Does David Wright play tight when the heat’s on?

The Mets are taking slow, inexorable steps towards their first division title in nine years. By the calculations over here, they should clinch sometime in the September 30/October 1 area. Funny word, should. Similar things were said in 2007 and 2008 – and many fans right now are pushing the panic button, having horrible flashbacks — but these Mets are in much better shape for any number of reasons: a better record through 151 games, a bigger lead through 151 games, a smaller magic number, younger, better pitching. In fact, the entire roster is younger and more balanced. The only player still here from that blighted September is David Wright. And that fact could give one slight pause.

First off, the 2006 Mets cruised to a division title after June 15. They were never pressed by their competition. In Wright’s only post-season to date, he did not fare well. In the NLDS against the Dodgers, he hit two doubles and two singles in 12 at-bats. Not bad, but not spectacular. In the NLCS, though, the bottom fell out of his numbers. In 25 at-bats, he again had four hits including a double and a homer, but he could only muster two RBI in the seven games and his OPS was a meager .596.

Down the stretch in 2007, the Captain-In-Waiting was in only his third full MLB season and was putting up MVP-worthy numbers. He was one of the most consistent offensive performers the team had – and mind you, this was a team with Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes. He finished the year with a slash line of .325/.416/.546 – a .962 OPS – with 30 home runs and 107 RBI. He had a marvelous year, even including those final, dreadful 17 games. He hit .387 with seven doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. Yet, the infamous collapse could be partially laid on his shoulders. A case of youthful vapor-lock cost the Mets at least one game vs. the then-lowly Nationals when Wright threw home, bypassing a force play at third. Of course, the runner was safe at the plate. You could see he was gripping the ball extra tight, resulting bad throws and unearned runs at the worst possible times. He was a kid and it was his first pennant race, in the strictest sense of the word. You could get it.

The following year, his numbers were down ever so slightly, slash-wise, but his homers and RBI were slightly up, good enough for him to finish seventh in the MVP balloting: .302/.390/.534 – OPS .924 – 33 HR 124 RBI. From September 13, when the “Mini Me” version of the 2007 started, the Mets were three and a half games up with 17 to play. Down the stretch, they stumbled to a 7-10 record. It was no fault of David Wright’s offense, though. In that stretch, he batted .391, with six home runs and 18 RBI. But again, he seemed to be squeezing the ball afield. Although there weren’t any glaring fielding gaffes to speak of – perhaps a bobbled grounder or wild throw here or there, but nothing too egregious — he definitely appeared to be trying too hard.

While dealing with a horrific spinal condition this year — which put him on the shelf from April 15 through August 23 — Wright is hitting .294 with six doubles, three homers and 9 RBI since his return. There have been a few head-scratching plays. There was a bobble on a throw to third on an attempted sacrifice bunt earlier this week, and a key misplay in the ninth inning yesterday, which set the Braves up for heroics from Met-killer extraordinaire Freddie Freeman.

As befits a team captain, Wright wants nothing more than to carry the team on his back – pun very much intended – on a clear path to victory. Unfortunately, it would appear his eagerness only works to his detriment.

Here’s hoping he calms down over the next two weeks.

Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley.