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The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 09:40 AM

Because it's about time, even if no one here really knows .... http://online.wsj.com/articles/is-mets- ... 1409013537 plus, this graphic that illuminates why the Mets are sucking so bad lately. [fimg=233]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/14857169859_1aed3b7868_b.jpg[/fimg] Mets Captain Can't Wright the Ship The Question Is Whether He's Playing Hurt or Just Playing Poorly By Jared Diamond connect Aug. 25, 2014 8:38 p.m. ET LOS ANGELES—For anybody who follows the Mets, David Wright's departure in the third inning of Sunday's game elicited relief more than concern. His exit meant an injury, and maybe an explanation for what has become a miserable season. Clinging to the idea that neck spasms could be causing the worst slump of Wright's career sure beat the alternative possibility: that at age 31, in the second season of an eight-year, $138 million contract, the captain's skills have already eroded. But after the game, Wright did what he always does: He deflected and he downplayed, the same way he handled the balky left shoulder that likely started all his troubles. He insisted that he would play Tuesday, when the Mets return home to face the Atlanta Braves. He again refused to blame his production on his health. At this point, the Mets had better hope that he's lying. Because if this is what a healthy David Wright now looks like, they have a bigger problem on their hands than they could have ever imagined. "You like to think that you can try to make it the whole year without feeling pain, but that's probably not going to be the case," Wright said. "This year has just been frustrating with some of the injuries and some of the bothersome things that have happened." Bothersome, but not crippling, at least in Wright's judgment. So he remains on the field, entrenched in the most important spot in the lineup, even as his performance suffers. His presence at third base may not be hurting the team—what are the other options?—but it certainly isn't helping. Over the past month, Wright has been arguably the worst regular offensive player in the major leagues. Among players with at least 100 plate appearances since July 26, he ranks last with a .231 slugging percentage and second-to-last with a .492 on-base-plus-slugging-percentage. He has just one extra-base hit during the month of August and hasn't hit a homer since July 11. The slump has dropped his on-base percentage to a career-low .324, especially troubling considering that Wright had a combined .307 batting average and .391 OBP in 2012 and 2013. But the year before that, in 2011, Wright injured his back early in season and saw his batting average fall to a career-low .254 after he emerged from the disabled list. As in 2011, it seems easy to attribute his issues this year to an injury—in this case his shoulder, which he hurt while sliding headfirst into second base at a muddy Citi Field in June. He missed seven games at the time but avoided the disabled list. During the All-Star break, he received a cortisone shot to relieve the pain. Nonetheless, the Mets and Wright adamantly deny the shoulder's impact. In fact, manager Terry Collins said Sunday that Wright "doesn't even get treatment on it anymore," though Wright can frequently be seen in the clubhouse icing it. Wright, meanwhile, dances around questions about his condition, often resorting to one tried and true line: "If I'm in the lineup," he said last weekend, "I expect to produce." The closest the Mets will come to admitting that Wright's shoulder has affected his production is to say that the initial injury caused him to alter his swing mechanics, something he has yet to correct. "I think that was an issue, and I think he's changed his swing because of that," Collins said of Wright's shoulder. "Now I think he's created a bad habit." So now what? If Wright is healthy, what can the Mets do to snap him out of his malaise? Clearly, something has to change. Opposing teams no longer fear Wright. On Saturday, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly walked second baseman Daniel Murphy intentionally in a crucial situation just to face Wright. (He struck out.) Wright is also seeing strikes 47.5% of the time, up from 46.1% last season. Collins could sit Wright for a few days, for mental reasons if not physical ones, but neither party sounds especially open to that approach. To Collins, top players work out of their struggles at the plate, not on the bench. "David Wright at 80% is still probably better than anybody else I can put in there," Collins said. "The fact that he's been a star and he's not hitting is an issue because he's a star. And he's our star." Collins could consider moving Wright around in the batting order, perhaps switching him with Murphy, the No. 2 hitter. But he wouldn't drop a player like Wright out of the middle of the lineup, no matter how poorly he is hitting. It would show panic and lead to an outcry. "Where are you going to hit him?" Collins said. "Because ultimately, somebody else is going to have to pick up the slack." For now, Wright will play. His neck injury shouldn't keep him away for too long. It would take something much more substantial to drive Wright from the field. The Mets can only hope he rediscovers his form. If not, all their years of rebuilding could go for naught. They need Wright—the old Wright. "I'm not having any fun," Wright said. "The team is not having fun."

