David Wright News: Pro Sports Daily

Sitting Wright is mistake in a season full of 'em

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October 4

New York Post

columnist Kevin Kernan

"Solace and pity. That's the world Mets fans live in these days. Two general managers -- Toronto's J.P. Ricciardi and San Diego's Kevin Towers -- were fired yesterday, but Mets' GM Omar Minaya still has his job. The Blue Jays and the Padres have better records than the Mets, but Minaya has the injury excuse and the Mets have used that as the reason for their many failures. There are no excuses. The Mets are a bad ballclub with terrible fundamentals throughout the organization, combined with a total lack of mental toughness. The Mets beat the Astros 5-1 yesterday in a rain-delayed affair in this Stephen King season because they found an opponent that has less of a clue than they do. The ..."

David misses Marlins after loaf

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September 28

New York Post

"David Wright never needed a day off more than the one Jerry Manuel gave him here yesterday. The Mets' All-Star third baseman was conspicuously absent from the 4-0 win over the Marlins, less than 24 hours after Wright's shockingly uncharacteristic lack of hustle prompted a personal apology to his teammates and a postgame Manuel tongue-lashing. Wright had loafed into home with two out in the fifth inning Saturday night, and his nonchalance proved costly because he failed to reach the plate before Jeff Francoeur was thrown out at second in an eventual 9-6 Mets loss. Manuel has seen more than his share of mental gaffes this season, but he considered this one "unacceptable [and] unallowable" ..."

David won't pack it in, but he's set for Mets to be done

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September 25

New York Post

"The Mets can exact a sliver of revenge on the Marlins this weekend by eliminating their nemesis of the past two seasons from playoff contention, but you won't hear anything about that from David Wright. Fresh off the Mets' 23rd loss in their past 31 games and their eighth in a row to the once-rival Braves, Wright admittedly is showing the strain of a lost, miserable season. It is clear the Mets' All-Star third baseman can't wait for the season's final nine games to be cleared from the deck. METS BLOG "It's obviously been a disappointing season," Wright said. "At the end of the year, I'll try to look back and make some improvements, clear my mind and get ready for next year. But it's ..."

Power struggle not big issue for Wright

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September 10

New York Post

columnist Larry Brooks

"IT isn't so much that Citi Field has gotten into David Wright's head so much as the cavernous ballpark has forced him to use it. The decline in home runs has been astonishing, from four straight years of 25-plus during which the Mets' signature position player hit one in every 20.6 at-bats to this year's eight, representing one every 56.6 ups with 23 games remaining. And though there's likely to be some correction going forward, Wright doesn't appear to expect a return to his previous totals. Neither should management. "Going into the park we knew it was going to be big, but I don't think anyone realized just how big it was going to play," Wright told The Post before going a quiet ..."

Wright sends right message with super-sized helmet

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September 6

New York Daily News

columnist Anthony McCarron

"All the jokes are pretty hilarious, actually, whether folks are saying that the uber-helmet David Wright wore in his first game back from a beaning three weeks ago made him look like the Great Gazoo of Flintsones fame or cracking that while Wright might be considered "Mr. Met" these days, he doesn't actually have to wear a helmet big enough to fit the mascot's enormous dome. And Wright seemed to take the ribbing well, too, at one point joking that the helmet should say "Riddell" on the front, like a football helmet, instead of "Rawlings." Hopefully, he's working on a Harvey Korman impression to really bring home the Gazoo comparisons. But let's hope his decision not to wear the newfangled ..."

David Wright returns, but Mets get throttled by Rockies, 8-3

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September 2

New York Daily News

"David Wright took ribbing from both teams for the oversized helmet he wore, but the third baseman didn't waste time getting back into the swing of things. Wright singled on the first pitch he saw upon returning from a concussion, although it was downhill from there for the Mets, who lost to the Rockies, 8-3, Tuesday night at Coors Field. Wright went 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts, 17days after getting beaned by a fastball from San Francisco's Matt Cain. He wore a new, bulkier helmet billed to withstand 100-mph blows, which made him the target of barbs from the Rockies and Mets. Wright said he would continue to wear the helmet, which he joked ought to say "Riddell" instead of ..."

