Bleacher Report - Articles by Wendy Adair

Brian Schneider Signs On with Philadelphia Phillies - How will he respond?

Wendy Adair — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:06:36 -0500

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer , Brian Schneider has signed a two-year contract with the Phillies for $3 Million.

Schneider is originally from the Allentown area so a return to Pennyslvania is considered a homecoming for his family and friends.

After injuries plagued Schneider for 2008 and 2009, the Mets did not stand in the way of him filing for Free Agency.

During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Schneider had several lower back and leg injuries and only played in a total of 169 games, and hit .244 with 62 RBI for the two seasons.

Yesterday, Chris Coste, formerly of the Phillies, was signed to the Mets' 40-man roster. In order to make the 25 man roster at the conclusion of Spring Training this March, Coste will need to prove his value.

Brian Schneider and Ryan Church were acquired by the Mets from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Lastings Milledge after the 2007 season.

Both struggled with injuries and fan acceptance during their time on the Mets. Many fans felt that Milledge was a diamond in the rough who was worth holding onto and that Omar Minaya had made yet another foolish move.

Ryan Church had severe and well documented concussion issues and was dealt to the Atlanta Braves in return for Jeff Francouer last July, a move that the Mets have come to have pride in the last few months.

Last August, when David Wright was beaned and had suffered a concussion, Church offered guidance and counseling to his former teammate and friend while the Braves were in town later in the week.

Manager Jerry Manuel did not like Ryan Church at all, although he vehemently denied it, as even after Church went to the Braves, Manuel still spoke of him in negative terms.

Jeff Francouer will most likely be a fixture on the Mets for quite a few years and many Mets fans will soon forget that Ryan Church had any positive contributions in his playing time.

Church's defining moment of the 2009 season was when he scored a run initially but it was overruled when the Dodgers appealed and won because Church missed third base.

Josh Thole appears to be the catching future of the Mets but with Schneider gone, Omir Santos and/or Chris Coste will be his mentors going into the 2010 season.

Why Do Mets Fans Want Luis Castillo Gone for 2010? Forgive and Forget?

Wendy Adair — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:34:29 -0500

The Hot Stove is in full baking mode this week and there is much talk about the Mets being interested in Orlando Hudson, Marco Scutaro, and possibly Mark De Rosa.

There are many holes that the Mets need to fill before Spring Training ,but I do not think that second base is one of them.

They need pitching first and foremost, an upgrade at catcher and first base, and an everyday power-hitting left fielder.

I admit this time last year I was one of the first fans to say "Luis Castillo does not belong here, eat his contract and move on please."

My thoughts of Castillo have changed for the better, when i'm wrong I admit it, he made me a believer.

Castillo reported to Spring Training last February more than 15 pounds lighter and was the most energetic and happy his teammates had ever seen him.

All signs pointed to Castillo being a brand new man who would prove that he is the valuable player that Mets fans needed but did not get in 2008.

Many fans, including myself, felt the hype was not earned and the Mets made yet another foolish acquisition with a large contract.

Unfortunately, what Castillo will be most remembered for during the 2009 season are two bad moments—the dropped pop up against the Yankees and the fall down the dugout steps.

While both of those incidents were embarrassing, and in the case of the dropped pop up, very costly, combined they do not wipe away the positive contributions that Castillo made during the 2009 season.

I do think that if he had things to do over again, there is no way he would miss that pop up, he took responsibility and was a man about it to the media. No excuses, his words were "this loss is not on the team, its on me."

The thing that stands out with Castillo with my memory is that he is one of the few every day players who avoided the Disabled List. Even though he was given several games off to rest his balky legs, he was a fixture at second base and that should not be overlooked by management or fans.

He did prove himself to be a great hitter, batting over .300 much of the season, and he also showed most of the time why he had won Gold Glove Awards while he was with the Minnesota Twins.

Castillo does have a substantial contract in place with the Mets and if they did move him, money would be a large consideration that many fans feel is worthwhile to improve the team going forward.