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 10:18 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

When it rains, it pours. Bob Klapisch rains on David Wright's parade. And by "rain", I don't mean "soft rain". Klapisch: Is Mets’ David Wright done at 31? August 25, 2014, 11:29 PM Last updated: Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 9:03 AM By BOB KLAPISCH RECORD BASEBALL COLUMNIST The Record Doesn’t it already feel as if David Wright’s prime was in a past lifetime, hazy and barely remembered? He’s only 31, but lately has hit as if he’s in decline, or at the stage of his career when minor injuries are a chronic drag on his offensive performance. Either way, Wright has become one of the Mets’ most serious concerns. Crazy, isn’t it, that Wright did the Mets a favor by signing an eight-year, $138 million deal in 2012. Nice guy that he is, Wright deferred $8 million of that salary so the Wilpons could emerge from the Madoff cesspool. Both sides took a gamble on this deal. The Wilpons made Wright the richest player in franchise history, figuring he’d be the cornerstone of their rebirth. And Wright? He assumed the Mets would get to the playoffs while he was still in the sweet spot of his productive years. Turns out, both sides are disappointed in each other. Wright had to think the Mets would be in better shape by now. Instead, they’re the National League’s second-lowest-scoring team since the All-Star break, reeling toward a sixth straight losing season. Failure is so deeply woven into the Mets’ culture that no one seems particularly traumatized: There’s no outrage from Terry Collins, no protest from Sandy Alderson, not a word from ownership. It’s just business as usual, as fans are promised – once again – better baseball next year. It’s always next year in Flushing. But 2015 means Wright will be a year older and more brittle, that much further from his peak, when pitchers feared that massive uppercut in his swing. It used to be, make a mistake to Wright, especially if you allowed him to extend his arms, and you’d pay with a blast to right-center. But Wright is only a shell of his former, line-drive-hitting self. He hasn’t hit a home run since July 11, a span of 143 at-bats, and is batting .200 since the All-Star break. The fact that Wright is still batting in the No. 3 spot speaks of Collins’ loyalty to his slugger, although that soon may change. Starting tonight against the Braves, Wright and Daniel Murphy could flip-flop in the Nos. 2 and 3 slots, and even that change isn’t radical enough. What’s wrong, exactly? It could be a bad neck or a shoulder strain or both. If so, it makes less and less sense to keep sending Wright into battle. The Mets’ final month has been rendered meaningless, destined to be played in front of thousands of empty seats at Citi Field. If Wright needs a few days off, he could benefit from skipping September altogether and prepare for spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla. That’s when we’ll learn if Wright is being taken down by a more insidious enemy – old age. Let’s be clear: Wright is anything but old. He’s remarkably fit, even for someone past his 30th birthday, and always had led a clean life. There’s nothing Wright has done in his career to suggest he won’t bounce back. Yet, talent evaluators see a number of red flags when they size up the swing. “[Wright] has always been long to the ball, but lately it’s without that explosiveness,” one scout said. Another said Wright was in his “late prime” on opening day, but has since revised that assessment to say the slugger’s best days are behind him. Again, it could be the pain Wright feels in his neck or the tightness in his shoulder. Only Wright knows what it feels like swinging the bat. But subtract even a millisecond of reflex time and that long swing no longer covers the strike zone as it once did. Suddenly, Wright has holes that can be exploited, especially fastballs up and in. Even when he makes contact, Wright seems softer. His home run ratio is down to a career-low 1.5 percent, which is why opposing managers no longer fear him. Case in point was the Dodgers’ willingness to pitch to Wright in the seventh inning Saturday night, up by only a run. The Mets had the tying run on second with Murphy due up, but he was intentionally walked despite the fact that he represented the go-ahead run. It was Wright whom Don Mattingly preferred to face – a decision that worked perfectly. Wright struck out as the Mets were defeated. Wright, to his credit, stood at his locker afterward and acknowledged how much he’s hurt the Mets in the last two months. “The numbers speak for themselves right now,” Wright said. “Obviously, it’s something where just as I don’t feel good at the plate, the other team can probably see that I don’t feel very good at the plate.” That’s what pains the Mets; Wright is the ultimate good guy, as liked and respected as anyone in the National League. But unless he starts hitting, the Mets are unlikely to reverse their downward spiral and will finish anywhere from 8 to 10 games under .500. That’s an embarrassing outcome, considering Alderson was talking about a 90-win season back in March. It wasn’t believable then, but who really thought the Mets would be 14½ games out of first place before Labor Day? Mets fans have every reason to be churning in frustration, but it’s Wright who’s on the clock. He keeps waiting for the Mets to break through, even if they’re asking a tough question of their own: Will Wright still be an asset when we finally turn into contenders? http://www.northjersey.com/sports/klapi ... -1.1075959