Wright Singles In Retrun From DL

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September 2

New York Post

"You knew David Wright's comeback was successful here last night when the only controversy was his comically oversized batting helmet. Making his first appearance since an Aug. 15 concussion, the Mets' All-Star third baseman laced the initial pitch he saw from Jorge De La Rosa for a single in the first inning of an 8-3 loss to the Rockies at half-empty Coors Field. Wright, coming off his first career appearance on the disabled list, went 1-for-3 and had three assists in three chances at third base in an incident-free return as the otherwise woeful Mets did their part to keep Colorado in wild-card contention. With starter Mike Pelfrey suffering another walk-filled meltdown, giving up ..."

Concussion issue is head scratcher

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August 30

New York Daily News

"David Wright is set to return this week after spending two weeks on the disabled list with the concussion he suffered when he was beaned by a 93 mile-per-hour fastball from Giants righthander Matt Cain. While the beaning prompted a lot of talk about whether hitters should be required to wear a new, more advanced helmet that will be available soon, getting hit in the head is just one way that major league players suffer concussions. And while the NFL and NHL have been aggressive in recent years in establishing protocols for dealing with concussions to avoid re-injury, Major League Baseball leaves it up to the teams and players to determine when someone should return. Wright was reluctant to ..."

Wright Will Be Wearing New Helmet

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August 30

New York Times

"As David Wright prepares to come off the disabled list Tuesday, he plans to make good on his word. Even before he was struck on the helmet by a Matt Cain fastball on Aug. 8, he said he would wear the new extra-protective S100 helmet from Rawlings, no matter how it looked. After the Mets' recent homestand, Wright vowed he would immediately put the new headgear to use when he returned. "When they get it to me, I'll wear it," he said. Players can wear the new lid at their discretion. Rawlings has been preparing to distribute the new helmets to all major league teams the first week of September, but it already made at least one delivery, to Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster. He wore the larger ..."

Wright Changes Tune About DL; Mets Fall

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August 30

New York Post

"Given two weeks to mull it over, David Wright now says the Mets were right to be so cautious with him. Looking clear headed and healthy after his Aug. 15 concussion, the All-Star third baseman rejoined the Mets here yesterday for batting practice and a pregame workout in advance of coming off the disabled list Tuesday in Colorado. Wright initially grumbled at being put on the DL after taking a 94 mph fastball to the head from San Francisco's Matt Cain at Citi Field, saying he was "embarrassed" by the Mets' decision. But Wright had changed his tune yesterday before the Mets dropped an 11-4 decision to the Cubs at sunny, sold-out Wrigley Field. "It's been a gradual process," Wright said, ..."

Wright's Amazin' Recovery

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August 29

New York Post

"David Wright will join the Mets for workouts today and Sunday in advance of coming off the disabled list as soon as he is eligible Tuesday in Colorado. Wright, whose post-concussion symptoms were re-evaluated Thursday in New York, did so well that the Mets set up a locker for him yesterday at Wrigley Field before a 5-2 loss to the Cubs. Despite Wright easily passing the test, manager Jerry Manuel intends to stick with his plan to limit Wright's playing time the rest of the season even though Manuel expects resistance from the All-Star third baseman. "I'm just being cautious with what he's coming off of," Manuel said yesterday. "Again, like I say, coming back and not having a rehab start ..."

No Wright to Play Every Day

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August 28

New York Post

"With the Mets' snake-bitten season long since lost, David Wright can expect a lot of bench time even after he comes off the disabled list. Jerry Manuel made that clear yesterday after the Mets supported Tim Redding with 17 hits in a 10-3 win over the Marlins. Wright is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday, although the Mets said the All-Star third baseman had to show no post-concussion symptoms during a scheduled medical evaluation yesterday in New York. The Mets had not announced the results of that evaluation as of yesterday evening. Fernando Tatis started at third base again and had two hits, including a homer, so it's not as if the Mets lack a legitimate option at the position."