Omar Minaya is looking at all options for improving the team, and no reasonable deal should be dismissed, but let's take care of the glaring problems first, Castillo deserves another year to show that 2009 was not a fluke.

New York Mets Should Bring Home Josh Thole and Lance Broadway From Venezuela

Wendy Adair — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:13:05 -0500

Several Mets players are participating in winter baseball this year, and Josh Thole and Lance Broadway are in Venezuela where there is incredible political unrest and fear of war with Colombia.

Johan Santana is from Venezuela, but does not want to participate in winter ball and Francisco Rodriguez is expected to begin play there in a few weeks.

Baseball related injuries are, to a certain extent, accepted during the games and workouts. However, putting players in a war torn country or hostile political environment for baseball activities is not acceptable .

Being in the midst of political and cultural warfare should not be a role of a visiting professional baseball player, regardless of their age and experience.

The reason these players participate in winter ball and other such tournaments is for development of existing or learning of new skills and for the love of the game.

Last March, the Mets sent a large contingent of their roster to participate in the World Baseball Classic, which was held in several different cities and venues.

Several players went to either Japan, Mexico, or Puerto Rico, and a few went to Toronto.

There was some reason for concern in Mexico, but the only Met to go there was Oliver Perez and that is his native homeland, so he was not in immediate danger.

However, being in a foreign country that is about to enter into a war with neighboring Colombia is unwise, and Thole and Broadway should return to the United States as soon as possible.

As Americans in a foreign land, they are conspicuous, and even though they may be shielded to a degree by baseball coaches and officials, the risk of their safety does not outweigh the benefits of their baseball growth.

Both players are having a good time and have been offered the chance to go back to the United States but they have declined and intend to stay there for the remainder of the schedule

The Mets will not insist that they return because they are adults who can judge for themselves, but as fans, we are and should continue to be concerned for their safety.

New York Mets: New Faces Will Bring Changes to Team in 2010

Wendy Adair — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:37:48 -0500

The GMs of Major League Baseball are meeting this week to review baseball policies and also to lay the groundwork for deals this winter.

Omar Minaya has arrived in Chicago for the meetings and is making it known that he is desperately seeking a power bat in left field and/or first base for 2010.

Every season the Mets make an impact move, Johan Santana in 2008, Francisco Rodriguez in 2009, and Matt Holliday seems the likely choice for the major deal this winter.

Santana and K-Rod did make their presences known, both on the field and off the field with their clubhouse interviews.

During most of their post-game interviews, they made it clear that they will throw any and all teammates under the bus for not getting a job done during the game situations.

The Mets are a team that needs to have its culture changed, what has been in place the last few years obviously has not worked. I think that this year's acquisitions should be the difference makers in the clubhouse.

While being frustrated is completely understandable, all wins are team wins and all losses are team losses.

By Santana repeatedly saying "I think I did my job" may be true at least some of the time, it also shows the press and listening audience that he was only interested in his pitching line and that the win/loss statistic is not important to him as a player.

Unfortunately very few Mets players seem to understand this team concept or are at least willing to acknowledge that fact. This needs to change immediately.

There appear to be players who either use the language barrier or have to run home to the wife and kids as an excuse to leave the clubhouse earlier than their teammates who end up answering for them as a team.

I realize that they are getting contracts to play and not to talk, but my point is that communication on and off the field should be more of a priority than it has been in the past.

The players that are acquired this winter should not only be judged on what they bring to the field, but also by what qualities they bring to the clubhouse.

All players are accountable for answering the media and should not look for the glory interview and show that they understand that the team lost and they all played some part in that loss.

Last April, Gary Sheffield was brought to the Mets and there was much criticism for his past history on both the Yankees and Detroit Tigers.

Sheffield ended up being the model citizen, working with the younger players and supporting de-facto Captain David Wright to the wall and beyond most of the time.

My hope is that the 2010 Mets will report to Spring Training with a winning and positive attitude that starts from the top and trickles all the way down.

