Wright to Rollins: We don't like you either
Kudos to David Wright for not backing down when asked on Saturday about the Phillies' obsession with the Mets during this postseason.
With Jimmy Rollins and Phillies GM Pat Gillick both saying the Mets were the most hated team in the NL East, Wright seemed fine with it.
"I don't like those guys," Wright said. "I know they don't like us. There are guys that I respect on that team. I respect them, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to be friends with them. My whole career, I've tried to stay away from that. I'll shake somebody's hand and say hello, but I'm not going to be buddy-buddy with anyone before the game.
"I'm not a big fan of the teams in our division just because we play them so much. I would hope as a competitor that you would have that edge, that you would have a genuine interest to go out there and beat them by as much as you can."
Wright has the, um, right attitude. Who really cares if the Mets are hated? Certainly not Wright, who also believes that the Mets need to get more of a "killer instinct."
"I think that we can get better in that category," Wright said."I think that we can get better as far as having that killer instinct, that killer attitude, where when we have a team down, that we put our foot to their throat, and finish them off. I think that was part of the reason for our failure this year was – whether it’s offensively or pitching wise – we couldn’t put teams away when we had the opportunity to put teams away.
"So I think that’s the attitude that we have to go into next year, when we have a lead going into late, instead of just coasting, we have to get the mindset that we have to continue to add on and just finish teams off."
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Comments (20)
And the Mets are considering trading him, HAHAHA. He'll have a "C" on his jersey by 2012. Wright knows what's going on time for everyone else to follow suit.
win or lose- rollins is still stuck living in Philadelphia- not exactly an exciting cosmopolitan town!
Maybe they should make him Captain this winter, even if its not official, the "C" is defniitely there, its really a shame he was so sick during the last weekend of the season, a healthy and rested David Wright could have made a big difference those last few days.
Wright hit .200 with men on base in September. He's gonna have to shut his mouth until he starts to deliver when it counts...it's hard to hit a baseball with your hands around your throat.
Notice how the phillies still have to mention the Mets over and over and over again. They won the championship and still have to bring up the Mets. They just need to shut up and enjoy their victory. What Mets fan is not excited about 2009. A new stadium and hopefully a product that once again competes for the division title and this time getting over the hump and put those last two years behind us.
Kudos to David Wright for speaking his peace.
Talk is talk, but you've got to back it up. If Wright really intends to be a leader, he should follow the example set by Keith Hernandez. Hernandez would get in your face and could care less what you thought of him. He'd be the one to go to the mound during the game to settle the pitcher down without being asked or without the pitching coach or the manager going out there too. Thats a true leader. You can lead by example in how you play the game, but there are times when you got to go up to the person and say something even if it is during a game.
Gerry- I think you should look at his numbers a little deeper than just September. 124RBI-33 HR-0.302AVG PLEASE!!!
When September comes is a *TEAM* effort. HENCE the word TEAM!!!!
If he struggles then somebody else should step up.
He does not have to shut his mouth.
GOOD FOR WRIGHT!!!
GO METS!!!
David Wright goes to the pitchers mound more than anyone else on the team to calm them down and they absolutely welcome that, especially John Maine, Ollie Perez and Mike Pelfrey. Getting in people's faces is just not his style and should not be misinterpreted as weakness, i have seen him rather upset at a pitcher and, push comes to shove, he would pitch the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, if that's what was needed.
Just throwing this out there---even up Reyes for Pedroia? Would you make the trade? Would Sox make the trade? Our second base problem would shift to a SS problem? Any ideas??
I don't think the Mets would make the trade, just because i don't think they want to eat his salary, even though he's a relative bargain. I also don't think the Bosox would take him as i'm sure his reputation for celebrating and perceived taunting. Pitching and 2B are the primary issues that need addressing.
Let's see - The Phillies won the division by 3 games - hmmm - they finished the year with their closer and they finished the year with their core players intact. We basically had 3 starting pitchers. Lets switch places next year. Let us finish the year with our closer, our core players intact and a full rotation and let the Phils finish the year minus those guys and then lets talk.