David Wright is on schedule to return to the Mets' lineup

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August 24

New York Daily News

"David Wright has started to lightly run, and the third baseman expects to be activated from the disabled list when he's eligible next Tuesday with the Mets in Colorado. Wright, who suffered a concussion nine days ago when he was beaned by San Francisco's Matt Cain, will not accompany the Mets to Miami after today's game. The Mets open a three-city trip tomorrow against the Marlins, then face the Cubs at Wrigley Field before heading to Denver, where Wright is due to rejoin his teammates."

Wright making Progress

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August 23

New York Post

"In an encouraging development for the Mets, David Wright said yesterday that he's been doing physical activity for the last three days and could begin doing baseball drills today or tomorrow. Wright's concussion comeback has started, as the Mets' third baseman said he was cleared on Thursday for light physical activity, coming through a concussion test fine. Wright, who suffered his concussion last Saturday, did work on an elliptical machine and a stationary bike on Thursday and Friday before being cleared to run outside yesterday. He has been fine physically doing all of it. "No problem," Wright said. Wright's initial baseball activity could involve taking swings off a tee. He says ..."

David Vows Return As Mets Fall Again

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August 18

New York Post

"David Wright doesn't want to be out a day longer than required. Speaking for the first time since being blasted in the head by a Matt Cain fastball on Saturday and suffering a concussion, Wright insisted yesterday at Citi Field that he feels fine and is symptom-free. He vowed to play again this season and said he wants to return against the Rockies on Sept. 1 -- the Mets' first scheduled game after he's permitted to come off the 15-day disabled list. "I'm sure I'm going to play again this year," Wright said before the Mets were crushed by the Giants 10-1 last night, thanks to Livan Hernandez's third straight putrid effort. Manager Jerry Manuel said after Hernandez's last start that he ..."

Can't Let Pride Trump Caution

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August 18

New York Post

"DAVID WRIGHT showed up at Citi Field yesterday barely 48 hours after his beaning and proclaimed himself "embarrassed" at being forced to the disabled list. That was just Wright's pride speaking, but he has no reason to be embarrassed. Sure, it was probably motivated by the Mets' numerous PR black eyes this season, but putting Wright on the 15-day DL immediately was the first sensible medical move the franchise has made in a long time. Of course, these being the Mets, they promptly took a step back in their handling of Wright's first appearance since taking that 94-mph Matt Cain fastball to the head Saturday. The Mets allowed Wright to dictate the setting even though they knew there would ..."

Wright rejoins Mets, vows to return

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August 18

New York Post

"David Wright showed up at Citi Field yesterday barely 48 hours after his beaning and proclaimed himself "embarrassed" at being forced to the disabled list. That was just Wright's pride speaking, but he has no reason to be embarrassed. Sure, it was probably motivated by the Mets' numerous PR black eyes this season, but putting Wright on the 15-day DL immediately was the first sensible medical move the franchise has made in a long time. Of course, these being the Mets, they promptly took a step back in their handling of Wright's first appearance since taking that 94-mph Matt Cain fastball to the head Saturday. The Mets allowed Wright to dictate the setting even though they knew there would ..."

Wright put on DL, may miss rest of the season

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August 17

New York Daily News

"The Mets sidestepped another injury fiasco Sunday by placing David Wright, who has a concussion, on the 15-day disabled list. It will be difficult for the club to be criticized for mishandling this head injury the way it had been last season when it botched Ryan Church's recovery from one. Mets GM Omar Minaya said yesterday that team doctors recommended Wright go on the DL Saturday night after he was beaned by Giants righthander Matt Cain with a fastball. The decision wasn't made until yesterday afternoon, when the club heard back from a concussion specialist. "They checked with a specialist in the field and that specialist concurred with that," Minaya said. "David wanted to give it a ..."

David Wright released from hospital, expected to rejoin Mets in a few days

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August 16

New York Daily News

"David Wright was discharged from the Hospital for Special Surgery Sunday. The Mets third baseman, who suffered a concussion when he was beaned by San Francisco Giants righthander Matt Cain in the fourth inning of Saturday's 5-4 loss did not come to Citi Field. A team spokesman said he'd gone home and that he had "post-concussion symptoms and a headache" and that he was expected to rejoin the team in the next few days. The Mets' next move with Wright will be determined by tests and how he feels. The options run the gamut. Manager Jerry Manuel said he could return quickly enough that a stint on the 15-day disabled list wouldn't be necessary. He also left open the possibility that Wright ..."