Make no mistake, Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel will be on a short leash in 2010, so the offseason moves of the management and attitudes of the players and coaches this spring will be closely monitored.

Carlos Delgado Files For Free Agency, Will He Be Back in 2010?

Wendy Adair — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:35:48 -0500

The filing period for Free Agents to begin negotiating with their incumbent teams has begun with the end of the World Series.

Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider were the first two eligible Mets to file for Free Agency yesterday.

Gary Sheffield, JJ Putz, Fernando Tatis, Alex Cora, and Ramon Martinez are also expected to file Free Agency in the next few days.

The Mets are not expected to stand in the way of these players either retiring or signing with other teams.

Incumbent teams have until November 20th to resign their Free Agents exclusively.

Other teams may contact them during this time, but no contracts can be signed until the current team either decides to re-sign or let them pursue other contracts.

The Mets existing core of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright is in danger of being broken up, especially with injuries to all four of them in 2009.

Lengthy (2+months) stays on the DL were necessary for Delgado, Beltran and Reyes.

Jose Reyes had surgery on his leg a few weeks ago, so his status for the spring is unknown and health concerns for Beltran (knees) and Wright (concussion-related) will continue until both prove otherwise in Spring Training.

Delgado only played in 26 games for the Mets in 2009 before he needed hip surgery in May.

In his absence, Daniel Murphy appeared to find his home in the defensive alignment as it was clear that he is not a gifted outfielder. If not for Delgado's absence most of the season, it's possible that Murphy may have either been a permanent bench player or re-assigned to the Minor Leagues.

Jerry Manuel was hesitant to use Murphy against left-handed pitchers, so Fernando Tatis had several starts at first base until he was needed to play third base after David Wright's concussion in mid-August.

Omar Minaya and the Mets management need to decide if they should let Daniel Murphy have his full chance to prove himself as an everyday first baseman.

They will probably try to pursue an established first baseman via Free Agency or trade during and after the winter meeting negotiations.

Should a good fit be found, the option of keeping Murphy at the major league level is at least an option as he has proved that he can hit major league pitchers.

Minaya's job is on the line in 2010 unless the Mets do extremely well, so his moves this winter can set the tone for the season in the fans and management's minds. Time will tell what moves are made this winter.

John Maine: Does He Have Trade Value or Will the Mets Hang onto Him?

Wendy Adair — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:50 -0500

John Maine has been injury riddled for most of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, but the Mets do need to make a decision on whether he fits into their plans for the starting rotation in 2010.

After Johan Santana, the Mets starting rotation in 2009 was shaky at best, and even Santana was not healthy enough to finish the season as he required elbow surgery in August.

The only starting pitcher who did manage to escape injury was Mike Pelfrey, but the absence of Maine for most of the season was extremely harmful and disruptive.

The injuries as a whole was the primary story for the Mets in 2009. They had all four of their core position players on the DL, three of them for two months of the season or longer.

David Wright was the only core player who went on the DL and came back off exactly 15 days later and played the remaining games.

Pitchers Oliver Perez and JJ Putz were among the players who missed substantial playing time this season due to injuries, so the starting rotation and bullpen were severely affected by injuries.

Jerry Manuel did have his work cut out for him trying to juggle the pitching rotation and figuring out how off days would affect the starters, especially considering that two of Maine's replacements, Fernando Nieve and Jonathan Niese, also went down with injuries.

Maine started 25 games in 2008 with a 10-8 record. But his season was cut short in August due to bone spurs in his pitching shoulder, which did require surgery in the offseason.

He reported to Spring Training in February and did very well, his presence there was important because of Perez and Santana leaving camp with many of their teammates for participation in the WBC.

There seemed to be little doubt that Maine had put his shoulder problems to rest, the surgery was successful, and 2009 would be a vital season for him in the Mets rotation.

He did make 10 starts but was experiencing fatigue in his arm and shoulder between starts. This was a concern, so they shut him down in early June with "dead arm." He was sent for rest and rehab in Port St Lucie, Florida.

