30
2012
Is David Wright The Next Frank Robinson?
An article by 
Before you start to jump all over me on this, I am not by any means saying that David Wright is on Frank Robinson’s level. Robinson is one of the best hitters of all time, Wright is trying to get his career back on track. Though with all of the trade rumors surrounding Wright going into 2012, I was reminded of the infamous trade of Robinson to the Orioles on the premise that his best years were behind him, that he was “an old 30″. Now facing a very similar situation with Wright, are we about to see history repeat itself?
Entering the 1965 season, Robinson was coming off two down years –for his standards– following two monster years in ’61 and ’62. At 29 years of age at the time, the Hall-of-Fame outfielder/first baseman bounced back for an exceptional year by anyone else’s standards, just not at the level he performed at at age 25-26. Figuring that the past three seasons were a sign of the beginning of his decline, Reds owner BIll DeWitt sent Robinson to Baltimore for a package headed by up and coming fireballer Milt Pappas. Many in Cincinnati were upset over the deal to begin with, but how that deal played out still outrages some Reds fans today.
Robinson, in his age 30 season, won the Al-Triple Crown and MVP honors, all the while leading the Orioles to their first World Series title. Going on to play five addition successful years in Baltimore, Robinson became a centerpiece of an Orioles dynasty that won three straight pennants from 1969-1971 including the 1970 championship. After having only one postseason berth with the Reds, Robinson and the 1969-1971 Orioles went on to become one of the greatest teams in baseball history.
The Reds got barely anything out of Pappas –or the other players in the deal– and was traded after 3 seasons. The Cincinnati faithful would have to wait another ten seasons after the Robinson trade to enjoy a World Series title.
So now you’re probably wondering how the could apply to Wright? Well, he is entering his own age 29 season, and is coming off several up-and-down years following his spectacular ’07 and ’08 campaigns. With an organization falling further into rebuilding mode, the trade rumors have begun to buzz around the 5-time all-star. With the fences moved in a bit and being injury-free, Wright is looking primed to have a bounce back year. Without Reyes in the lineup, we may not see numbers quite at the level of his age 24-25 seasons, but 30 and 100 is still possible.
My question is, whether it be at the deadline, or next winter, if David Wright is traded to a contender, with a change of scenery and decent protection in the lineup, could we see Wright explode with another club? Could he become that centerpiece someone else needs to create a dynasty? If he is traded, that may be a very probable outcome.
Also, there is the factor of what the Mets would receive in return. We do not know what Alderson could get for Wright, but what if it is something similar to the Reds “haul” for Robinson. What if it is so promising on the outside, yet when the trigger is pulled on the deal, the Amazin’s get nothing of value out of parting with their franchise slugger. They already got nothing in return for Reyes, can the Mets afford to let Wright go with little compensation too?
Obviously this is all hypothetical on the Wright aspect of this, but what if? What if Wright does have a great first half or 2012 campaign, and Alderson decides to sell high? What if Wright goes to a contending team, takes off, and leads them to perennial pennant runs? Above all, is Alderson on the verge of making the same mistake DeWitt made nearly 50 years ago?
It is a legitimate question to pose, and the potential for history to repeat itself is indeed there. Maybe it might be better to keep Wright, than to presume his best years are behind him. Maybe, the Mets should learn from the Reds mistake, and assume that at age 29-30, Wright may have a bit more left in the tank than once thought.
About the Author: Clayton Collier
Clayton, a Long Island native and die-hard Mets fan, started writing online about three years ago. He is currently a Journalism major with a minor in Broadcasting at Seton Hall University. Although very disappointed with the current state of the team, Clayton remains hopeful that the young prospects in the farm system will bring the Mets back to a respected franchise in baseball once again. Besides writing for MMO, Clayton is also a staff member at 89.5 WSOU, Seton Hall's modern active rock radio station. You can contact Clayton by following him on Twitter: @Clayton_Collier or E-mailing him at MaybeNextYearMets@yahoo.com
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I have yet to read the post but I had to mention how you made me laugh when the 1st sentence in your article begins with “Before you start to jump all over me on this,” showing that you know the reaction you was going to get with the title of your post.
OK now I will read the rest of the article.
MNJ I know the MMO too well that with a title like this I was bound to get some heated responses Lol.
Though you were in very good company of those who commented prior to actually reading the article.
Here is the trade I see happening…but will point out I think it would be a bad one!
We trade Wright to Marlins for Ramirez, Ramirez plays SS, Tejada moves to 2nd, Murphy plays Third!
Almost an even trade of Salary Marlins reunite reyes and Wright and Ramirez who is unhappy gets his SS position back.
Makes sense for us only because it puts off the 3B hole for another two years right about the time the Pitching comes us and the kids everyoen thinks are going to save us are coming up as well.
Can Wright be a great player in the future? Sure can but thats never stopped us from letting a guy go before!
