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.

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.
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