Maine returned to the rotation on September 13 and did have two wins during September, but more important, he felt good and strong even though he was on a strict pitch count during those starts.

The Mets need to boost their starting rotation, and trades and acquisitions are both expected this winter.

John Maine's name is appearing as trade potential to get either a power hitter or a front line starter.

His trade value is pretty low right now due to his having limited starts the last year-and-a-half but if teams see his potential they may decide to let him at least audition for a starting role this spring.

If the Mets are not convinced that he has substantial value to their rotation or bullpen, they may package him with a desirable younger player (Fernando Martinez or Josh Thole) to hopefully entice other teams in a trade.

Omar Minaya is no doubt extremely busy setting his plans in motion, and fans are anxious to know who will survive the winter as a Met and who will be traded or released.

John Maine is 28 years old and he does have incredible potential, but his shoulder health is a question mark.

The Mets have to decide whether to take the chance on putting him in the rotation or to convince another team that he will make a solid contribution to their pitching staff.

Matt Holliday or Jason Bay: Who Do the Mets Need in Left Field?

Wendy Adair — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:14:32 -0400

The Mets need an everyday left fielder—on that we can agree—but the question of who Omar Minaya will make the effort to acquire and who he is willing to give up in the process is what fans are concerned about this winter.

Free agent acquisitions are obviously a big issue with the winter meetings in December, but trade opportunities will no doubt also present themselves, and Minaya needs to be aggressive but not further deplete the Mets' anemic farm system in the process.

Minaya has stated that he wants St. Louis Cardinal Matt Holliday but that Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox is also under consideration for left field.

Both are proven outfielders, no question, but Holliday is at the top of the wish list for Minaya, and a big name move to gain power would definitely put Mets fans' minds at ease as one was lacking in 2009.

Being that Holliday is a National Leaguer, he is familiar with the Mets and their fans more than Bay coming from the American League.

Lets compare 2009 stats:

Bay

Batting Average: .267, Home Runs: 36, RBI: 119

Holliday

Batting Average: .313, Home Runs: 24, RBI: 109

Bay had the HR and RBI advantage, but Holliday had the batting average advantage. However, who knows what could change for either of them when Citi Field is their new home stadium?

The Mets need power in the lineup and defense in left field, but mostly they need stability, something that was sorely lacking in 2009 mainly due to the injuries to key players.

Daniel Murphy was clearly not the answer in left field but certainly proved his worth at first base in Carlos Delgado's absence.

Gary Sheffield was more than adequate, but his age and injury issues make it hard for him to be dependable, though I do think that the Mets may retain Sheffield for at least the first half of 2010 to come in as a pinch hitter.

Mr. Minaya, the ball is in your court, so to speak. Make your moves for the good of the 2010 team and beyond.

Review of Citi Field for Stadium Journey

Wendy Adair — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:23:11 -0400

Much has been said about the Mets and their move into brand new Citi Field this past spring.

There have already been many memorable moments both there and at their former residence, Shea Stadium, and I hope you enjoy reading my review.

My husband and I attended the September 20, 2009 game at Citi Field.

This review was originally published on Stadium Journey.com which contains reviews for MLB and NFL stadiums.

http://www.stadiumjourney.com/

Thank you for reading the review and we hope that you find it helpful should you make a trip to see the Mets in 2010 and beyond at their new home.

Sorry, NY Mets Fans, I Will Be Rooting for the Phillies If They Play the Yankees

Wendy Adair — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:21:03 -0400

I never thought that I would say this, but I will be rooting for the Phillies, should they go up against the Yankees in the World Series next week.

Please don't get me wrong, I am not happy about the potential for Philadelphia to earn their second straight World Series Championship.

I would have preferred either Colorado or Los Angeles to have the opportunity to play in the World Series, but it is what it is, the Phillies are one win away from the NL Pennant.

The Phillies are the defending World Champions and have no doubt earned their spot at the top of the National League, and a win over the Dodgers tonight will send them to the World Series to face either the Yankees or Angels.