David Wright released from hospital, still dealing with post-concussion symptoms

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August 16

Trenton Times

"One day after a nasty Matt Cain fastball drilled his head, Mets third baseman David Wright was released from the hospital Sunday. He will be back at the ballpark -- if not in the lineup -- by early next week, a Mets public relations official said. Wright is still suffering from post-concussion symptoms such as headaches. Wright spent Saturday night at the Hospital for Special Surgery after leaving in the fourth inning of the game against San Francisco. Mets manager Jerry Manuel exchanged text messages with Wright. Cain left him an apologetic voicemail. Wright met with a neurologist both Saturday night and Sunday morning. He will undergo more tests in the coming days. It is unclear if the ..."

Sitting David Wright rest of way would be a heads-up move for the Mets

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August 16

New York Daily News

columnist Filip Bondy

"Nothing good comes from Met games these days. Events scheduled to elicit joyful childhood memories bring only fresh injury or recrimination. If the Wilpons could just shut down the season right now at Citi Field, spend the next eight months licking their wounds, the Mets would be far better off for the extended vacation. At the start Saturday of a 5-4, 10-inning defeat, we had a wonderful pitchers' duel between Johan Santana and Matt Cain of the Giants. For three innings, Santana didn't allow a hit and there was a sense this might be a very special day. Then in the bottom of the fourth, none of that mattered at all. Cain's 93mph, 0-2 fastball sailed in high to David Wright, struck him ..."

Cain hears it in New York

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August 16

San Francisco Chronicle

"Nobody expressed more concern for David Wright than the man who beaned him Saturday, yet Matt Cain now is Public Enemy No. 1 among Mets fans. They booed him every time he batted and as he came out of the game in the eighth inning. "It's New York," Cain said, suggesting he did not care about the reaction. Upon leaving the game, Cain appeared to tip his cap to the booing crowd. National and local broadcasters chided him for a supposedly sarcastic gesture in light of how seriously Wright was hurt. Cain said they were wrong. "I was just adjusting my cap," he said. "They can take it how they want. All I know is I wasn't trying to hit David Wright on purpose. If they think that, that's their ..."

Cain Clearly Upset by Beaning

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August 16

New York Post

"Matt Cain was relieved that David Wright was able to walk off the field after Cain beaned him, and the Giants' righty said he will attempt to reach out to the Mets' third baseman. "I'll try to see if I can get a hold of him [today] or see him at the field or whatnot," Cain said. Cain expressed concern about Wright, who suffered a concussion after Cain's 94-mph fastball smacked him in the helmet during the fourth inning of the Mets' 5-4 loss. In fact, when Cain came to the plate in the fifth, according to Brian Schneider, "[Cain] just asked if David was doing all right. I told him I didn't know." Cain, the 24-year-old All-Star, is a terrific pitcher, but yesterday his momentary loss of ..."

Wright Beaning Latest Bad Luck for Amazin's

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August 16

New York Post

"Somewhere in the deepest recesses of hell a baseball team is giving thanks for having it better than the Mets. The sight yesterday of David Wright lying motionless near home plate after taking a Matt Cain fastball to head might have topped the kick-in-the-gut moments list for the Mets in 2009. It was certainly the most graphic. Wright was taken by ambulance to the Hospital for Special Surgery, where he remained overnight for observation with a concussion, a fact more jarring than his team's 5-4 loss to the Giants in 10 innings at Citi Field. "I don't know what else we can go through," Johan Santana said after Wright became the latest casualty in a lineup that is already missing Jose Reyes, ..."

David Wright concussed after fastball to the head

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August 16

New York Daily News

"David Wright was hit in the head by the Giants' Matt Cain in the fourth inning of Saturday's game and spent several moments sprawled on the ground near the plate, not moving, before getting up and walking with trainers back to the Met dugout. He was taken out of the game. Wright was batting with an 0-2 count and Luis Castillo on first when Cain threw a 93 mile-per-hour fastball that slammed into Wright's helmet above the earflap. Wright's helmet flew off and he sank face-first to the dirt. Two trainers came sprinting out of the Met dugout, as did Met manager Jerry Manuel, to attend to Wright. Cain, a hard-throwing All-Star, came in halfway from the mound and sat on his haunches, peering ..."

