Will David Wright's Power Numbers Return in 2010?

David Wright had a very bizarre 2009 season for a few reasons, mainly his low HR and RBI numbers, his extremely high strikeout number, and his first stint on the disabled list.

In 2007 and 2008, Wright had 30 and 33 home runs, respectively, but he only had 10 in 2009.  He joined the 30-30 club in September of 2007 and had a career high HR total in 2008, but both years saw the Mets eliminated on the last day of the season.

Citi Field and its dimensions may have had something to do with the HR decline, but he hit the same amount on the road in 2009 as he did at home.  The two things that stand out about the home runs that Wright hit were that three of them had significance. 

Wright had the first Met home run against the San Diego Padres the first game at Citifield, a game that the Mets would lose. 

The last two home runs he hit were at Citizens Bank Park on Sep. 12, and they were the difference in the second to last game that the Mets had against the Philadelphia Phillies. 

The Mets won that game 10-9 and Wright had six RBI on the day with three hits—a two-run double in the first inning, a two-run homer in the eighth to bring the Mets within one run, and a two-run homer in the ninth to give the Mets a one run lead they did not relinquish.

Due to the injury that kept Jose Reyes on the disabled list most of the season, scoring opportunities in front of Wright were minimal and he did not have substantial support down the lineup.

Wright's RBI total for 2009 was 72 after having a career high RBI total of 124 in 2008.

In prior years, especially early in the game, Reyes would get on base, steal or advance to second or third base, and would score on a groundout, hit, or sacrifice fly by Wright. 

The Mets were injury plagued all season and Wright battled his own fair share of nagging leg problems, namely a strain behind his right knee and a balky left groin. However, he only missed two games until Aug. 16 with a concussion which resulted from a 94 mph Matt Cain fastball.

Howard Johnson told Bob Ojeda of SNY that he has been working with Wright on getting himself into hitting position earlier to be able to attack the fastball better.  Wright was swinging very late and was not able to get around on fastballs, he hit breaking balls with greater authority.

With the Mets hopefully getting their full lineup healthy again, along with the acquisition of Jason Bay, Wright should have better protection and the tweaks made in his approach and swing should pay dividends.