May 16 2012 12:49 PM
Interesting on last night's radio broadcast was Howard and Joshua were speaking of David Wright explicitly as captain. Specifically Howie, and when he caught himself saying it, paused very briefly, but rather than outright backtrack into a more political re-phrasing --- "captain-like," "captain candidate" --- he only modified it with something like, "He essentially has been in that role for at least two years or more." I'm paraphrasing there, but it was the sort of modifier that started out as an attempt to correct himself and ended up as doubling down.
So, with the 7 Line pushing this shirt ...
... and with Wright now the longest-serving Met, playing some of the best ball of his life, and still representing as the ever-cheery good citizen he has always been, the long-entertained question seems to be coming to a head, and sure hit the front burner last night. Howie was animated enough that you half expected him to say that it's kinda stupid that we have to pretend that he isn't the captain.
The only issue left to decide is whether the honor should come before pushing to sign Dudley to an extension, during, or after. Honoring him before securing him could certainly come across as a down payment of good will as the negotiations continue. It can also lead to the organization putting their own feet to the fire, as letting him walk or trading him becomes even more unpalatable if he takes off with a C on his jersey.
One would think they'd want to at least be on the same page before conferring such an honor, but based on clubhouse reports, and the way Terry speaks about him, his remarkable start, and the team's battling to defy predictions, the time may simply be ripe.
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