Delgado, Wright Injuries Overshadow Rare Mets 'W'

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August 13

New York Post

"Despite averting a sweep by the lowly Diamondbacks with a 6-4 win at Chase Field, the Mets learned that the rest of Carlos Delgado's season is in doubt and David Wright has a strained right knee. First, the more serious of the two ailments: Delgado's comeback from right hip surgery was put on hold for at least two weeks after the veteran slugger suffered a strained right oblique muscle last weekend. Delgado, who has been sidelined since May 11 after having a torn labrum in his hip repaired, was working out at the Mets' facility in Port St. Lucie last Saturday when he felt discomfort in his abdomen. Delgado returned to New York on Monday, and team doctor Struan Coleman diagnosed the oblique ..."

Rare Non-Start For Ailing Wright

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August 12

New York Post

"David Wright was given a rare break yesterday, in part due to an unspecified stomach ailment that caused him major problems earlier on this trip in San Diego. How rare was Wright's bench time? It was just the second time in 113 games this season that he wasn't in the starting lineup, as well as just the 17th time in 829 games since his Mets debut in 2004 that he didn't start. Wright insisted yesterday that he is fine, and Jerry Manuel ended up using him as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks (Wright struck out to the end the game). But Manuel didn't like how his All-Star third baseman looked. "Just talking to him today, it didn't even sound like him," ..."

Worn-out David Wright to get off-day when Mets play Diamondbacks

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August 11

New York Daily News

"David Wright, who has started all but one game for the Mets this season, is due for a day off Tuesday. Jerry Manuel concluded he could no longer ride the worn-down Wright, who went 1-for-3 in the Mets' 7-4 loss to the Diamondbacks Monday night. Wright typically fights such decisions, but not this time. "I think it will help me," Wright said. "This has been quite a grind mentally and physically." SHEFF STIRS: Gary Sheffield had a pinch-hit flyout in his first game appearance since pulling himself from last Wednesday's contest with right hamstring discomfort. Manuel indicated that he would continue to use Sheffield cautiously - and for the time being as a pinch-hitter - rather than ..."

Beabball Doesn't Sit Well

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August 6

New York Post

"Believing that throwing at a player's head puts a batter's career in jeopardy, Jeff Francoeur trashed Brad Thompson's near-miss pitch to David Wright yesterday as "bush league." And plenty of others joined in criticizing Thompson -- including his own manager. In the sixth inning of the Mets' 9-0 romp over St. Louis, Thompson fired a pitch close to Wright's head. It was a clear retaliation for the fifth when Nelson Figueroa nailed Albert Pujols on the elbow. Wright guessed a retaliation was possible, but he and Francoeur felt the pitch shouldn't have been near his head. "I thought it was bush league," Francoeur said. "I've got no problem, I understand you hit Pujols, that's one thing. But ..."

At Citi Field, David Wright and the struggling Mets are a long way from Blue heaven

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July 10

New York Daily News

columnist Mike Lupica

"This was the other end of the hall from the Mets and everything that has gone wrong with them and with their season, a whole season that feels as if it is on the disabled list with Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado. This was the Dodgers' end of the hall at Citi Field, the best team in the National League down here, maybe the best team in baseball. This was 11 runs against the Mets Thursday night and 17 hits, this was the end of a night that started 4-0 for Joe Torre's team in the top of the first, then was 6-1, then 8-2, finally 11-2. This was the Dodgers' end of the hall on a night when they looked like some Division I team in Major League Baseball and the Mets looked like ..."

