, and he barely played b/c of Hanley. But he did have to start getting ready early and maybe pushed himself…all speculation though.
I think it def hurts pitchers more.
Mets were winning when Wright was hitting, and he stopped hitting right when Beltran went down. See how one player can affect a lineup? Adam Dunn not only provides HR pop MUCH needed right now, he also protects Wright. Last thing a pitcher wants to do is put Wright on base with Dunn on deck.
Agreed. This team needs Adam Dunn right now. Besides, he practically the only player “available” right now signed through 2010, which is also a plus for the Mets.
Dunn can play 1B 3 or 4 days a week, and then slide to the OF when Murphy starts. When Delgado comes back, we have a new left fielder, which is MUCH better than DP Tatis.
I don’t want to part ways with Parnell, especially since Putz is gone, but perhaps they can give Kunz a shot if Bobby is dealt? Of course, if Omar does this, I hope he can form a deal without Parnell, ie Murphy or Church
I hate trading prospects to teams within the Division. How many times do we have to hear people complain about how we traded Lindstrom when we face the Marlins!! I don’t want to hear about how the Mets should have kept Parnell for the next 6 years, everytime we play the Nationals!!
But it’s the Nationals, though. That’s where talent goes to die…look at Blastings Thrilledge.
I still wish Omar could form a deal NOT including Parnell, but if it can’t be done, so be it…
The Yankee fans said the same thing about Tampa Bay and look how that turned out.
Metsrule77 I’m sorry to say but you have fallen for the BS that Mets upper management wants you to believe about our prospects. I bet you believed it about Murphy in left field??? and Lastings Milledge, he turned out to be the super star they told us he would be lol…
Point is the Mets have a history of talking up their prospects to fool their fan base when the fan base wants them to go out and get the much needed expensive free agent. That being said, don’t fall for the BS, I would trade Parnell for Dunn (40 home runs/ 28 years old) any day of the week.
I somewhat agree on Parnell for Dunn if we could make that happen, but as I mentioned the other night the Nationals will want far more Adam Dunn! Especially when the Mets inquired about Nick Johnson the Nats wanted Parnell and a B level prospect just for Johnson who would have been a rental away! A steep price indeed! Now as we move closer to the deadline perhaps their price might come down as I doubt very seriously the Nats have any intention of paying the 11 or 12 miilion he is owed next year. A brilliant strategy on the part of the Nats actually to get Dunn to sign for reasonble money, but backload much of the money to the second year and trade him for prospects.
I think Parnel and a B level prospect would be a fair proposition for Adam Dunn. I don’t think they could expect anymore than that considering the Mets would be taking over almost $20 million dollars over two seasons of payroll.
Also remember, supposidely Billy Wagner is coming back in August so losing Parnel wouldn’t be a huge blow to our bullpen.
I agree that that is all is SHOULD TAKE for Adam Dunn considering the salary we’d be taking on, but the Nats have other ideas. I agree that Wagner’s return could soften the blow of losing Parnell, but you have to think about a couple of factors: How will Billy pitch upon returning? Even if he pitches well he only softens the blow for two months and then he’s gone! Parnell can be just as good if not better than Wagner provided he works more on his secondary pitches and he’s cheap and would continue to be long after Dunn is gone in 2010 (assuming the Mets don’t resign him) Even with that knowledge I would still trade Parnell and a B level for Dunn, but right now the Nats aren’t having it!
The only proof we have that the Nats aren’t interested is because Minaya is hinting at so. The Nats have to come up with $50 million to sign there first round pick by August! I’m sure they would be more than happy to free themselves of $20 million and picking up a decent relief pitcher… Omar is full of SH*T!
There’s talking up prospects that don’t perform and talking up prospects that do perform. Its a crap shoot I agree but i’d rather trade away Parnell to Baltimore for Huff or to the Athletics for Holliday. Keep the prospects out of the Division so we don’t have to face them 19 times a year and have it come back to bite us.
Imagine if the Mets had sent Kazmir to the Marlins for a good player. The trade would sting even more if he faced us 6-7 times a year and beat up on us.
That would’ve made perfect sense except for one thing. Wright hit behind Beltran and not vice versa. Beltran did not protect Wright in the lineup.
You’re right, but he still has a point. Even with the injuries they have now, if you sent out:
Cora, ss
Castillo, 2b
Wright, 3b
Dunn, 1b
Sheffield, rf
Evans, lf
Martinez, cf
Schneider, c
…that’s a little better than what they’ve got now, IMO. In this case, Wright and Dunn both have protection.
But the scary part is when the boys get healthy again…imagine:
Reyes, ss
Castillo, 2b
Beltran, cf
Delgado, 1b
Wright, 3b
Dunn, lf
Sheffield, rf
Schneider, c
That’s the NL’s best lineup, guaranteed.
Beltran will never come back (his knees would hold him hostage) if he had to play between those 2 stiffs with no range.
Your saying Reyes didn’t give Castillo protection batting in front of him? Beltran was batting 350+ with a high OBP. When Beltran was on base opposing pitchers had to pitch to Wright or risk putting to speady guys on base. Protection in a lineup works both ways. Reyes and Beltran’s speed allows Castillo and Wright to see more fastballs and better pitches to hit.
I heard Wright’s interview Friday with Francesca on FAN and he sounded awful, sounds like he has a bad cold or flu, but is fighting through it.
He definitely needs time off but will not get it until we get back some players, the infield is the most depleted of anywhere.
Maybe Tatis should play 3rd base for one or two games this week, that should help.
ugh…Tatis playing more hurts my head.
and our chances of winning
let Murphy play third and Evans play first…if Wright needs a break, field something like this:
Cora, ss
Castillo, 2b
Murphy, 3b
Sheffield, lf
Church, rf
Evans, 1b
Martinez, cf
Schneider, c
I like having Murph and Evans in there, but frankly with as much as Jerry has jerked Murphy (and everyone else) around the last thing Murph needs is yet another position change! Granted he has played there before, but not in NY. If Jerry would just play Murph at 1B and bat him 2nd, 6th or 7th I dont care which, but once you pick the spot for gods sake leave him alone and he will be fine! Jerry has hurt Murphy and this team by overmanaging far more than Murphy has hurt this team!
True, agreed, just coming up with some kind of answer, being that Tatis is a natural 3rd baseman, i thought it might be easier for him that Murph who hasn’t played 3rd in quite a while.
I hope DW or his agent, or even the Mets are smart enough to realize they need to make sure he “appreciates the selection, but will not be participating”
I feel for Wright, it can’t be easy to keep running out there knowing that help is not on the way any time soon and that if this team is even going to tread water he has to play at an above average level consistently. Kinda tall order.
If I were Manuel, I’d stop pushing Wright around the order and keep him in the #5 hole where he seems most comfortable. Wright is a very mental player–these things matter to him no matter what he actually says. He seems more comfortable not being the offensive fulcrum (#3) or the main production guy (#4). Just that little sign of “you’re not expected to carry the whole load–we want you to be the best of who you are” would, to me, go a long way. Don’t know if the stats back me up or not, but observationally he really seems most comfortable there.
Not the same as having the full offensive compliment to help him out, but I think it’s one of the small things that Manuel could do, but isn’t doing, to get the most out of his players.
thats tough to do though when he’s our best hitter right now. I dont really want anyone else batting 3 at this time.
I’d rather a productive Wright at #5 than an unproductive Wright at #3. Sometimes you have to play to personalities.
Agreed! Jerry needs to pick a lineup that doesn’t include Fernando GBDP Tatis and stick with it period! David was producing in the 5 hole, Jerry moved him to 4th, he strugled for awhile and then finally started driving in runs, Jerry promtly moved himto the 3rd hole, now he’s struggling again! Jerry is on his way to overmanaging this club right out of contention!
Jerry does need to get a clue when he is preparing the lineup each day.
We can debate batting orders til our fingers are numb but until someone within the organization makes some decisions, we are stuck with what he puts out there.
Batting order really only matters in the first inning, after that, you never know when you are going to hit next.
I think that Wright should hit leadoff at least a few games and see what happens, his speed has been a big part of the team this season and can be a sparkplug. Problem is after him, the other teams know they have it made and would be all too happy to get him out of the way so they can coast.
The batting order itself doesn’t matter??? I disagree. You should bat certain guys where their strengths are optimized, whats more is you should NOT change the lineup every third day just because the moods strikes you,or the team looses a couple of games. You orignally make out a lineup based on hitters strengths and the opposing pitcher etc.etc. and that approach has merit, but to take and change that lineup every other day makes absolutely no sense, like it or not Baseball players are creatures of habit and comfort zones and to disrupt those habits or interfere with a player’s comfort zone on a continuous basis is most certainly counter productive! It’s fine if you change it for an opposing pitcher once or twice a week, those are changes that the players expect and have no bearing on them mentally,but to make wholesale changes throughout the lieneup on an seemingly every other day basis is doing more harm than good!
I get your point about strengths and weaknesses but i really don’t think that players are as hung up on where they hit as much as the fans.
This day and age with the long season and constant limelight is showing that as long as the players are being put in the lineup at all goes to show the manager’s trust in them.
I agree that the lineup should remain as constant as possible and not subject to change after a few losses.
Spots 1-3 in the lineup show the speed and OBP being the priority because they typically have the most at bats.
Spots 4-6 are your major run producers if the 1-3 tablesetters get and stay on base.
I am bored with the excuses that are lined up for David Wright.
