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David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 21 2020 12:32 PM Re: Mets in the Popular Culture 2020

I'm reading this David Wright book and can report it's exactly as I expected it 20 pages in.

Edgy MD Oct 21 2020 01:28 PM Re: Mets in the Popular Culture 2020

Just the fact that it's called The Captain puts me off my smoothie. Being the Mets captain may be a seemingly marketable part of his brand, but it's a pretty meaningless summation of his story, since his tenure as captain was almost completely defined by extended absences. That tells me it's more about brand projection than telling a story. I didn't get very far in Gary Carter's The Gamer, and I want to like Wright more than Carter, so I'm so far staying away from this one. I'll gather it up sometime, of course. I did get lucky this weekend, however, and I picked up a first edition copy of Tug McGraw and Joseph Durso's Screwball. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/418Ytzcsp7L._SX313_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg> Then I realized on the way home that a truely complete Mets library would include the bound collections of Tug's Scroogie strips, and I got sad again. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51TmWSfUVXL._SX302_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg> https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51SNjStxwIL.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 21 2020 02:10 PM Re: Mets in the Popular Culture 2020

Speaking of Carter, I reread DREAM SEASON recently, and that's a pretty good book. I can remember having a lot of yuk's here over that unfortunate passage where he describes the physical closeness of the club then reminds the reader that he'll have to kill them if they interpret that to mean he has a "gay streak." But overall, his cowriter did a real good job, it's very readable, moves along, and the format works, recapping each postseason game with context and stories from his career. I'm on page 49 of the Wright book and so far, he really loves playing baseball.

Edgy MD Oct 21 2020 02:12 PM Re: Mets in the Popular Culture 2020

Yeah, Dream Season works. The Gamer, with a different co-writer, totally doesn't.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 21 2020 02:25 PM

"Friendly's had this dessert called called the Cyclone, filled with soft-serve ice cream, peanut butter cups, and peanut butter sauce. I may not have done much drinking or partying as a minor leaguer, but I never said I was perfect." This book is very controversial

A Boy Named Seo Oct 21 2020 02:36 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

it's third in my queue, but now that I'm aware of this salacious Page 6 worthy gossip, I'm gonna drop it to 4th.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 21 2020 02:40 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

At the risk of being a spoiler, David Wright likes playing baseball

MFS62 Oct 21 2020 02:57 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Why does it deserve its own thread? That is usually deserved for a book that is either very good or very bad. Which is it? Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 21 2020 03:26 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I think the initial post in this thread gives a hint in that regard.

MFS62 Oct 21 2020 04:54 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think the initial post in this thread gives a hint in that regard. It could be dull good or dull bad. Just wondering which. Later

whippoorwill Oct 22 2020 06:06 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

As I recall a lot of girls thought he was hot. They'll read it

Edgy MD Oct 22 2020 08:04 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

He was no Matt Reynolds. That guy turned HEADS.

kcmets Oct 22 2020 10:57 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

CHAPTER 10 - My Eyebrows and Me

Benjamin Grimm Oct 22 2020 10:58 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I would have gone right to the index (if there is one) to see if there's anything about Jaerock Lee.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 25 2020 10:10 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I don't wanna spoil the ending but "...not much actually changed after the Mets named me captain. I didn't act differently."

ashie62 Oct 26 2020 07:36 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Wright has nothing on Recker in the looks department. A title of "The Captain" almost assures that there is zero salacious info within. Easy pass.

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 29 2020 11:50 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

So I finished this last night. David has kind words for everyone including Fred & Jeff whom he considers "family" and it occurred to me now that they're gone too his and their legacies will sorta meld together in some ways. I was kinda angry at Wright while I read this book, but it's not really his fault. He is what he is, guarded, a bright-sider, as optimistic, nice and hardworking as he appeared on the field and his story in a lot of ways is terribly sad--none of it got him the world series dream, he's damaged physically forever, and he had to go out in staged event that also didn't really work. That said it came off too often as him relaying the stories we already knew, reciting his own stats, etc. We did get some behind-the-scenes stuff in how he kept some secrets even from the Mets as to his condition, and he revealed a son was due to him & Molly this month. And how his best buddy was Dave Racianello. I guess I knew that a little. DiComo stays out of the action as co-author but reveals in the acknowledgments he did some 40 interviews mostly with old coaches and teammates and stuff which helped Wright to remember the things he remembers.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2020 12:14 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

And Jaerock Lee? Anything?