No rest in sight for slumping New York Mets third baseman David Wright

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July 9

Trenton Times

"David Wright will not be getting a day off soon. Mets manager Jerry Manuel ruled that out at his press conference before Wednesday night's game vs. the Dodgers. Instead, Manuel hopes his third baseman can push through both his and the team's latest slump, compounded by injuries to Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes, and come out on the other side a stronger player. "This time for him is a great experience in the sense that he is kind of the guy that's left in this offense because of losing the other three core guys," Manuel said. "Despite the struggles that he's having right now, the frustration he's having, I think this is going to be a positive thing for him moving forward in ..."

Wright: 'There's Nothing Wrong With Me'

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July 9

New York Post

"There would seem to be reasons to wonder if David Wright is hurt. But the star third baseman insists he's fully healthy. "No problem," Wright told The Post before last night's 5-4 win over the Dodgers. "There's nothing wrong with me." With just five homers, Wright's power numbers are down this season. And even beyond the cavernous Citi Field, he has only two homers on the road. Before getting two hits last night, scoring twice and driving in a run, Wright was in a 1-for-23 rut. And there have been subtle things too: Wright is taking longer than he has in the past to appear at his locker after games, making it worth wondering if he's in the trainer's room receiving treatment. There's ..."

After loss to Dodgers, Punchless David Wright takes crack at the Mets

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July 8

New York Daily News

"After another awful loss in a season already full of them before the All-Star break, David Wright stood in the home clubhouse Tuesday night at Citi Field and blasted the Mets for the way they've been playing. They were the best hacks Wright has taken all week. "I just think we stink right now, we're just not very good," Wright said after the Mets' sickly 8-0 loss to the Dodgers. "When you don't pitch, you don't hit, you don't play defense, you're not going to win very many games. We're not playing very good baseball. ... I don't think anybody's having very much fun right now." Certainly not the 39,636 in the stands Tuesday night who watched the Mets stumble in every facet of the game. ..."

Wright Still Wrong Despite a Day Off

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July 8

New York Post

"It seemed fitting, almost destined, that David Wright would make the final out of the Mets' hideous 8-0 loss to the Dodgers last night at Citi Field. Wright is beaten up and worn down from being the Last Man Standing in the Mets' neutered lineup, and their malaise -- both his and theirs -- seems to worsen by the night. After Wright popped out weakly to James Loney to end last night's emasculation, he ran his hitless streak to 0-for-14 and the Mets' ran their skid to four. Whether he's fatigued or pressing hardly matters at this point. Right now the Mets' stink, and their star third baseman is the worse culprit. "I don't think anybody's having much fun right now. We're not pitching, ..."

David Wright, Carlos Beltran lead four Mets named to All-Star Game

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July 6

New York Daily News

"It's hardly a consolation, but the Mets outnumber the Phillies in All-Star representatives. At least that's true until Carlos Beltran has to withdraw because of his right knee bruise and Philadelphia again overtakes the Mets at the end, with Shane Victorino presumably replacing Beltran to the roster. The Mets had an NL-high four players selected, with David Wright and Beltran voted by fans as starters and Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez selected by fellow players for the July 14 game in St. Louis. "It's obviously an incredible honor to be an All-Star," Wright said. "But, at the same time, we have to get this thing turned around and right this ship. The All-Star Game is not something ..."

Amazin'ly, 4 Mets Selected to Team

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July 6

New York Post

"The Mets defied logic yesterday by landing four invitations -- most in the entire National League -- to the July 14 All-Star Game in St. Louis. Despite sitting three games under .500 and four games back in the East, third baseman David Wright and center fielder Carlos Beltran were voted in as starters, while Johan Santana and closer Frankie Rodriguez were tabbed by NL manager Charlie Manuel of the Phillies. Beltran is on the disabled list indefinitely with a bone bruise and will not play, but Wright, Santana and K-Rod are eager for what will be the fourth All-Star berth for each. "It's an honor," said Santana, who is going for the first time since 2007. "I will try to do my best to help ..."

Weary Wright Welcomes Day of Rest for Slumping Bat

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July 6

New York Post

"The only baseball for David Wright today will be maybe a highlight or two on TV. The Mets' freshly minted All-Star admitted after yesterday's 2-0 loss to the Phillies that he is worn down by his lack of time off with nine teammates on the disabled list. Wright's statistics speak to his fatigue: He goes into the Mets' off day hitting .125 (5-for-40) with just two extra-base hits and a whopping 12 strikeouts in his past 10 games. That slump has helped to drop Wright's average to .326 from a major-league leading .356 as recently as June 25. The weariness showed in Wright's face yesterday as he bemoaned hitting into a killer double play in the sixth inning after the Mets had loaded the ..."