Call me a bitter and frustrated Mets fan if you will, but this Yankee dominance in the media and fanbase needs to stop, they are not the only team in the country.

Yankee ownership and management has done an incredible job with this team and the star players have all brought their "A" game this season more so than any other team in baseball.

That being said, the attitude of the Yankees and the media that the rest of the teams in the Major Leagues only play to decide who will be playing the Yankees each October has gone on for much too long in this fan's humble opinion.

The Mets and Phillies play on average about 20 games per season, compared to the six games between the Mets and Yankees, and yes, the Phillies defending their title will definitely put a bigger strain on the already hostile and mocking relationship between the Phillies and Mets fans.

While dealing with Phillies fans is tough, it pales in comparison to being surrounded by Yankees fans. They are truly one of the most obnoxious fan bases in baseball. Philadelphia is definitely a close second, but I live in New York, not Pennsylvania.

The Yankees players, organization and fans need to know that everyday life does not revolve around them for all New Yorkers and their everyday activities from March until October.

So much has been publicly made about Alex Rodriguez dating Kate Hudsdon and she has been as much a prominent part of televised games as her boyfriend. If Rodriguez and Hudson don't want to keep their relationship private, that's their decision, but why do national TV viewers need to see Hudson standing and cheering in the stands every time A-Rod gets a big hit?

Its all in the name of publicity- which is what the New York Yankees seem to care the most about, their players know that they need to perform to the expectations dervived from all the media attention, not to mention the severely overinflated payroll.

Honestly, as fans we don't care who the players date as long as they are doing what they need to be doing, but since he is a star Yankee player, his love life is front page news.

I realize that any complaints the rest of us voice to Yankees fans are chalked up to jealousy, the "don't hate us because we are great" attitude never seems to fade the slightest bit and it speaks volumes for the world of baseball.

Outside of diehard Yankee fans, no one wants them to succeed because of this arrogance and dominance within New York sports, both with the media and fans.

My husband and I attended a theatre performance last night and score updates were provided to excess by theatre staff during intermission and by audience members receiving text alerts during the later performances about the game score and play by play details (including outs and baserunners, we were actually surprised that balls and strike counts were omitted).

If Yankees fans needed to be in the know about game scores and situations, they should have stayed home or in a sports bar, not in public places blurting out the play by play for all the world to hear, its not like it was Game 7 of the World Series.

As exciting as it is to have a New York baseball team in the postseason, that does not mean that all public places become instant stadiums or sports bars, this applies to restaurants, movie theatres and broadway shows.

I have contacted the local theatre and have told them that in my opinion, the performers affected are owed an apology for the attention being drawn away from them for a baseball game.

Everyone is entitled to root or not to root for a team, I am not being a traitor to the Mets, I just want the Yankees knocked down a few pegs so they receive some humble pie servings.

That's just life in New York as a Mets fan, nothing personal against the Yankees but they receive too much glory in this town considering that they have not done well in recent seasons before 2009.

Will Jason Marquis Be a New York Met in 2010?

Wendy Adair — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:33:01 -0400

The Mets have several holes to fill this winter, and one of the many concerns is the starting rotation.

Oliver Perez, John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey all may have the talent to be solid starters behind Johan Santana, but all three of them need to prove that they can contribute positively to the rotation for the whole season.

Perez missed a significant portion of the last season because of lingering knee trouble, which did require surgery, but prior to that, he had a lot of problems with his control and was placed in the bullpen.

Perez has incredible talent, but his focus is not there most of the time unless he is facing a team that he feels challenged by, such as the Yankees and Phillies. He gets rattled very easily, which causes problems for the whole team.

He also has a hard time finding his calm when he needs to get the big outs against the poor quality teams such as the Nationals or Pirates.

Maine also missed quite a bit of the season after not conditioning himself properly after his shoulder surgery in September 2008 and had "arm fatigue" or "dead arm" problems, but he did show significant improvement when he returned in September 2009.

Pelfrey has a lot of potential, but he has battled the "yips." Both Brian Schneider and David Wright have worked closely with him during his starts on the mound to keep him focused.