"We don't like you guys either?" That's the best David Wright has got? Wright should come back and say it's pathetic that the Phillies after winning the WS feel the need to now taunt the Mets. He sort of said something to the effect that it's not his style, but I wanna hear Wright man up and and promise the fans that things will be different next season.
Also, let me ask now, which team is doing excessive celebrating? While I do believe teams like the Nats, Braves, and Marlins hate the Mets more than the Phils, I think that's insanely pathetic that those teams care more about beating a 2nd place Mets team than the now perennial division champion Phillies.
Those teams need to take a hard look in the mirror and come to the realization that taking games against the Mets more seriously than against the rest of the National League probably prevents them from ever being in contention. If I were in charge of say the Marlins, I would be disgusted that my team can turn it up so such a level against the Mets only after being eliminated from contention.
As I have discussed before, I also do believe the Mets are over excessive with the celebrating and dancing on the field. Again the problem is not that it causes other teams to hate the Mets (although it does), but rather that the focus is always on fun and celebrating and dancing, and never on taking a baseball game seriously when it matters most.
Candyman,
How can David Wright make promises to the fans that things will be different this year? We all know that no matter what he or anyone else says, it will be up to the 2009 team to turn things around. He has no say in who they acquire or how his teammates perform, all he can do is ready himself physically and mentally to have a great year. While he did not come through well in the clutch this year, he was a big part of the success they did enjoy. The celebration stuff has been beaten to death, its their personality and other teams have to deal with it as they see fit, it is just a game and they are human beings not robots, everyone needs to lighten up.
wlaadair,
I retract, Wright should man up and say he himself will not let this happen again next year. You're right in that he can't make promises for his teammates. Or can he? The best leader in recent New York sports history has been Mark Messier. Messier's shining moment came when he promised that his team would win and that he would not let them fail. If your argument is that Wright is no Messier, then I guess I'll concede my argument.
It's nice that Wright is a great player and will go to the pitching mound to calm pitchers, but I think this team needs a much stronger leader--and Wright can be that leader. But he's nowhere near that leader yet.
Are you all happy with Delgado as the leader of the team, the so-called captain? Get rid of this guy and let's see if Wright can step up and finally take over this team.
It is just a game, baseball players are not robots, but if you're on here during the winter months then you take baseball just as seriously as the rest of us. It's a game, but it's a hobby and a passion for sports fans.
As I remember, the '86 Mets weren't too well-liked and it wasn't a problem for them -- they just beat you. Call me old-school, but since when are you supposed to "like" your opponent, anyway? Complete nonsense. Idiots like Rollins just need to shut up and play the game. Good for Wright for firing back!
A quote from Easley...
"When you're the better team and you celebrate every little hit and home run, other teams don't like that. I probably saw some more intensity from Mets opponents who had been offended by the celebrating. Jose has to be himself. If that's what he needs to do to get more out of himself, then he should do it. But there's backlash to that. He has to understand there's a consequence to it."
Candyman,
I am not a hockey fan so i cannot speak about Messier, but of what i've heard he was an extremely great leader and motivator. David Wright brings a strong but calm presence to this team by playing every day whether sick, injured or exhausted (or all 3), and that's what motivates his teammates, at least we can hope it does. Not getting an inning off this year until June 23 was completely ridiculous, i spoke to several mets players that week and they all were very upset that it did not come sooner, enough said. I think maybe they should consider making Wright and Delgado co captains at least for a year so it would make for a smooth transition and see the difference it makes.
GG - I like David Wright...but he was miserable in clutch situations.
David - WFAN this morning mentioned that Omar was pursuing Vasquez at the winter meetings. Omar is too loyal to the old Expo retreads.
It's not that Wright isn't a superstar level talent. It's just that in big spots he forgets to go the other way and tries to hit grand slam HRs with nobody on base. It can be easily corrected if he had a hitting coach to help him, but HoJo is too busy weeping with his 1986 teammates.
I think he just puts too much pressure on himself to carry his teammates on his back. The game that he ended up hitting his walk off home run he had been swinging the bat well all game, so i think most of the time, its more confidence than the actual swing, but i agree, he does get too pull happy, he needs to relax and go with the pitch.