16
2012
The Mets Have A Spark Plug Again
An article by 
For years, Jose Reyes would be considered the “spark plug” of the Mets; the man to light up the basepaths, and the dugout. Now with Reyes trying to find his spark in Miami, the Mets were supposed to be lacking such a catalyst both on and off the field come 2012. Turns out, the true spark of this franchise was just waiting to catch fire all along. His name: David Wright.
In 2012 to this point, we have seen Wright mature greatly. I say this not because of his .408 batting average, his reduced strikeouts or his 1.105 OPS, I say this because of his calming pitchers down on the mound, his pulling players aside to talk to them, his hard play and his never-say-die attitude. Wright has always been a nose-to-the-grind type player, but this year especially he is clicking on all cylinders after several years of struggling.
This was perfectly exemplified by Wright’s actions last night when Terry Collins removed him form the game to protect him from getting hit after DJ Carrasco plunked Ryan Braun in the top of the inning. After getting pulled, Wright confronted Collins saying “If anybody gets hit, I want it to be me”, who responded with “I’m sorry, it isn’t going to be you.” Wright then stormed down the clubhouse stairs, only to come up soon after to talk it over with Collins and remain at the top step of the dugout for the remainder of the ballgame.
Last night showed a lot about David Wright. Already suffering a broken pinkie and hitting the best in his career, Wright had a heated debate with his manager about staying in the game facing a very probable plunking and possible further injury. This showed just how much Wright is committed to winning and to this team. He not only said to Collins in front of everyone that he wants to be the one hit with a 95 mph fastball, but then came back into the dugout, talked it over with the manager in-game rather than after, and stayed at the top step of the dugout for the remainder of the ballgame. He is passionate, plays hard and above all; a winner. He cares about this team and isn’t just playing for a contract as many have speculated; and last night was a prime example of that.
He deserves to remain a Met for the rest of his career and one day have a big number 5 in left field in his honor. For now however, –as Matthew Cerrone pointed out last night on twitter– David Wright deserves a big “C” stitched to his chest, because whether it’s official or not; the Mets have a leader, a captain and most of all a sparkplug again; and his name is David Wright.
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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he is one of the 20 best players in the game right now ( excluded Pitchers ) LGM
Good god stop with this “C” stuff. That is for fans not for players. The players on the team already know he is the leader of the team and a guy to look up to. They don’t respond to someone more because they have a damn C on their shoulder.
You forgot about the marketing guys. Assigning a captain is for them too.
Well yeah… I guess that is implied by saying it’s for the fans.
If the Fans need a guy with a C on his Chest to go see the team play you got bigger issues than having a Captain!
Captains do nothing for the fans it’s all about the lockeroom.
If they want to honor Wright for the fan’s sake then extend him now and get rid of all the talk about trading him if the overwhelming deal comes along!
Fans will not only be happy and more inclined to come to see Wright but they might get the impression the sell of is done and the rebuilding has actually begun!
Then they might buy tickets that will pay for the whole damn thing!
I actually agree with most of this. Anointing a captain to me is a gimmick to get people to show up when you have no stars or no shot at winning.
I look at it like this TRS….
If you NEED to put a C on the guy he really doesn’t deserve it in the first place!
A leader will lead regardless of his adornment.
And if he needs a C to lead then he is no leader!
Wright is leading just fine without it and if you want to make a point about that leadership then sign him long term so that the rest of the roster knows they are going to be dealing with him for a good long time and better get with the program!
I agree with everything except the “C”. The whole “captain” thing in baseball is overrated, and putting the C on the uniform always looks dopey to me. The dude is the captain of the team, he’s earned it, he deserves it, and he continues to earn it on and off the field. I think making it “official” is kinda tacky.
AGREED. And for those who think I am a DWright worshiper, notice my opinion on this. It’s just plain dumb and effectively does nothing.
Agree with this here as well. No need for the ‘C’ on the uniform.
I’m over the “C” thing, I think the Mets will give him a more important “C” and that is a “Contract”
The thing about his season thus far for me is, a) he’s not in a contract year so he’s not out there playing for more money yet but more importantly, his fielding is on track. His fielding is looking like the player of old. That to me speaks more about how valuable he’s been this year than just his hitting.