Jason Marquis will most likely be leaving the Colorado Rockies, as Jeff Francis is planning on returning to the team after missing most of the 2009 season with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Marquis is New York born and bred (Staten Island, to be exact) and has expressed interest in returning to New York even though he grew up a Yankee fan, he may be better suited for the Mets. This homecoming may work to his advantage because he knows the fanbase and expectations of playing in a major market.

Mets management knows this is a crucial area for improvement this winter. The team needs a No. 2 starter, and Marquis may be given the chance since Perez, Maine, and Pelfrey have not been able to show their reliability or durability—two things that are very important for this 2010 New York Mets team.

Jerry Manuel: What Worked and What Didn't Work In 2009

Wendy Adair — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:42:53 -0400

Jerry Manuel completed his first and possibly last full season as Mets manager, and how he handles things this coming season will determine how many more years he will be a manager in this turbulent Mets organization.

There were some procedures that he implemented in 2009, some successful, some not, but the question is:

What was learned from these procedures and will they be part of the 2010 season?

The first thing he did is implement an 80 pitch drill in spring training to make the hitters stand in the batters box and hit curveballs to the opposite field.

This drill was challenging and exhausting to the batters and this may have given the team some bad habits and possibly have affected the power numbers because the power hitters did not pull the ball the way they have in the past.

While it is good to use all fields and hit the ball in a way that can advance a runner or confuse a defense, batters seemed preoccupied with hitting curveballs. This made them extremely vulnerable to the sinkerball pitchers that seemed to dominate the Mets lineup in 2009.

Another procedure he put in place was old fashioned infield practice before games. Again, i'm not sure of the results because the errors on the infield players were very hurtful to the team.

Granted, many players who are normally part of the infield were injured, and this may have contributed to several errors, but the defense was still flawed.

Sandy Alomar Sr. had been handling the defensive aspect of the roster and as a result of the poor defense, Alomar will be given alternate tasks in 2010.

Manuel also wanted to make sure that the entire team was made to be accountable to the media after games, instead of leaving the entire job to David Wright. Wright still ended up doing the majority of the work, but the additions of Alex Cora and Jeff Francouer did alleviate some of the burden.

This is a responsibility that should not even have to be officially delegated, you play the game, you answer for the results.

While it is easy to stand there and take credit for a job well done, taking the tough questions and criticisms for failures should be as much a part of the job description.

Much has been written about post-game comments and teammates bad mouthing each other to the media instead of discussing it face to face, and this gives the "let me throw him under the bus" message, regardless of intent. These practices create negative vibes in a clubhouse.

Most notably, Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez have been criticized at great length for criticisms of teammates instead of acknowledging that they did play a part in the loss themselves. It is a team sport and there should be no room for "I did my job, but they didn't make the play."

It may be true that the defense made a mistake or two, but that in no way excuses walking the bases loaded and giving up a grand slam home run, which happened frequently in 2009.

Manuel and Wright must take the lead and keep a control on how the players handle the media in regards to their teammates successes and failures during the post-game interviews.

The 2009 season was a bitter disappointment, but there are many lessons that were hopefully learned, and the 2010 season should be one of growth by Manuel and from the players themselves. They are all in this together.

New York Mets' Core: Will It Be Intact for 2010?

Wendy Adair — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:12:23 -0400

Jerry Manuel has stated this week that his core players will likely not recognize many of their teammates next year, and I'm sure that is the case, but you do have to wonder how many of the core players will be prominent members of the team this spring.

Carlos Delgado is coming off hip surgery and has had several setbacks, so his return to everyday lineup is not at all guaranteed. The coming months will determine his readiness.

If Delgado cannot play every day, he will most likely opt to retire or search for an American League team where he can be a designated hitter.

Delgado did have a strong presence in the clubhouse, both for better and for worse, and time will tell how his absence has affected this team.

