Results tagged ‘ David Wright ’
Wright closing in on franchise hits mark
Six hits shy of matching Ed Kranepool’s all-time franchise hits record, David Wright spoke Wednesday about what it will mean to pass Kranepool:
“I hope I get there,” Wright said. “It’s been a grind lately. But it’s something I’m really, really proud about. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it much more when I’m done playing and can kind of look back. But as of now, it’s difficult to sit back and truly enjoy it or pat yourself on the back because of the position we’ve put ourselves in in the second half. But obviously it’s humbling and very exciting to be able to break some of these team records. I’m very proud of that.”
Asked about his relationship with Kranepool, Wright said: “He’s out here somewhat frequently so I get a chance to talk to him. It’s nice, some of these players that come back, including Ed, to get to know and understand the history of the organization. He always has really nice things to say to me. He’s always very encouraging. Obviously that’s nice when some of these former players come back and are as helpful and encouraging as Ed is.”
Here’s where Wright ranks all-time on several of the team’s major offensive lists:
Hits
1. Ed Kranepool, 1,418
2. David Wright, 1,4,12
Home runs
1. Darryl Strawberry, 252
2. Mike Piazza, 220
3. David Wright, 200
RBI
1. David Wright, 806
2. Darryl Strawberry, 733
Runs
1. David Wright, 782
2. Jose Reyes, 735
Doubles
1. David Wright, 321
2. Ed Kranepool, 225
At-bats
1. Ed Kranepool, 5,436
2. David Wright, 4,690
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Wright discusses batting practice routine
Check out David Wright talking to MLB Network about his stance and pregame batting practice routine:
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Scenes from All-Star media day
Here are R.A. Dickey and David Wright at Monday’s All-Star media day at Arrowhead Stadium:
R.A. Dickey discusses Tony La Russa’s decision to start Matt Cain over him in the All-Star Game.
David Wright talks all things Mets, from Dickey to his own MVP-caliber first half.
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Mets hit Papelbon again (and again and again)
The Mets’ furious rally against Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning Thursday was just the latest in a string of successes versus Papelbon dating back to 2009, when he was closing out games for the Red Sox. Remember these?
The date: May 23, 2009
The hero: Omir Santos
The situation: Coming off a disastrous trip to Los Angeles and battling injuries to key players including Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church and Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets found themselves trailing the Red Sox by a run in the ninth. But with a man on base, Santos hit a line drive off Papelbon that clanged off Fenway Park’s Green Monster for an apparent double. Umpires reviewed the play and minutes later, called it a homer. J.J. Putz mowed down the Sox in the bottom of the ninth to close out the victory.
The quote: “A lot of things were going through my mind. I knew I hit it well. If it was going to be the big hit of the game? I couldn’t even express how I was feeling at second base, waiting for the call.” –Santos
The date: May 7, 2012
The hero: Jordany Valdespin
The situation: Valdespin began his Mets career 0-for-6, looking overly aggressive and lost at the plate. But with two men on base in a tie game in the ninth, Valdespin walloped a Papelbon fastball into right-center field for a game-winning homer. After Frank Francisco closed out the Phillies in the ninth, Valdespin’s teammates soaked him with beer in a postgame celebration.
The quote: “He is an extremely talented young player. He’s just so athletic. I know that he’ll handle himself great. If he plays the way he’s been playing since he’s been here, and the way he’s handled himself, he’s got a chance to be here for a while.” –Mets manager Terry Collins
The date: July 5, 2012
The hero: David Wright
The situation: It may not actually be fair to call Wright the hero in this one. Ike Davis set up the winning rally by doubling off Papelbon to lead off the ninth, with the Mets trailing by a run. Then, with two outs, Valdespin, Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy all submitted tremendous at-bats, fouling off pitches and taking others for balls. After Papelbon plunked Valdespin and walked Tejada, Murphy hit a game-tying single off Papelbon’s glove. Wright then ended things with a bloop single to right.
The quote: “I had the worst at-bat out of everybody in that inning. More lucky than anything, but I was glad to get the opportunity because the guys in front of me had some incredible at-bats.” –Wright
In case you were wondering, Papelbon has now faced the Mets eight times in his career. The numbers: 0-3, 1 save, 2 blown saves, 7.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 9.00 ERA.
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David Wright on MLB Network
MLB Network’s Alanna Rizzo recently sat down with David Wright, in a spot that debuted today on “The Rundown” and “MLB Tonight.” In case you missed it, here are a few excerpted questions from the interview:
Wright on if he will be with the Mets two years from now:
“That’s a great question. I hope…I’d love to get this thing turned around and headed in the right direction and I think we’ve done that, taking that first step. Hopefully, I’m a big part of that.”
