Now don’t get me wrong, there is no question in my mind that David Wright is the face of the Mets. He is the Derek Jeter-like untouchable messiah that will likely lead this team into the promised land at some point during his career. The kid pretty much has done everything right since they day he was promoted to the major leagues. With David, you never fear the foot-in-mouth syndrome PR nightmare that seems to be so prevalent among Mets players and management. Now granted, this season the home runs are down, the strikeouts are up and he does seem more mortal with runners in scoring position but on a team decimated by injuries, Wright feels more pressure than anyone to carry the club and it has affected his game. As the “face of the franchise”, and a pretty young one at that, a little tailing off this year can be forgiven due not only to the fact that he is surrounded by replacement players in the lineup, but also that he is playing in a cavernous new ballpark. I give Wright the utmost credit for facing the media during the worst times of this lost season and the previous two collapses and taking responsibility for the mediocrity on the field.
However, there does come a point where doing and saying everything the “Wright” way may not be what’s best for the team. For example, if Piazza had charged the mound when Clemens went rootin’ tootin’ roid rage ballistic on him during the 2000 World Series maybe the Mets would have put up a better fight instead of losing in 5 games. Certainly, the 1986 Mets would not have stood for such shenanigans and their swagger and grit lead them to a championship.
It is all well and good for David to feel bad about the Mets’ failures the past few years and for the disappointing 2009 season but there comes a time when you are faced by adversity that you have to stand up and fight back or you will get stepped on. I challenge any team out there to be able to overcome the injuries that have plagued the 2009 Mets and go on to have a championship caliber season. Their entire starting lineup and pitching rotation has been completely decimated for months. Expecting the team currently taking the field to have a winning season is like picking the Nationals or the Pirates to win the World Series – there just isn’t enough talent. But at some point, when an opposing pitcher throws at your head intentionally, perhaps it is time to show some spine and fight back a bit. Get the adrenaline charged and do something, anything, to stand up for yourself so other teams take you seriously.
In 2007 and 2008 the Mets just rolled over and died. They practically handed the Phillies and Marlins shovels and bags of dirt to bury them. If David is going to be the leader of this team he has to prove on the field and to his teammates that this submissive attitude just doesn’t fly. He is the only person on the roster that has the passion for the team and for winning that can handle this, but he needs to work on that “take no crap” attitude. That’s not to say he should be charging the mound punching out any pitcher that brushes him back, but in some way, whether by a gesture or an aggressive play, show the opponent that you and your team are not pushovers. You play in New York where win or lose, there is a certain grittiness that comes with the territory of being a New York franchise. Otherwise, not only will other teams eat you alive but the fans will too.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Qualities of Leadership
Much has been made this week about how David Wright handled the near miss beaning by Cardinals reliever Brad Thompson and now this past weekend’s direct hit by the Giants’ starter Matt Cain. It has been said that in keeping his cool – especially in the seemingly intentional Thompson brush back, Wright exuded all the qualities of leadership that this Mets team needs going forward. But does a team floundering in 4th place after suffering 2 consecutive September collapses really need a leader that is robotically passive when being challenged? Or do they need a leader that will stand up and show some fight and spirit? Based on the on-field lethargy we have all witnessed the past three years, perhaps David should start hanging around Keith Hernandez so some grit rubs off of him.
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I don't think a leader is the one charging the mound. I think a leader is one who picks his battles.
ReplyDeleteWright isn't passive or submissive. He knows how this game is played. I wouldn't even say he needs to work on his "take no crap" attitude. He loves this team more than anyone. He isn't a pushover, by any means.
I believe he is fully aware of his actions and how he is perceived by players and fans.
Who 'feels bad' that they got on the DL for chrissake? DW does. He is aware how everything looks.
No, a leader is not one who necessarily charges the mound or is overtly aggressive but at some point you have to take a stand when you are getting mud thrown in your face day after day and the team is lethargic and losing pathetically like they didn't even show up. Or if your teammates are dogging it to get on their case about it. Wright's comments about feeling bad about being DL'd were commendable. I'm glad he feels bad about not being able to play. That's more than we can say for half of the injured players on this team who seem more than content to sit back and collect their paychecks.
ReplyDeleteDW is a great player and has the potential to be a great leader but at some point he needs to get a little angry and defensive and not sound like he is going to cry when addressing the media as he did a couple of times earlier this season. This team needs some spunk and even with Reyes, Wright, Beltran and the rest of the regulars healthy they don't seem to have that winning spark. A true leader will ignite that. That is what we need David Wright to become. He's enough of a veteran now to now feel comfortable doing that even with teammates who have more years of professional experience. And if he doesn't step up next year then the Mets need to find someone who will.