Wright, Beltran among Mets' four All-Stars

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July 5

MLB.com

"David Wright, the only member of the Mets' celebrated and decimated core to avoid assignment to the disabled list this season, almost certainly will be the only position player representing the Mets in the All-Star Game next week. Wright and center fielder Carlos Beltran have been elected to the starting lineup for the National League, and Wright will be at third base for the 80th edition of Major League Baseball's Midsummer Classic at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14.But Beltran, assigned to the disabled list, is expected to forfeit his spot on the roster and continue rehabbing his bruised and aching right knee.With two of their pitchers, Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez, ..."

Despite lack of home runs, David Wright is playing great baseball for the Mets

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June 20

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"The Mets caught fire in May, going 19-9 in the month and briefly taking the lead in the NL East before a series of injuries to key players, including their shortstop, power-hitting first baseman, two starting pitchers and setup man, took all the wind from their sails. Surprisingly, they're just two games out of first place after a 5-3 win over the Rays Friday night and the Phillies' 7-2 loss to the Orioles. "If we can remain around .500 until we get healthy and hit our stride we'll be right in it," Jerry Manuel said. "We are fortunate that no one has run away with it. We have to remain above water." Staying afloat means staying alive in the playoff race for the Mets. There are no sharks ..."

Mets' Wright Goes Where Few Hitters Have Gone Before

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June 18

New York Times

"Asked how David Wright is compiling one of the more befuddling statistical seasons in baseball history, Jerry Manuel shook his head. "No clue," said Manuel, the Mets' manager. "I'm dumbfounded," said Razor Shines, the team's third-base coach. "Baseball's a weird, weird game," said Howard Johnson, the hitting coach. "Other than that, I've got no earthly idea." Almost sheepishly, Wright shrugged when asked for an explanation. He is just as clueless. Defying more than 125 years of precedent is not an easy thing to explain. Midway through June, Wright was leading the major leagues with a .365 batting average going into Wednesday's games while striking out as often as the sport's most feared ..."

Wrong way for David Wright as bat can't make up for error vs. Phillies

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June 11

New York Daily News

"By the end of the sixth inning Wednesday night, David Wright already had three hits, stolen two bases, scored a run and appeared determined to take over the game for the Mets. It was all downhill from there, right up until the point Jayson Werth took the game away from Wright. It's not every day a player reaches base four times and walks away kicking the dirt, but such was Wright's case after the Mets' frustrating 5-4 loss to the Phillies. Wright finished 3-for-5 with a walk to continue his torrid pace at the plate, but he also stranded three runners in a tie game when the last two balls he hit wound up in Werth's glove in right field - the final one a spectacular catch that appeared to ..."

David Wright Insists He's Not Lost In Citi Field

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June 10

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"DAVID Wright swears his new home isn't in his head. He insists that the exchange between him and Chipper Jones last month at Citi Field was nothing more than two opponents who like each other exchanging a little good-natured trash talk. "This," Wright said, half-smile on his face, "is a beautiful park." This was Jones on satellite radio Monday, talking with the Ripken brothers about the new home of the Mets: "It is the biggest park that I have ever played in in my life. It is a huge ballpark to center and right center and right field.'' And there was this: "You know, I actually feel sort of sorry for some of the guys out there because their power numbers are really going to take a hit; ..."

David Wright's glove a hit for Mets with stellar catch as slump continues

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June 1

New York Daily News

"David Wright's bat took another day off Sunday, but his glove got the job done when the Mets needed it most. Wright's diving catch of a line drive started an inning-ending, rally-killing double play in the sixth inning, helping the Mets to a 3-2 win over Florida at Citi Field. With the Mets up 3-1, the Marlins had runners on first and third with one out against John Maine, who was one of several Mets fighting a stomach virus. Jorge Cantu hit a low liner that Wright dived for and after making the catch, threw to first to double off Hanley Ramirez. The fielding gem helped compensate for another rough day at the plate for Wright. He went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. His single in the eighth ..."

