Coming into the season David Wright is the only given. He is not a youngster who is all about potential (Davis, Thole, Emaus), he is not banged up (Beltran, Bay), he isn’t an AAAA player (Pagan) and he isn’t going to be traded at the deadline (Reyes). All he is is the face of the franchise.
In the first 41 seasons of their existence nearly 130 men played third base for the Mets, and in the last 8 years David Wright has had a strangle hold on the position (about a dozen other played third to give Wright a day off since 2004). He has picked up two Gold Gloves despite his only adequate play at third base. Yes he makes a great play here or there, but he isn’t great at third.
Where Wright really makes his money and impact is at the plate, a career .305 hitter he is a solid power hitter averaging 27 homers and 107 RBI. As the Mets most consistent hitter he is situated best in the three hole, he has enough power to drive in the table setters and is quick enough to score runs when the rest of the “heart” heart of the lineup drives him in.
He is currently on pace to be the Mets all-time leader in most major offensive categories.
Homeruns
1. Darryl Strawberry
4. David Wright
Doubles
1. David Wright
Hits
1. Ed Kranepool
3. David Wright
RBI
1. Darryl Strawberry
2. David Wright
David is the face of our franchise and being signed through next year and with an option for 2013, he should be in Flushing for the long haul. I just hope he doesn’t end up the only offensive star surrounded by has beens and nobodies like his mentor Howard Johnson endured during the early nineties.
Weird … David Wright and Jose Reyes both wore #2 in the minors.
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