He’s playing like a leader, acting like a leader, and in about a week from now when people ask “Who is the NL MVP?” it’s David Wright (because of Kemp’s DL stint)
My goodness…. He shows up the manager and we need to put a big “C” on his chest… Wow..
I am happy he’s doing good, his defense has improved (Throws, always been a good defender) and he looks locked in.. But people, can we please stop this nonsense?
I agree about the C stuff it’s pointless. Much like your Wright complex. It’s time to move on.
There is a HUGE difference between getting taken out of a game and wanting to play and being taken out of a game for making a bonehead mistake.
Remember when Reyes showed up Manuel? That was showing up a Manager and having a tantrum when you are removed for poor play.
Wanting to play the game and take one for your team, that’s not showing anybody up.
You KNOW you’d have way more of a problem with it if Wright accepted it and didn’t care that he was taken out. You’d say he’s unclutch or had no heart or something.
If Wright said in his Presser “They were going to hit me so I talked with Terry and we agreed I should take a seat and avoid potential injury.”
If that happened, there’d be 100 trade wright now blogs being written.
If his crime is wanting to play and take one for his team then I have no problem with that
You’re confusing Manuel for Randolph, jessep. Unlike Manuel, Randolph had the balls to do things like that when a player was being lackadaisical.
So tell us what Willie did with Delgado, who disgusted Willie? (BTW, nobody was a bigger Willie or Jerry fan than me.)
Remember when Reyes showed up Manuel? That was showing up a Manager and having a tantrum when you are removed for poor play”
You are a FUC**** LIAR!!!!!!!!!!! Poor play??? Wasn’t he hurt?:Jerry Manuel, in his first ever game as Mets’ manager in June 2008, pulled Jose Reyes in the first inning in Anaheim, here’s jose reyes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48KpUnCN-Ms
You sir hate reyes, you’re a pathetic human being who look for any way or excuse to trash reyes.. It’s getting very ridiculous the way you Lie about reyes to make him look bad.. Funny how he was supposed to be your “favorite player”
“You sir hate Wright, you’re a pathetic human being who look for any way or excuse to trash Wright.. It’s getting very ridiculous the way you Lie about Wright to make him look bad..”
LOL
Anyway, yeah it wasn’t Manuel. He showed up Manuel for the injury thing and pouted when Willie would discipline him.
When do i make up lies about wright? somehow saying he folds under pressure, is unclutch as hell is hating the guy??? Wow….
Alex, my man, there’s no question that JR has always played b/c he friggin’ adores BB. I loved his infectious enthusiasm for the game as a Met. Here’s a mid-20s kid.
I remember my mid-20s. Do you remember yours? I think I had quite a few tantrums of my own–some baseball reltaed, but most not.
Ah, I’ll always remember Jose as a great Met. Sad that he’s my enemy now.
Jose wasn’t even really hurt, he just came up a little funny, but he thought he was fine and didn’t want to come out of the game…I remember he got a lot of bad press because of it even though another player (can’t remember who, some average player in Cali I think) did the exact same thing but was praised because he was showing his grit and determination and dedication while Reyes was just being a punk.
There has always been this weird prejudice when it came to Reyes. I don’t know why the two players are always compared in a positive v negative way. To me, both players are great in there own way and both have flaws. But the only comparison between the two should be that they are two of the best position players ever to play for the Mets and they both had injuries that hurt some of their time here and both players legacies are tarnished because of the collapses that were more to do about other players failures and injuries.
Other than that, they are completely different players…Wight is a quite grinder while Jose was a loud and emotional player…both styles served them well, but also hurt them when things turned south.
I applaud Wright for doing what he did last night…but I doesn’t take away from my love of Jose.
The Wright vs Jose comparison is as worn out as the Sandy vs Omar debate.
David was ticked off because he was taken out of a game. Jose took himself out of the last game volutarily. Anybody not see the difference between David and Jose?
Stop. Just stop with the Wright-Reyes comparisons. We all know the difference, but we don’t need it pointed out constantly. Somehow though, this will all go back to “Wright showed up the manager because he’s playing for a contract” talk.
Even Flow — not everyone does. If you don’t like it, just pass on it.