Metsie, the CORE salutes you.. i’ve been saying the same thing.. but hey, hanley ramirez is a bad guy and wright is a goody good guy, wouldn’t wanna lose him, the clubhouse might suffer (Roll eyes)…
So, assuming you can get the 2 teams to make a trade that neither seems to benefit, how do address the followibng:
1) Paying the same money for more years for about the same production with a terrible attitude. Ya, you can scoff and laugh it off, but you and your buddies constantly go on about hustle and such. Ramirez admits to dogginmg it because he’s having a hissy fit over the manager. and he’s had at least 2 managers run out. what happens when he plays fior a team where the owner doesn’t coddle him?
2) terrible defense at SS
3) what happens when Havens and/or Valdespin are ready to break into the majors?
Don’t salute me too much Alex I did note I thought it would be a bad move.
The solution to Wright isn’t getting rid of him it is in getting someone else who can hit around him.
His problems started the second we lost Delgado! He needs a really BIG bat in front that forces pitcher to pitch at Wright not nibble on the outside the way they do now.
That said maybe Ike can be that guy but I sure can’t say our current lineup will allow that to happen or that Ike will still be the same oplayer he was before he got hurt.
A lot depends on what Duda does this year.
I would assume that if the Marlins did indeed want to trade Hanely they would be like the Mets looking for pitching in return and not another player who could be just as bad or worse than the one they have. They also would not want either player staying in the division.
If they trade Ramirez they will need a 3B to replace him.
Matt Dominguez. TRS is right, they’d look for pitching first.
Right and could then turn around and add a kid, trade wright for the pitching…
Does Piazza trade ring a bell?
It’s a bad deal for us but that has never stopped us before!
I don’t see the Mets being dumb enough to trade for Hanley while sending away Wright. It makes no sense. Why trade players who will make similar $, but take a poor attitude from the player you’re getting?
If the Mets could afford Hanley, they could afford Wright.
You can call me a Wright lover or whatever you want, but I’ll take David Wright on my team and in the clubhouse 162 games a year every year over Hanley Ramirez.
It adds nothing to the Mets except more problems. If the Marlins deal Hanley its for pitching, and maybe a CF if they don’t get Cespedis.
Why? Because Wright is due a pay raise in the next two years and Ramirez isn’t! He is signed until 2014 if I’m not mistaken!
And since when does having a good attitude become important with this FO?
Beltran and reyes both had GREAT attitudes and were sent packing!
I’ve thought about that trade too…on paper it works out great. I think it fits both teams nicely…but, would we really want to replace one of all all time great position players, who while coming off bad seasons, is a “good guy” and a hard worker with a guy who takes plays off and gets into fights with his teammates and gets benched because of his attitude?
Some media and fans bashed Reyes because of his attitude..All I saw was a guy who did pout after a bad play and didn’t want to be taken out of a game. The rest was speculation… but how would fans treat a guy who jogs after balls in play and shows poor effort all the time?
I would not be surprised to see Wright rebound this year and get back closer to what he used to be. Can he get all the way back? hard to say, but i would be surprised to see MVP level output, but not completely shocked.
This article is a slap in the face to frank robinson, Clayton, i get wright is your guy, but please, don’t be disrespectful to a HOFer like Frank… he was an MVP type player from the moment he stepped into the league, and i am not sure how you can compare the 2 “down” seasons robinson had with wright’s, i mean, in those 3 years before being traded frank average 290 28 100, wright’s not even close to that at 285 17 79 past 3 years… clayton, the CORE like you, but please do some more information before even comparing any HOF to mr wright… not only that, frank always played the game the right way, he was a great player who can do all in the baseball field, wright can do a few things good, but trust me.. he’s no robinson.. now please. make corrections on this article otherwise it’ll be a disrespect ok..
I think you miss the point. He’s not comparing Wright to Robinson the player, but to the circumstances that led to his trade to the Orioles.
Man Alex, he is not even singing the praises of Wright in this post. The situations however are similar. No David Wright was not is not and will never be Frank Robinson…. LOL.
He says it in the first sentence:
“I am not by any means saying that David Wright is on Frank Robinson’s level. Robinson is one of the best hitters of all time, Wright is trying to get his career back on track. “
Alex: he’s not comparing Wright’s career to Robinson’s. He comparing possible career scenarios.
I think Wright could bounce back if he has a supporting cast. If he has no one worth it in the lineup, why would they have to pitch to him? Put him on a slugging American League team where he’s not the main guy and he could have, well, Frank Robinson numbers.
Clayton, how did you get that title past our editorial department?
Must have been a technical error Lol.
Well, the orioles needed him to win the championship, i don’t think a team that needs that 1 player will win the WS with wright as the leading man…
This is assuming a lot anyway Alex. It is the premise of the post. Of course Wright if traded could continue to slide off into an oblivion and you would rejoice. However, the post itself is saying that is it possible that a different climate, culture and health could create a rebound effect and lead that team to a title.
For example, sent to the Cardinals to replace Freese . Would a rebounding Wright have the potential to be the best bat in that lineup? Sure. Even if he is not, could that added offense make the difference? How about San Fran? The Angels? Even the Red Sox?
Angels and Red sox he’d be another piece. not the missing piece, those teams are loaded with good offensive players, he’d be thrill to go there, he won’t have to be the man, in san fran, yes he will HAVE to be, and we’ve all seen how well he handles the pressure of being the man…
you understand being “the man” is a totally different situation in San Francisco than it is in NY right?