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 10:21 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Coach Lamar Johnson: It's Wright's shoulder. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... -1.1916732 Mets hitting coach Lamar Johnson says David Wright is still dealing with shoulder pain The Mets captain is hitting just .266 with eight home runs and in the midst of a career-long 143 at-bat home run-less streak. On the West Coast, Wright reiterated strongly that the shoulder was not hindering him. David Wright experienced neck spasms that forced him out of Sunday’s game against the Dodgers, but his bigger problem seems to be his left shoulder. Wright won’t admit as much but hitting coach Lamar Johnson said that he feels Wright is still dealing with pain. “When your shoulder is hurt, it’s really tough,” Johnson told Metsblog. “It’s hurt in his left shoulder and that’s where your swing starts, with your left side, your left hand getting to the ball. “Its been tough because he’s been trying to play through that. It’s just been a real tough haul because it’s hard to get a consistent swing when you’re in pain.” The Mets captain is hitting just .266 with eight home runs and in the midst of a career-long 143 at-bat home run-less streak. On the West Coast, Wright reiterated strongly that the shoulder was not hindering him. “When I’m able to be (in the lineup), then I expect I can produce,” he said. The third baseman said the neck spasms made it hard for him to turn his head Sunday, a problem he also had last year. But he was optimistic he would be back in the lineup Tuesday night when the Mets open a three-game series against the Braves at Citi Field. The Mets provided no update on Wright on Monday. The team would not say if he was examined by doctors. Wright initially injured his shoulder in mid-June, sliding head-first into second base. He aggravated it later in the month and missed seven games. Collins feels Wright tweaked his swing when initially dealing with the pain and now is searching to rediscover his old swing. One opposing pitcher who faced Wright this season said he thinks the third baseman is “trying to pull everything.”

Ashie62 Aug 26 2014 10:44 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Maybe the doctors need to take a long hard look at David. I have no doubt he is playing with great pain. I hope it is not a chronic issue. Shoulders are funny that way...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 26 2014 10:51 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

4 words: Suck. It. Matt. Dominguez. It's always something with the Mets, and this Wright thing is really terrible. I'm certain he's hurting and probably also, in the beginnings of a decline. Would be nice if he'd get his shit together.

TransMonk Aug 26 2014 10:53 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

I'd shut him down. If he is starting a long, slow goodbye, then we need all he can give in 2015.

Lefty Specialist Aug 26 2014 11:25 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

TransMonk wrote: I'd shut him down. If he is starting a long, slow goodbye, then we need all he can give in 2015. This. There's nothing he can do to save 2014. But they need him healthy if 2015 is not to be a carbon copy of 2014. I'm betting he's hurting A LOT.

d'Kong76 Aug 26 2014 11:39 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

He's going to end up hurting something else.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 11:40 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if it turns out that Wright's problem is some nagging injury that would resolve itself if only he were DL'd, but that the FO would rather part with their grandkids than have attendance drop some more, which is what the FO worries will happen if Wright is DL'd. But who knows? It could be anything. He's getting older no matter what. And truth be told, the last time Wright was a superstar was seven seasons ago. So that's a lot of decline right there.

