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What's up with David Wright?

ABG Apr 24 2007 12:44 PM

There. Its an important question to the immediate future of the team. There are two articles today on this topic, steal mercilessly to start a discussion. Bergen Record: http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMTQmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxMjE1NjYmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 ]"You're talking about, what, 17 games?" Wright said after finishing his pregame routine Monday night -- the last Met in the batting cage. "You're talking about a very small fraction of what's going to happen during the season. It's not something I'm panicking about, not something I'm worrying about. It's there." But it's certainly well hidden now. Wright has insisted since spring training that he wasn't alarmed by the lack of home runs in the second half last year and he hasn't changed his stance as they have completely disappeared in April this year. His hitting coach Rick Down preaches the same mantra, as does manager Willie Randolph. Yet it's impossible to ignore the number and even more important -- the visual evidence. If it were only the zero home runs or the RBI total that ranks last among the Mets' regulars (and is half of what backup catcher Ramon Castro has in 17 at-bats), it would be easier to take than the confounding picture of the player who was supposed to be the Mets' poster child looking lost after another called third strike. New York Post: http://www.nypost.com/seven/04242007/sports/mets/not_all_wright_mets_brian_costello.htm We're conditioned to believe that this is just a slump, because the guy is a poster child for everything right with the Mets, the game of baseball, Democracy, freedom and the United States of America. Is he being exposed? Is this a reaction to the dreaded HR Derby? What's up?

Johnny Dickshot Apr 24 2007 12:49 PM

There's no question that turning into a strikeout prone Paul LoDuca is a nightmare for this team. OTOH, Wright's just about at 75 ABs now and that's generally considered the point during which "anybody can hit anything." I have no problem with Willie dropping him below Alou in the order, or at least I wouldn't have considering Alou's near 75 ABs too. But because he's David Wright I'd continue to pretend there isn't a problem until 150 ABs.

ABG Apr 24 2007 12:53 PM

Your 75 AB threshold is approaching for this year. You're not attaching weight to his post-break struggles last year.

Willets Point Apr 24 2007 01:02 PM

A month ago we were in favor of batting Wright 2nd. Would we change our votes today?

metirish Apr 24 2007 01:02 PM

Are pitchers pitching him different?,seems like he's getting a lot of stuff on the outside plate that has him lunging and looking like a twat at times,maybe it's just my perception but last year Wright used to get pitched inside a lot and he would fight them off until he got his pitch to hit.

HahnSolo Apr 24 2007 01:03 PM

Haven't his struggles coincided somewhat with the signing of his contract? Jus' sayin'.

Edgy DC Apr 24 2007 01:03 PM

I don't miss the homers so much as they authoritative doubles and the ablity to hit with authority with ducks on the pond. The absence of the ability to hammer to right. I guess authority is the key thing here. The pitchers are controlling the at-bats.

Johnny Dickshot Apr 24 2007 01:07 PM

Yeah, I'm trying to forget it's basically his fault we couldn't beat a weakass Cardinals team last year. Maybe he met some skank at the Allstar game last year and she gave him a STD or something. That's all I got.

Gwreck Apr 24 2007 01:14 PM

Kinda tough to pin that one all on David, no? I think Billy Wagner (who seems to have skated through without taking any blame) and Steve Trachsel have gotta take some credit too.

Willets Point Apr 24 2007 01:26 PM

Yeah if you're looking for goats, in NLCS game #7 alone you could pin it on the entire lineup that failed to get any hits at all from inning 2 to inning 8. This includes the much beloved Endy Chavez who came up with 2-on and with the bases loaded and failed to produce or Valentin who struck out with the bases loaded and only 1 out. You could also blame Heilman who allowed a home run by Jadier Bleeping Molina.

Johnny Dickshot Apr 24 2007 01:37 PM

Not blaming Wright completely. It's just that his nontributions loomed so large when contrasted against his regular season. I expected Valentin could fail, Trax could be below average, Wagner was a wuss, etc. Wright was supposed to be different. Anyway, my point stands: 150 ABs before we consider trading him to Cincinnati. No fewer! I also am guaranteeing his 2nd 75 ABs kick the first 75 ABs ass.

Edgy DC Apr 24 2007 02:11 PM

Unless Cincinnati is somehow offereing Alex Rodriguez.... I'm guessing if we used that win probablitity tracker, Wright'll look like a bigger goat than the others.

iramets Apr 24 2007 02:16 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Unless Cincinnati is somehow offereing Alex Rodriguez.... I know you're not serious in about six separate ways, but this is the ultimate in Metsocentric trade proposals: on the afternoon of April 24, 2007, Edgy DC expressed, for the first time, the desire to trade David Wright (see linked stats) straight up for A-Rod (see linked stats).

Johnny Dickshot Apr 24 2007 02:19 PM

In order to make good on my guarantee above, I'm declaring the "first 75" are over last night, and the new 75 era will begin tonight. Which is fortunate cuz I'll finally be there. Here's his numbers through 4/23: Total 69 AB 11 RS 18 H 3 2B 1 3B 0 HR 4 RBI 9 BB 20 K 3 SB 0 CS .261/.363/.333/.696

metirish Apr 24 2007 02:21 PM

Can you guess as to what his next 75 might look like? just so we can nail ya to them.

Edgy DC Apr 24 2007 02:24 PM

iramets wrote: ="Edgy DC"]Unless Cincinnati is somehow offereing Alex Rodriguez.... I know you're not serious in about six separate ways, but this is the ultimate in Metsocentric trade proposals: on the afternoon of April 24, 2007, Edgy DC expressed, for the first time, the desire to trade David Wright (see linked stats) straight up for A-Rod (see linked stats). Or at least hinted at it. I just don't have a lot of confidence that they'll accept my initial proposal of Corey Ragsdale.

Johnny Dickshot Apr 24 2007 02:29 PM

I'm optimistic: He'll hit .333 (say 21 for 63, with more walks, since some of those hits are HRs and Alou cools down). I don;t care about RBI but he'll have many more.

Yancy Street Gang Apr 24 2007 10:29 PM

He's starting to get a Gregg Jefferies vibe and the sooner he shakes that the better.

Willets Point Apr 24 2007 10:29 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: He's starting to get a Gregg Jefferies vibe and the sooner he shakes that the better. You take that back right now!

Edgy DC Apr 24 2007 10:36 PM

What the heck kind of balk was that?

Willets Point Apr 24 2007 10:42 PM

Edgy DC wrote: What the heck kind of balk was that? One that makes you post in the wrong thread.

Edgy DC Apr 24 2007 10:45 PM

Sort of a posting balk.

Edgy DC Apr 26 2007 02:46 PM

Tim Marchman talks some sense (distinguishing this year from the second half of last), and some nonsense (saying that "his swing and approach seem consistent and basically fine"). http://www.nysun.com/article/53225