Hey, David Wright. Yeah, I’m talking to you.
This was supposed to be the year the Mets finally emerged from the cellar and made some noise. This was supposed to be the year New York kept playing baseball after game no. 162.
“I fully expect us to be in the playoffs,” Wright told the New York Post.
Your teammates listened to you and skipper Terry Collins; they believed in the buzz. The season started off well, including an 11-0 run. But then you got hurt, and then you got seriously hurt.
The balky left shoulder that cost last season is gone, but a strained hamstring landed you back on the DL before a full season of play. It was supposed to be a mild case with you returning in May. Instead, that led to back issues, which led to the diagnosis of spinal stenosis.
Nobody without an MD after their name knew what that was and everybody, you included, put their Internet medical license to use. We learned it meant an abnormal narrowing of the spine and can stop average Joes from walking. That was it, time to wave the white flag on el capitán’s career – beginning with so much hope and lingering through so much misery.
But suddenly there was light at the end of the tunnel. First came word that team ownership purchased insurance on your eight-year contract. And then what everyone not named Wilpon or Katz wanted to hear: David Wright wouldn’t have to retire from professional baseball.
We’ve been left in limbo for the last week. Your career isn’t over, but the Flushing Faithful aren’t expecting to see no. 5 any time soon. Supposedly physical torture, I mean therapy, will alleviate some of the symptoms. And some days will be better than others, with the bad gradually overtaking the good well after your playing days end.
Your teammates had to be thrilled to see you in Cali, even if that Padres series was a bust. The fans are always happy to see our captain, although we prefer it when your uniform is dirty and your bat is smoking line drives to all fields. Just in case you haven’t kept up with the team since your injury, let me fill you in. The guys won 11 straight in April, but haven’t played particularly well since. They swept a two-game series against the Orioles and keep clobbering the Phils, but they’ve dropped seven of the next 12 series.
God only knows where New York would be in the standings if you, Travis d’Arnaud, Vic Black, Jerry Blevins, Buddy Carlyle, Josh Edgin, Dilson Herrera, Jenrry Mejia, Rafael Montero, Bobby Parnell and Zack Wheeler were on the team. Hell, the offense probably could have shown more life and won a few games if you and Cricket were playing. No offense to Kevin Plawecki – there are Boilermakers in my family tree too, but it’s hard to top proven major league talent. And with your buddy Michael Cuddyer not exactly lighting it up, it’s nigh impossible for over-exposed bench players and kids to pick up all the slack.
The positive karma this team accumulated earlier in the season is spent and we’re Mets fans, we’ve been trained to expect the worst. Something needs to happen if the fans, and probably the players, are to buy into this team again.
Now I completely understand this is a serious condition that will remain the rest of your life. Not completely insensitive to that. What I would like is to hear the Mets captain is helping his teammates learn and prepare off the field, and then maybe some optimistic public comments we can all buy into. It would also help to have more concrete news about your progress and expected return date.
And if you wouldn’t mind, could you talk a little sense into Terry? Have him shift Daniel Murphy to third while you’re gone, slide Wilmer Flores to second and either use Ruben Tejada at short or get Sandy Alderson to pick up someone better. I don’t think Seattle’s Chris Taylor is going to need much more minor league grooming before his career takes off.
Thanks for hearing me out. We Met fans can get a little irritated (can you really blame us), but we’re also the most passionate and devoted fan base you’ll find in Major League Baseball.
After all, ya gotta believe!
Note-This was written before Murphy was hurt in last night’s game.
What exactly is this asking Wright? To be around more and give advice? Uh, ok. That was a long winded way to pose an unimportant request.
Yup. A real head-scratcher.
What does the author want from the guy? I’m sure he doesn’t know himself when he could be back.
And while this is well-written, it surely seems very insensitive (“And some days will be better than others, with the bad gradually overtaking the good well after your playing days end.”) Ugh.
“Now I completely understand this is a serious condition that will remain the rest of your life. Not completely insensitive to that.”
Really? Could have fooled me!