Ceetar Aug 26 2014 11:45 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I wouldn't be surprised at all if it turns out that Wright's problem is some nagging injury that would resolve itself if only he were DL'd, but that the FO would rather part with their grandkids than have attendance drop some more, which is what the FO worries will happen if Wright is DL'd. But who knows? It could be anything. He's getting older no matter what. And truth be told, the last time Wright was a superstar was seven seasons ago. So that's a lot of decline right there. Well we KNOW he has multiple nagging injuries. We KNOW he's been a superstar the last two seasons (though missed some time last year). So it's hardly a jump to think the injuries are sapping him some this year. Also, he's been ailing MORE in August and we're looking at his season at the end of a couple of weeks of struggling and slumping, whatever the cause. The numbers are better going into August and they might be better coming out of September depending.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 11:54 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Ceetar wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I wouldn't be surprised at all if it turns out that Wright's problem is some nagging injury that would resolve itself if only he were DL'd, but that the FO would rather part with their grandkids than have attendance drop some more, which is what the FO worries will happen if Wright is DL'd. But who knows? It could be anything. He's getting older no matter what. And truth be told, the last time Wright was a superstar was seven seasons ago. So that's a lot of decline right there. Well we KNOW he has multiple nagging injuries. We KNOW he's been a superstar the last two seasons (though missed some time last year). So it's hardly a jump to think the injuries are sapping him some this year. We disagree on the meaning of "Superstar". I think superstar is higher than an all-star. And being a "mere" all-star is no knock, which is what I think Wright was in some of his recent years.

Ceetar Aug 26 2014 12:02 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread. Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 26 2014 12:25 PM

David Wright was tied for 5th in wRC+ last season. in 2012, a full season, he was 4th in fWAR, though 15th in wRC+ (this is all of MLB) those are absolutely better than All-Star numbers. 2012-2014 he's 9th in fWAR.

Edgy MD Aug 26 2014 12:05 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

I think the Mets were right in saying they were going ahead with their plan with or without Matt Harvey, and they would do well to position themselves going forward with few assumptions about Wright's productivity. Part of that, of course, is Terry being willing to bounce him around the order as needed or swap him out of the lineup as necessary. Give him no more than a modest amount of deference. I imagine he wouldn't ask for that, and frankly, when you're still getting that deference but not performing, it increasingly gets embarrassing. Lou Gehrig said he decided to end his streak when he made what he thought was a routine play in the field and his teammates were congratulating him for it. The manager was giving him deference, starting him every day and batting him fifth, but he was embarrassed, and had to take himself out.

seawolf17 Aug 26 2014 12:14 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: [fimg=233]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3838/14857169859_1aed3b7868_b.jpg[/fimg] HAHA DEREK JETER SUC--- oh, wait. Dammit.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 12:20 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Ceetar wrote: David Wright was tied for 5th in wRC+ last season. in 2013, a full season, he was 4th in fWAR, though 15th in wRC+ (this is all of MLB) those are absolutely better than All-Star numbers. 2012-2014 he's 9th in fWAR. (bold italics added) But 2013 wasn't a full season. Wright didn't even play enough to qualify for the batting title. He played 112 games. He missed 50 games. Granted, some of his rate stats were superb ... but the league's best players also have 150, 200 and even more PA's than Wright did.

Ceetar Aug 26 2014 12:25 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ceetar wrote: David Wright was tied for 5th in wRC+ last season. in 2013, a full season, he was 4th in fWAR, though 15th in wRC+ (this is all of MLB) those are absolutely better than All-Star numbers. 2012-2014 he's 9th in fWAR. (bold italics added) But 2013 wasn't a full season. Wright didn't even play enough to qualify for the batting title. He played 112 games. He missed 50 games. Granted, some of his rate stats were superb ... but the league's best players also have 150, 200 and even more PA's than Wright did. sorry, that was 2012. I mistyped.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 26 2014 12:32 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

I can't argue with 2012. But to tell you the truth, I look at his regular 2012 stats, and can't make them jibe with his WAR #'s, even though he was terrif in '12. So I look, and I look. And then I take a closer look and I see that the dWAR portion of his WAR is off the charts. Not Brooks Robinson off the charts, but amazing for Wright. Go figger.