College Coach Wonders What Wood Have Been With Wright

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May 9

New York Post

"Call it a high school lumber party. When most upperclassman still were toting aluminum, David Wright was swinging wooden bats in a summer league after his junior year -- and swinging them well, according to George Tech baseball coach Danny Hall. Hall, who has been the Yellow Jackets head coach since 1994, remembers an eye-opening report from his assistant coaches. Wright played in what Hall calls the "showcase circuit" that summer, an event designed for scouts and coaches. Hall didn't see Wright. His assistants did. And apparently Wright showed them one thing in particular. "The one thing that really stood out was how well he could hit with a wood bat," Hall said, noting that players ..."

David's Finally Feeling Wright

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May 8

New York Post

"Over the past six games, David Wright certainly has found his stroke. The Mets' star third baseman suffered through a shaky start to his season, ending April with just one homer and striking out constantly. But Wright is now scorching, and he enjoyed a perfect day at the plate in the Mets' 7-5 win over the Phillies last night at Citi Field. Wright went 3-for-3 with a booming two run-homer, two singles and a walk. He's in a Carlos Beltran-esque groove, going 9-for-20 (.450) with two homers and seven RBIs in his last six games. During the stretch, he has struck out just three times after whiffing 27 times in the first 21 games, and the Mets are 5-1. "Today I saw the ball well. I tried to ..."

Beltran, Wright go yard to top Braves

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May 5

Bergen Record

"Before the game began, Oliver Perez officially was demoted to the bullpen. And once the game began, John Maine didn't look as if he was too far behind him - walking four of the first 10 batters he faced. But when Maine retreated to the bench after the second inning - having put his team behind by three runs, a figure that manager Jerry Manuel had said last week seemed insurmountable for his team - he found something odd. Rather than being down, the bench was up, the spirits were high - and this time, the Mets had an edge. "After that second inning, I come out and I think by me helping, throwing a couple scoreless innings in the third and fourth, there's kind of a different vibe," Maine ..."

Carlos Beltran, David Wright power New York Mets to 6-4 win over Atlanta Braves

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May 5

Trenton Times

"John Maine couldn't describe it. He couldn't point to anything he saw or heard. But he sensed it. "It was a different kind of dugout today, which I liked," Maine said. "Everyone was really up, really wanting to win this one." Of course, it was easy to say that after the Mets rallied from an early three-run deficit to beat the Braves 6-4 Monday at Turner Field. Now, the key for the Mets will be sustaining whatever positive vibe Maine felt. Carlos Beltran drove in four runs with a pair of two-run homers, David Wright added a two-run shot of his own and Maine overcame a career-high six walks and a three-run second inning to finish with his second straight quality start. At 11-13, the Mets are ..."

Mets' David Wright the face of panic in New York's slow start to baseball season

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April 30

Trenton Times

"He is fiddling with his swing in between pitches. He is staring at fastballs across the middle of the plate for a called third strike. He has just eight RBI to show for April, and given how bad he looks at the plate, Elias might want to double check that number just to be sure. David Wright is playing like he has an entire franchise on his shoulders -- shiny new stadium included -- and that makes him the living, breathing, pressing symbol for baseball in this city. Seriously, can everybody just relax? This is a rhetorical question. The answer is clearly no. Both managers are making moves as if every pitching change could decide the pennant. The big-money free agents are performing as if ..."

Wright's Starting To Feel The Heat

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April 30

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"FOR THE longest time, Mets fans spared the rod with David Wright. Everyone else, up and down the lineup, up and down the roster, has heard the scorn plenty. There's been contempt for the Carloses, Beltran and Delgado. Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes did time turning DPs in the doghouse. Even Johan Santana was famously greeted with boos last April, his first home game at Shea Stadium. It was always different with Wright. His early speed and his numbers and the fact that the city took to him so quickly provided him mostly with safe harbor even as things turned ugly for everyone else the past two years. Yes, there was talk -- constant, obsessive talk -- about his production with men on base, ..."