Wright on being the longest-tenured Met:
“Well, it’s funny because we have team pictures in the clubhouse and you gotta go year from year and we were looking back on the 2006 team that won the NL East and we were searching, searching, searching and there was a lot of faces that aren’t here anymore.”
Wright on if his Postseason experience from 2006 drives him to want to get back there:
“It’s addicting. The atmosphere here was incredible … Running out on the field for the first time, looking up in the upper deck at Shea and literally seeing it rock, I was like, ‘Man, this is [it], doesn’t get any better than this.’ I kind of took it for granted. But it continues to push you and motivate you and drive you.”
Wright on playing in New York:
“New York wants winners. I see how these fans react to Gary Carter when he would come to Shea. That’s what I want my legacy to be is this guy was a winning player, he did everything he could to help his team win.”
Wright on his relationship with Gary Carter:
“It’s incredible. From day one when I was drafted, I was an 18-year old high school kid coming into the Spring Training complex and before you know it, you’re shaking the hands of Gary Carter and you’re almost in awe, you’re star struck. You have a Hall of Famer and a World Series champion that’s helping an 18-year old, teach[ing] him out to be a leader.”
“Up until he passed, he would call once-a-month, twice-a-month and just want to talk baseball. I’d ask him how he was feeling and he [would say], ‘Enough about me, how’s the team doing? What’s it like in the clubhouse? How these young guys doing?’ Just the energy in his voice, talking about the game will be my lasting memory.”
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How has Wright improved on defense?
After a few seasons of lackluster defensive play, David Wright has rebounded to be one of baseball’s most consistent third basemen over the first five weeks of 2012. That story describes how Wright worked with third-base coach Tim Teufel this spring on his defensive positioning, both while waiting for balls to be hit to him and while preparing to throw to first base.
But how exactly has Wright improved? I spoke today to author, statistician and defensive expert John Dewan, whose “Fielding Bible” is required reading for many Major League general managers. Dewan uses a Plus/Minus system that calculates how many runs a fielder saves versus the average player at his position, breaking it down to various aspects of a player’s game. Dewan’s data shows that Wright has already saved two runs on balls hit to his right this season, making him suddenly a very good third baseman on those reaction shots down the third-base line.
Compare that to Wright’s specific struggles of years past and it’s a big, big change. As Dewan wrote in the third edition of his “Fielding Bible,” which came out this spring, “It seems that Wright has the physical tools to make highlight-reel plays; if his range to his right improved and he limited the misplays on throws, he could possibly work his way into the Fielding Bible Award discussion in the future.”
That, thanks to Teufel, is exactly what Wright has done so far in 2012. It’s a neat little story about how stats and scouts don’t always have to be independent; it’s a human game, and players who work can sometimes overcome their shortcomings of the past.
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Report from Port St. Lucie, 3/27
Excerpts from R.A. Dickey’s soon-to-be-released autobiography, “Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball,” became public today, detailing the sexual abuse Dickey suffered as a child. Dickey addressed that topic and others Tuesday after pitching in a Minor League game (below).
David Wright also played in a second consecutive game on Tuesday and is well on his way to be ready by Opening Day.
One other cool thing today: Bob Kolb, who attended the first game in Mets history, is lending his ticket from that game to the Mets Hall of Fame Museum at Citi Field. Kolb showed up at Digital Domain Park on Friday to show off his ticket, which you can see below:
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Report from Port St. Lucie, 3/26
David Wright (below) made his long-awaited Grapefruit League debut today, playing four innings in the field and going 1-for-2 at the plate. Among the highlights were a diving snare of Rafael Furcal’s sharp grounder and a single up the middle in his first at-bat.
Not so sharp early was Johan Santana, who struggled to find his command and velocity before settling down — and, perhaps more importantly, speeding up — in the middle innings against the Cardinals. Santana has one abbreviated start remaining before his Opening Day assignment April 5 against the Braves.
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David Wright in lineup Monday
Mets third baseman David Wright is in the starting lineup for Monday’s game against the Cardinals. Wright planned to meet with trainer Ray Ramirez early Monday morning, but said he would play “unless they tell me otherwise.”
Wright has not played at all this spring, straining a left abdominal muscle earlier this month. Johan Santana is scheduled to pitch for the Mets.
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Anthony DiComo
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