Ceetar Aug 26 2014 12:53 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I can't argue with 2012. But to tell you the truth, I look at his regular 2012 stats, and can't make them jibe with his WAR #'s, even though he was terrif in '12. So I look, and I look. And then I take a closer look and I see that the dWAR portion of his WAR is off the charts. Not Brooks Robinson off the charts, but amazing for Wright. Go figger. dWAR is iffy imo, not that I don't think he had a great year defensively, but.. still, 15th in wRC+ which isn't defense, though is Citi Field adjusted. But then, he was 13th in unadjusted OPS, so.. And last year was even better, he was just hurt. That's a different issue of course. His health and ability to play 140+ games. Maybe if this was a more competitive year he would've just DL'd and gotten better. and just played 130 games. Maybe if the Mets had someone to actually play at least as well as a hurt David Wright...

Lefty Specialist Aug 26 2014 01:50 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Let Soup play for a month and get some AB's. David can rest and let his supermodel wife massage his shoulder and neck for the rest of the year.

Edgy MD Aug 26 2014 02:11 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Well, while we're distinguishing "star" from "superstar," we might want to distinguish "model" from "supermodel." Wouldn't want Molly to get a big head. I'm going to come out against a shutdown unless it's medically warranted.

dgwphotography Aug 26 2014 02:47 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

I'm expecting an announcement by October 3, at the latest, that Wright will undergo shoulder surgery.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 26 2014 02:57 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Better October 3 than March 15.

G-Fafif Aug 26 2014 04:46 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Edgy MD wrote: Well, while we're distinguishing "star" from "superstar," we might want to distinguish "model" from "supermodel." Wouldn't want Molly to get a big head. She's pressing. A really good kid. A very good model. Not a supermodel.

Ashie62 Aug 26 2014 04:51 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Edgy MD wrote: Well, while we're distinguishing "star" from "superstar," we might want to distinguish "model" from "supermodel." Wouldn't want Molly to get a big head. I'm going to come out against a shutdown unless it's medically warranted. A shutdown of Molly's mouth?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 26 2014 05:33 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

G-Fafif wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Well, while we're distinguishing "star" from "superstar," we might want to distinguish "model" from "supermodel." Wouldn't want Molly to get a big head. She's pressing. A really good kid. A very good model. Not a supermodel. [Slow clap, beginning in Brooklyn, where it was on the baseball team with Sandy Koufax, did it mention that before?] Would attendance REALLY drop with Wright out for a month? I mean, the real fans will have more than passing interest in seeing how the kids are faring (in esse AND in terms of getting a good start on next year), and... well... neutrals aren't coming out to the park to see SugarPants, are they?

Edgy MD Aug 26 2014 05:38 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Has it really been established, or even speculated by anybody close to the situation, that Wright is damaging himself or meaningfully threatening any portion of his future by remaining active?

Edgy MD Aug 26 2014 05:56 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Might be a good idea, while both Wright and Muff are gimping, to get Eric Young some PT in the infield.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 26 2014 06:32 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Might be? Okay. From a keeping-folks-happy standpoint? Sure. From any other perspective? Well... you tell me. I got nothin'.

Edgy MD Aug 26 2014 06:50 PM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Well, it may be too late to matter, but the bat still plays better at second than in left.

Ceetar Aug 27 2014 07:18 AM Re: The What's Wrong Writh Wright Wrthread.

Edgy MD wrote: Well, it may be too late to matter, but the bat still plays better at second than in left. Honestly I'm surprised Eric Young didn't get traded. He's a perfect 25th man on a playoff roster for pinch-running duties.