The transformation of David Wright might finally be happening. Yes, the caterpillar is becoming a beautiful butterfly … one that will rip out your throat at that.
We’ve been clamoring for David Wright to be a leader. Maybe he has been in the way that quiet leaders go about their business in ways we never know about but was overshadowed by sexy soundbites from guys like Paul Lo Duca, Country Time Wagner, and Carlos Delgado. Wright has always been the leader that we anointed because he’s the future of the team, he was potentially iconic, he’s handsome, whatever. Part of why Wright’s leadership skills have been overrated is because we wanted him to be that. We needed him to be that. Wishing doesn’t make a player what he’s not, whether it’s David Wright’s leadership, Jeff Francoeur’s pitch selection, or Oliver Perez’s everything.
But there are signs that the leader we hoped was in David is finally coming out naturally. After the jump, check out some of the quotes that Wright has graced us with in the last couple of days:
On Jose Reyes:
“We have a special relationship with the organization because they drafted us, developed us. They made us into the players we are today. I’ll forever be thankful to the organization. I know he feels the same way. But ultimately, especially with Jose’s contract being up after this year, it’s up to him and it’s up to the front office. If I get a vote, or if I get a say, I want him playing to the left of me, and I want him hitting leadoff in the lineup that I’m in, because I think he makes me a better player.”
On expectations:
“Internally, the idea is that things haven’t gone the way that we’ve expected them to go now that I’ve been here seven years. It’s to the point now where you’ve got to put up or shut up.”
On believing:
“If there’s anybody on this team that doesn’t think that we can play with the other teams in the National League East, then we should get rid of them.”
On the Wilpons:
“I called Jeff a few days ago just to let him know that I was thinking about him and if he needed anything from me, I’m there for him.”
Okay, maybe that last quote wasn’t the smartest thing to say, especially with the Mets possibly entertaining trading Reyes to save money. Because the next quote from Jeff might be:
“You wanna help? Subsidize Reyes’ contract and we’ll keep him … you want him on your left so bad.”
Let me throw this disclaimer at you: What you read from David Wright: only words. Words by themselves will not raise anyone’s OPS by .050, or lower their ERA a run. Words are just that. And if somebody doesn’t want to listen, you can’t make them listen. Hell I know the first thing you’re thinking is that Wright should get in Oliver Perez’s face at some point. Wouldn’t have mattered. Perez’s case is so lost there are Titanic remnants closer to sea level.
And this isn’t to say that Wright hasn’t given it to people before. He’s given it to Mike Pelfrey on the mound for all to see. He may be giving it to people when nobody sees it. But there’s a difference between barking from person to person about some random pitch selection and telling the New York Post that you’re mad as hell and you’re not going to take it anymore. It’s out there now. Especially with the “get rid of them if they don’t think we can play with anybody in the East” line. Seems like Wright is finally worn down from four seasons of nonsense and ready to snap. If so, good for him. And I hope we’re all around to witness this epic meltdown which will hopefully involve telling an umpire that his mother eats kitty litter.
The flip side to this is that if David is ready to take this step, then he better be ready to take what leadership brings, such as more criticism. And he had better be ready to lead by example … not just with work ethic and putting up numbers, but by running everything out. How much of a difference will it make this season with the likes of Casey Fossum battling for bullpen slots? Not much now. But if giving a rookie hell for not running out a ground ball in spring training is the difference between him turning double plays for years to come and him turning to a life as a rodeo clown or a train conductor, then Wright being pissed to start the season will be well worth it.
Now if he starts conducting press conferences by repeating “both teams play hard” over and over again, he’s gone too far.
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