Jose Reyes only played 36 games in 2009 and is probably undergoing surgery this fall or winter to repair his torn hamstring suffered earlier in the week. Reyes missed most of the season due to torn hamstring tendon which did not respond to treatment and rest.

Reyes is the spark of the lineup and the unequaled energy source, if he is not able to run and wreak havoc on the bases, his use on the team is greatly limited, by his own admission and those sentiments have been stated by most members of the Mets.

Carlos Beltran missed over two months of the season with a bone bruise and it has yet to be determined whether surgery will be necessary this winter.

Much has been said about Beltran's durability and toughness, and to be honest, he will need to prove that he can play every day in order to still be considered a core member of this team.

David Wright had a very disappointing 2009 season, with career low home runs (10) and RBI (71) but more upsetting was the unusually high strikeouts which total 140, which is a career high and a number that Wright has no intention of matching or exceeding the rest of his career.

As disappointing as Wright's numbers have been, his leadership role has increased more than ever with the absence of the other core players for most of the season.

Mike Pelfrey and Daniel Murphy in particular have been Wright's main responsibilities and he has been visibly tough on both of them when he felt that a push was needed to help their game and keep them focused the game at hand.

Even an unexpected two-week stint on the disabled list after being beaned by a Matt Cain fastball on Aug. 15 did not deter Wright from being in the dugout and clubhouse during that time to offer moral support and encouragement to his teammates.

Johan Santana is considered another core member, but mainly from a pitching standpoint, but as he is not an everyday player, he cannot possibly have the same influence on the team that a position player has during a 162-game season.

The Mets have a lot of decisions to make, but the core members will be watched closely to define their role in a winter that will surely see a lot of changes in the organization.

Mets Rookies Hazed Yesterday, This Is a Good Thing

Wendy Adair — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:01:45 -0400

The hazing of rookies is a big part of baseball life in late September and yesterday was no different for the Mets.

Rookies and fill in players have played a major role on this Mets team in 2009, and it was important for them to be hazed in order to show them that they now fully belong to the fraternity known as Major League Baseball.

It is a fun and meaningful event that is not even close to being as embarrassing or humiliating as some college hazing rituals, usually nothing more than putting on some clothes and accessories that get a chuckle or two, all done in the name of fun and acceptance by their veteran teammates.

Here is the link with pictures from yesterday's ritual.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2009/09/mets-4-marlins-0-dress-up-time.html

Brian Schneider, along with help from Jeff Francoeur and Jeremy Reed, did the honors yesterday to rookies Josh Thole, Lance Broadway, Tobi Stoner and Daniel Murphy. Omir Santos, Ken Takahashi and Bobby Parnell also got into the spirit of the afternoon.

In 2007, the annual hazing was cancelled due to the team's embarrassment of the collapse occurring at the time and the veteran players thought it would be in bad taste to make such a fun ritual part of that horrible month.

Even though last year was not much better morale wise, David Wright insisted that the ritual take place and dressed his teammates up in Michael Phelps Olympic gear, stating that it is an age old tradition that must take place in the clubhouse.

Some fans may be irked that the Mets players hazed their rookies, and think that it is disrespectful to the organization that has had more than its fair share of embarrassment this season.

I can understand that logic to a point, however I do think that it is important that the rookies know that their teammates accept them and appreciate what they have brought to the team regardless of wins, losses, or games back in the standings.

David Wright Still Haunted by Beaning: Strikeouts Are Mounting Higher

Wendy Adair — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:04:28 -0400

This has been a roller coaster ride season for David Wright, who now has struck out 130 times, surpassing last year's total of 118.

With ten games remaining, it's possible that Wright will strike out another 20 times, ending his season with 150 strikeouts.

Although Wright is the team leader in RBI at 68, many more RBI opportunities presented themselves during the 130 strikeout at-bats, and this has hurt his overall production.

It would be dishonest and unfair to say that the Mets would be in the playoff chase had Wright had 30-50 less strikeouts and 50 more RBI, but it does play a big part in the run production for the Mets.

