Oh captain, my (ex)-captain.
Appearing on WFAN with Joe Beningo and Evan Roberts Monday afternoon, former New York Mets franchise great third baseman David Wright says he sees long term success down the road for soon-to-be majority owner Steve Cohen.
“I met him in Miami a few years ago. Just the passion that he has for the Mets, the knowledge that he has for the game. … I think he’s going to be able to build a sustained winner, hopefully for years to come,” Wright said. (Quotes from SNY).
David Wright on WFAN talking about Steve Cohen:
"I met him in Miami a few years ago. The passion he has for the Mets and his knowledge of the game is impressive. And the stuff he doesn't know about baseball, I think he'll put the right people in place."
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) September 28, 2020
And for the stuff Cohen doesn’t know? Wright believes he will put the right people in place.
After officially retiring at the end of 2018, Wright, a seven-time All-Star, says he keeps in contact with the players in the clubhouse on a “weekly basis” while watching the games and rooting for the team.
“I certainly want to see the team have sustained success, and not just kind of win here and there,” said Wright. “I really would like to see the organization become a perennial winner and not just setting the sights on an NL East crown every year, but you know, winning the National League, getting the chance to play in the World Series on a consistent basis.”
The Mets have yet to endure this type of consistent success making the postseason only eight times in their 58-year existence.
After the departure of co-owner Nelson Doubleday in 2002, the Wilpon family has possessed full control of the organization, which has seen the Mets only make three postseason appearances during this 18-year period.
Wright hopes this changes under Cohen, but you should not expect the former captain to assume an increased role under the new regime.
Despite serving as an advisor to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen the past two seasons, Wright says he does not see himself doing one thing full time as he enjoys doing “a little bit of everything.”
For now, he hopes to still be involved in some capacity with the organization due to his love for the game.