When Delgado and Reyes were down, mythical fairly tales abound about how this was now David Wright’s team and he would do this and he would say that, yada yada yada.
He lost this team to Alex freaking Cora. Wright is not a leader he is a pin up boy.
Says the Monday Morning QB…
yeah, that’s it, I am Monday morning Qbing, sorry your “handle” takes offense to my reality.
Because you know so much about being a leader, right? You know what goes on in that clubhouse day in and day out, right? You know how tough it is to be an All-Star player in the biggest media outlet in the world, right?
This is not Cora’s team, it’s Wright’s team. Cora is a great clubhouse presence and is the smartest guy on the team, but his production isn’t even half of Wright’s.
Just because the guy slumps like every other MLB hitter not named Pujols doesn’t mean he isn’t a leader. Get a clue, man…
Exactly, it all goes to walk a mile before you talk. People are not trying to make excuses, just looking at the big picture and seeing what Wright’s overall value to this team . He has played in all but one through all of this team’s troubles. Combined with having to constantly hear about the last two Septembers has to be a burden that fans cannot even start to comprehend.
oh the burdens of the millionaire thirdbasemen, let me get my hanky for him.
Oh puhleez, no one is asking for tears or rivers to be cried, just a little fairness, not too much to ask.
and you do? nobody is following David Wright, not now, not ever
talk to his teammates and then come back and educate the rest of us morons.
don’t think you are a moron, but many fans are suckers and Wright is a salesman for lollipps at the moment.
he lost this team to Alex Cora? HAHAHaha…oh man, i needed a good laugh.
I am not sure what you are upset with about David Wright. He is what he is. Are you asking him to be more of a leader than he has been, but at the same time saying he is not a leader, and then at the same time saying he should not try to do more than he is capable of doing? How can he do all those things? The contradict one another. David Wright is what he is. He may become more of a leader, he may not. I do not understand why you cannot just appreciate the production he gives, while streaky, year in and year out. There are plenty of other streaky hitters who do not lead their team, and that’s what he is.
Maybe one day you will appreciate David Wright for the player he is, and not the player you want him to, or think he should, be.
I am saying David Wright is a wallfower stat compiler.
your remakrs also suggest you dont follow the mets and have no idea about the team. I like how you choose to criticize the only productive player we have right now.
you really think he’s about his individual stats? hes about the W and L’s and holding down the fort until the other guys have recovered.
Call me a sucker apologist, but i am calling it the way i see it the same way you do.
He knows as well as anyone that it will be a long time before any of them come back and even if and when they do, who knows what level they will play at.
Wright is pressing because he knows the microscope is on him now more than ever and the fans supporting him would be more helpful than bashing his leadership and stat hound reputations.
The Yankee fan who interfered and body checked him on Saturday should have been dealt with by security but nothing was done and its ridiculous.
its not worth getting worked up over this clown…any reasonable and realistic mets fan understands david wrights impact on our team, and this kid is not one of them.
“I am saying David Wright is a wallfower stat compiler”
So what? Are you jealous of the accolades you feel he doesn’t deserve or just hate other people when they are happy about something that you are not? It is one or the other and both are pathetic.
Haha, you’re hilarious. I’m done wasting my time on you…go have fun with your fantasy baseball team and pretend you know what you’re talking about. There are too many critics like you out there that know jack about being a MLB player, especially in NYC.
ok, you have fun with your “godsend” make sure to light a candle for him
Oh, I will.
Good luck replacing a career .312/.393/.529 hitter batting .342/.432/.487 with 22 doubles and 20 stolen bases through 73 games…
Oh, I would. Given the opportunity I would gladly take my luck replacing him.
Leader? Leader of what? A spring training taxi squad? Abraham Lincoln couldn’t do anything with this team. This team is going to lose more often than it will win as it is presently comprised despite the best efforts of David Wright, ALex Cora or whoever.
Listen this should end all discussions about David Wright.
There is one player in ALL of baseball who could carry any offense with absolutely no players around him and that is Albert Pujols. If you aren’t named Albert Pujols, no matter how good you are you need people around you as protection. That being said, lets get off of Wrights @ss and look at the big picture. Everyone is hurt, David is doing the best he can. We need an Adam Dunn or Matt Holiday in here ASAP to help. Period.
I don’t think David Wright is the only one that needs to take a nap. I think Mets fans might need a bit of rest, since too many of us have been losing way too much sleep. This makes everyone grumpy and irritable.
I’m headed to Miller Park with my family in a couple of hours. What happens on the field will determine whether I take a snooze somewhere around the 4th inning or not. And to think I was excited about getting tickets to these 3 games in Milwaukee about 3 weeks ago. I didn’t expect to be seeing their AAA team instead.
On the bright side, at least none of these recent games has been on west coast time. Imagine all the late night horror shows.