David was ticked off because he was taken out of a game. Jose took himself out of the last game volutarily. Anybody not see the difference between David and Jose”
So wait, the other idiot just said reyes showed up his manager because he didn’t wanna be taken out of the game against the angels in june 17th, 2008. so which one is it?!?
Couldn’t it be both? Couldn’t a player theoretically want to show up a manager when they pull them out and then at another point ask out?
Reyes was wrong, so was wright… Period… It’s like you showing up the principal of the school you work at right in front of everyone..
Nice comparison but I think baseball as an emotional sport is much different than the workplace. I also can’t run over another teacher blocking the workroom. LOL. To that point though, I think that having a heated conversation with someone over the course of 162 game grueling season will happen. We can say that it shouldn’t happen on TV and I agree.
“C” U latter Carrasco. Collins’ standdown looked guilty. Wright saying that it would be taken care of in the clubhouse, sounded guilty. A marginal pitcher going rougue…unacceptable.
I agree. Put our best players in danger because you gave up a HR… later.
Carrasco has been a disapointment. Send him to Buffalo bring up Egbert.
Well I will say this about the yanking…Really what did they save themselves by pulling Wright?
If they really want to throw at him they will get another opoortunity later on in the season so I don’t see how you really avoided anything!
Perhaps the Mets salvaged thier respect. We played bad. The Brewers pounded us, fair and square. Now some marginal player pulls this bush league xxxx.
Terry is man of honor. In an age of nonspeak. Terry’s words last night were incredable. It was an insight that few would share. Carrasco dishonored the Mets. Terry tried to atone.
In the past it appeared like Wright did not really want to be the leader of this team.
(at least to me). I am starting to think it wasn’t that he didn’t want to be the leader it’s just that he deferred to Beltran since he WAS the leader of this team every year except Wright’s rookie year!
And you have to admit this HAS been Beltran’s team since 2005!
Wright has always been comfortable with that arrangement.
Now that Beltran is gone Wright has no one to defer to, no one to play second fiddle to.
And he does seem to have taken the bull by the horns.
So you gotta give him props when they are deserved.
I don’t think he needs (nor WANTS) the C on his Jersey.
Being a Leader is best when it is given freely not when you were annoited leader and forced to follow.
Guys, is there any truth to this:
@BobKlap – joe D of Metsmerized condition is ‘grave’ – please say a prayer
Wow I hope that is not as true as it sounds!
Keep Fighting Joe!
I heard yesterday that this was a serious hospital stay.
Me too metsie. I hope everything goes well… I like to wish everyone to pray for Joe D. he has been the reason why this is the best mets blog there is out there… My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
I sincerely hope not, Alex. Prayers going out to Joe D.
That’s very depressing news. Isn’t Joe D the founder of MMO?
He’s such a wonderful guy. Does anybody know what he suffers from?
I will say prayer for him for sure.
You’re Our Man, Joe D!
Get better, Brother!!!
While Collins was wrong for doing what he did Wright was wrong for showing up the manager in front if his team mates. Nobody who is supposed to lead shows up the manager in public, maybe in the lockeroom when there are not TV cameras but not in public. All that does is show that Collins is losing the team. Has anybody here ever experienced a player showing them up in front of the other players? It’s not good and you feel you are losing control of the team and players who respected you, even if they like you will now know they don’t have to be afraid if there is something they have to confront you with.
I have a feeling most here have never experienced that feeling. And I also have a feeling that something must’ve been going on between the 2 before this happened othewise Wright never would’ve been so fast to show such disrespect in full view of his team mates and the public.
While Collins was absolutely wrong for taking 2 players out like that, Murphy handled it correctly by showing his dismay but not being so animate about it but Wright was DEAD WRONG in his actions and while it was good to see him show some passion how he did it was totally unacceptable, showed that Terry is losing the team, and not what a leader would do. Could you imagine Hernandez showing up Johnson? Never. Piazza showing up Valentine? Never. When Jose showed up Manual that time he was wrong and Wright was wrong here as well.
And Clayton I forgot to mention the tone or your post is dead wrong. Wright’s actions should not be commended they should be discouraged. You are advocating disrespecting your manager and chaos with this piece. I’d prefer Wright to be animate about other aspects of the game, not turning around walking up to your manager, in the dugout, in full view of players and tv audience, and pointing your finger in your manager’s face.