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 29 2020 12:44 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Nothing on Jaerock Lee. And there's a whole bit where he talks about the importance of only standing behind brands he believes in--the equity stake in VitaminWater which turned into million$ when it was bought by Coca-Cola--his version of sticking it to The Man was being sure his brothers snuck him Vitamin Water to drink instead of sponsor Gatorade during the ASG HR hitting contest. David Wright is also an early investor in Beyond Meat, he reveals, giving me an opening to try and interview him for work. He wants us to believe btw that being named "captain" of the NL ASG HR contest team was a career highlight he took seriously-- seriously enough to name his buddy Michael Cuddyer to the squad ahead of whatshisname from the Braves. I can barely remember anything Cuddyer did for the Mets but he appears in a lot of highlights in Wright's memory.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2020 12:47 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I don't think I'm going to read this book.

kcmets Oct 29 2020 04:30 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Aside from things written by friends my completionist self for Mets books ended some time ago.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 29 2020 05:40 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

It ended for me when Lenny Dykstra "wrote" a book.

bmfc1 Oct 29 2020 08:26 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Aside from things written by friends my completionist self for Mets books ended some time ago. We'll see in March, 2022 when this book is released: "#LFGM: How Pete Alonso and the Mets Won the World Series and Brought New York City Back To Life", by Greg W. Prince.

Edgy MD Oct 29 2020 10:01 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I still think there's a killer Johnny Lunchbucket/Bobby Valentine collaboration simmering on back burner somewhere.

kcmets Oct 30 2020 07:17 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I have plenty of shelf space for our rock stars!

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 30 2020 07:57 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Edgy MD wrote: I still think there's a killer Johnny Lunchbucket/Bobby Valentine collaboration simmering on back burner somewhere. Wow, I love that idea! I also am burning with an idea for a different baseball book, the first one I've had that might actually sell. But doing that properly would require that I take a leave from my job for a year and for the coronavirus to be cured, so maybe this Valentine idea isn't so bad in the meantime. It's actually a great idea. For now I'm off the Wright memoirs and onto the Peter Frampton memoirs, just released!

Edgy MD Oct 30 2020 08:08 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

A Valentine book would probably come with at least some small advance, and make the leave of absence at least a little bit more workable.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 30 2020 08:17 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

And if Bobby's not interested, there's always Ellis Valentine. Or even Karen Valentine! https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9b/2b/b6/9b2bb61011c213b406f7972a4bd176b1.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket Oct 30 2020 08:46 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Edgy MD wrote: A Valentine book would probably come with at least some small advance, and make the leave of absence at least a little bit more workable. Heck I could the Valentine book on Zoom interviews. My other imagined project involves visiting 30 MLB stadiums with fans in them

Edgy MD Oct 30 2020 11:39 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Don't forget to get a translator for the Japanese interviews.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 03 2020 06:17 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

So David Wright mentioned this was coming in his book but I musta missed this, last month: [TWEET]https://twitter.com/AnthonyDiComo/status/1313599303009603596[/TWEET]

Benjamin Grimm Nov 03 2020 06:36 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I suppose if you're going to give your son a third-baseman's name, "Brooks" is better than "Pie". But a better name would have been "Hubie Brooks David Wright".

Edgy MD Nov 03 2020 09:07 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Welcome to the world, Glider Haji Wright!

Edgy MD Nov 23 2020 09:18 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I still think there's a killer Johnny Lunchbucket/Bobby Valentine collaboration simmering on back burner somewhere. Wow, I love that idea! Not to be macabre, but I just realized that, if you really want to do this, you may have a very limited window to get Tommy Lasorda on record.

Johnny Lunchbucket Dec 15 2020 11:24 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Just an update here: Peter Frampton's memoirs weren't all that interesting either

kcmets Dec 16 2020 07:08 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Peter Frampton's memoirs weren't all that interesting either Chapter 8 - This One's Called. Doobie. Wah.

G-Fafif Dec 16 2020 08:57 AM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I don't know if Ron Swoboda's recent book deserves its own thread, but it has a peppy voice and contains a passel of anecdotes a reader doesn't expect (Jay Carden, known mostly as part of the Clendenon trade, apparently liked to party in the minors).

Edgy MD Dec 16 2020 02:07 PM Re: David Wright's New Book Deserves Its Own Thread

I really thought this update was going to be about signing with Bobby Valentine and St. Martin's Press.