He’d choke there as well…
Off Topic: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/files/2012/01/Jose-Reyes-Topps-2012.jpg
I just threw up in my mouth.
You’re right, that uniform IS ugly.
Thanks Mr. North Jersey for that link. I just put it in a post. It looks like Reyes in a Mets uniform from a road game at Florida last season with a little airbrushing and photoshopping. Hey is photoshopping an official verb in Websters Dictionary yet? It should be.
N/P Joe. Photoshopping should be there but I am afraid Facebooking will then soon follow.
Frank Robinson: an MVP type player, the top dog on any team he was in, once traded to the orioles he became the man, he helped them get over the top…
David Wright: a nice player, a guy who needs other pieces around him to put up good numbers, not a leader, not a star, someone who when good players are around can put up good numbers. not a difference maker.. tends to choke under pressure..
Hello, My name is Alex and I am either still completely missing the point of the post or I am again trying to turn the discussion into something it is not.
i got the point, don’t be a DB, MY point ishe should’ve have use a HOF of frank’s caliber to compare with wright.. he could’ve used other subpar/above average players like wright that have been traded midseason and contribute to team. this article imo was a slap in the face to a great player, a HOF, we all know who wright is and what he’s been
OK name one player who put up Wright’s level of numbers at 3B for 4 seasons .311 .394 .534 .928 141 OPS+ who had 2 down years and was traded only to rebound to his previous level and help lead his team to a WS?
Scott Rolen comes to mind….
Not terrible, but the number level is just not there nor is there a decent decline in performance the two previous years.
.286 .378 .514 .892 127 OPS+
.311 .394 .534 .928 141 OPS+
But you are right that he did have some career years ahead of him in St. Louis before falling off to a very mediocre player.
why can’t we just let David Wright be David Wright? Why do we feel this need to either underestimate his value or put him on the same level as Hall of Famers like Frank Robinson or even the top notch 3rd baseman of today?
I think on some level Met fans NEED a white superstar on their team.
But Wright is not a superstar player. Is Wright on the same level as Andrain Beltre? No.
Alex Rodriquez? No. Pablo Sandavol? No. Ryan Zimmerman? No.
David Wright is a very good white player on a very bad New York Met team, Just leave the man alone already and let him live out his last 6 months as a Met in peace.
To me the interesting thing is, after Wright is traded this summer who will be the Wilpon token white superstar? Ike Davis? Hahaaaa
What does race have to do with anything? Do you guys realize that this article wasn’t comparing the abilities of the 2 players? Jesus help me.
Shhhh. Ryan Zimmerman is white.
OK now back to your awful point. This seems more like someone who is angry that because of circumstances Reyes and Beltran are no longer on the team. So while accusing others of racism perhaps you should look at your own inner beauty instead of others.
Sandoval is a superstar? How did Beltre do when he played in a similar type park to Citifield when he played in Seattle? A sub 800 OPS is not a superstar. Zimmerman has been better the last couple of years but he can’t stay on the field either.The only superstar of the names you mentioned is A-Rod and he’s shot too. We could be worse off than Wright at 3rd.
Well whats sad is what Wright WAS better than all those guys other than A-Rod for several years. Offensively he was worlds better than Beltre, up until the past couple yrs. And his career numbers are still better those those guys….and it stinks now that the past couple yrs those guys have passed him.
of all those guys, it is probably Wright that is the most likely to put up the best numbers over the next few years.
Thats debatable. I’d believe it if he’s traded…if he stays a Met, I’d think he’s probably doomed to be worse than those guys, ha.
It depends on what time period and what type of numbers you are talking about. Beltre plays in by far the most hitter friendly park (though we don’t know what new Citi will play like yet) so if you take unadjusted numbers, he might post the best stats. Though he’s also the oldest so might be most prone to breaking down. If you adjust for park factors…its still debatable. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Wright be the most productive of the bunch… but still he’s been worse than Zimmerman in each of the last 3 yrs and worse than both Pablo and Beltre in 2 of the last 3. So I wouldn’t bank on him being better.
Watch for major WIlpon Met promotions featuring Ike Davis and very little David Wright.
Hey don’t be mad at me I am simply telling you what the Wilpon/Alderson talking points will be in the up coming months as Met Management tears down Wright to justify his departure.
Trade Wright and his contract. Make room for the kids.
No. Thats just the answer to the headline. An emphatic NO. Frank Robinson is one of the best hitters of all time, and as much as I like DW, you do a disservice to him and to Robinson by even trying to draw a comparison.
Alex wherever you are the Leones held on to win the series in the Bot of the 9th. Now on to Tuesday and the 2012 Caribbean Series.
Oh my bad make that Thursday.
Ridiculous article. There is NO point to it. Just a bunch of hypothetical fodder to foster worthless discussion.
Discussion is never worthless
Who’s the greatest 3B of all Metropolitans?Who’s the greatest 3B of all Orioles? There will always be comparisons(of all sorts)in the greatest of all games