This article is wrong on so many level. You shouldn’t be advocating this.
And one other thing, the Mets are lucky the Brewers didn’t throw at Valdespin or worse cause him to break a bone or have a serious injury or else this story would have taken on a life of it’s own and possibly ruin Terry Collins. So there was nothing good here that happened.
Guess Terry wont be Spin against the Phillys when Cole is pitching. LOL
Sorry. I guess Terry won’t be playing Spin againt Philly when Cole is pitching.
I agree that if they were actually pissed and the Mets pulled Wright they should have went right after Kirk or another kid.
Bayonne — Disagree with you. TC took out Wright to avoid a possible Sidney Crosby problem. He did the right thing. I’m pretty sure Ryan Church agrees with Terry.
So you think it’s better if they hit Kirk? You know the way he plays the OF he has most likely had 10 concussions and looking at Duda from the pic I think he has one now.
trs86 — Often I agree with you but your speculating on who was to be potentially hit is over the top. How does one spell, “HOGWASH”? Acting school is over.
It could have been any of them. I am just saying what if the other pitcher got pissed that they hit his best player then pulled their own?
trs86 — Sorry, this was in response to your 12:18 post.
I stand by what I said:
“they very easily could have gotten pissed by that type of move ”
When you make a move like Collins did that really has little to no precedent then what follows could have little to no precedent either.
Pah-leezze, has nothing to do with luck. It shows the diff. If you have a beef b/c your star was plunked, you may go after the other team’s star, NOT a rookie bench guy.
I know, Bayonne, you’ve coached LL, so you know how bad it is that Wright “showed up” TC.
Read the Post article. This stuff happens in professional and amateur sports all of the time. Is it right? No. Does it have the potential to make a team better, worse, or even none of the above? Absolutely.
Your histrionic grousing will be undermined by the fact that this incident will only see our Metsies playing with greater intensity and determination. Yes, you heard it here first.
Now on to the rest of our regularly scheduled, hard-hitting season.
Normally you are right the other team would not go after a kid. However, with Terry pulling Wright they very easily could have gotten pissed by that type of move and hit one of the kids as a result.
Are there examples you might point to? Or isn’t it just as likely a vindication of Collins’ decision?
Not really, you got examples of managers pulling their star player because his team beaned theirs?
I surely don’t, but that can be taken as an example of TC’s wisdom and originality, no?
It could be, but it could also be taken completely wrong by the opposing manager or team.
You hit our best player and then pull your best player… Hit and run.
Could be, could be, could be. At the very least, Wright plays today
LOL, true. Yet if Acosta beans Votto then if I were Wright I would go Jerry Manuel on him.
Why it’s not like we are never going to see them again during the season?
They had a massive lead at the time. No reason to plunk Wright even!
I doubt they would have relatiated because Carrasco got ejected and the warnings were made!
There was really no reason to do it!
I agree there was no reason to do it. I just feel like Terry made a nothing situation worse and because of that could have caused someone to get beaned even if they had not originally planned to.
Terry did it for Wright’s psyche…
Wright has seemed to have gotten over his beaning…
Getting thrown at might make him revert to his scared of the inside pitch ways.
I understand why he did it and I don’t really blame Wright for complaining about the cottling…
But I think Collins did it because of Wright’s previous beaning and nothing else!
I agree with Bayonne — miracles do happen!!! LOL
LOL. Bayonne is gonna Bayonne! So predictable
Fred Wilpon on david wright: “a great kid and a great player.” Sounds like wright got an upgrade from last year. #mets LMAO!!!
Good post I will add that Wright has always been looked at as one of the leaders on this time for some time now. This year hasn’t been any different except for the focus by many due to him being now the senior Met.
The C is not needed because again everyone wearing a Mets uniform knows Wright is the Captain. The C is more a fan desire but in that clubhouse everyone knows who’s the Captain.
I applaud Wright. He didn’t want a teammate getting hit for him and he let Collins know how strong he felt he should be up there. Clearly no lines were crossed as the 2 have the utmost respect for each other and said as much after the game in a sincere fashion.