Mark Reynolds, one of Wright's childhood friends from Norfolk, VA, who is on the Arizona Diamondbacks, struck out three times last night, which brought his season total to a career high 206. But with 100 RBI, management is not overly concerned about Reynolds' strikeout numbers.

Even before his concussion on August 15th, Wright had season-long streaks of high strikeouts that lasted for several days. Yet Jerry Manuel seemed only somewhat concerned, which is more than a little alarming given the fact that Wright has been the heart of the lineup for much of the season.

The Mets have been destroyed by injuries this season and Mets management hiding the team's failures behind injuries as opposed to working as much as possible with the healthy players has hurt the players and the organization.

To his credit, Wright returned to the lineup on September 1st, the very first day he was eligible to return to the active roster. He has only sat one game since, and that was strictly for precautionary reasons.

Much was written about the new helmet that he wore the first two games he was back, but it probably was more distracting than helpful for two reasons - it was too big and bulky and it also was another reminder that he is recovering from a concussion from beaning.

Recent statements by Wright tell that he is holding the memory of the 94mph fastball to his helmet in the back of his head and is flinching when the ball comes inside. Therefore, his pitch location perception is not where it should be in the batters box.

The scouting report on David Wright has always been up and in, as he is a notorious low ball hitter who prefers the ball from the inside corner to out over the plate.

Brad Thompson of the St Louis Cardinals was suspended for two games by the Commissioner's office for throwing near Wright's head in early August. The initial ruling was three games, but Thompson appealed the ruling, and the suspension was reduced in Thompson's favor.

Adam Eaton, previously of the Phillies, had grazed Wright in the helmet in June of 2007, and Matt Lindstrom of the Florida Marlins has come extremely close to hitting Wright in the head with 96 mph fastballs on several occasions.

Pitching inside is part of baseball and that will not change, but when it comes to being thrown at or near the head, that is real danger and can alter the way a batter approaches a game situation.

David Wright and hitting coach Howard Johnson have a father-son relationship, and Johnson has invited both Wright and Jeff Francoeur to his Tampa, Florida home this winter for an informal hitting camp.

The Mets are looking for Wright to be able to have the comfort level in the batter's box that he needs to be successful, and hopefully this will be accomplished by the Spring of 2010.

John Maine Works His Way Back to Health in the Mets Rotation

Wendy Adair — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:21:45 -0400

John Maine made his second pitching start since June 5 for the Mets yesterday against the Washington Nationals and was extremely impressive.

Maine pitched five shutout innings and only gave up two singles and one walk while striking out one. Of the 75 pitches thrown in those five innings, 50 of them were strikes, and Maine did have good control over both his two- and four-seam fastball.

In 2010, the Mets will have to decide on who will be their No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana; the choices look to be Maine, Mike Pelfrey, or a pitcher to be acquired in the offseason.

The 2009 season saw Maine out of action from early August through September, but he remained in the dugout and clubhouse to cheer on his teammates as much as possible.

Maine had a bone spur removed from his shoulder in October of 2009 and did attempt to pitch in early 2009, but he felt arm fatigue on days between pitching starts, and the Mets decided to shut him down to rehabilitate his arm.

The Mets need to be sure that Maine can be an effective No. 2 starter before they put him in that role, but the competition between Maine and Pelfrey for that spot could be compromised if Omar Minaya decides to pursue starting pitchers this winter.

Maine impressed the fans and the team alike in 2006, including the postseason starts that he made, and in 2007 he notched the impressive 13-0 win over the Marlins on the second-to-last day of the epic collapse.

Maine and Pelfrey look to be long-time Mets and both of their contributions to the starting rotation will be pivotal to the success of the Mets.

Every start made by Santana is expected to be a success, but with Ollie Perez being the epitome of inconsistency and the question marks of Pelfrey's confidence and Maine's shoulder health, Mets fans find themselves waiting on pins and needles in between their ace's starts.

Should Maine prove that his shoulder problems are a thing of the past, it is one less day a week that Mets fans have reason to dread watching the games.

Mets Priorities This Winter: What Needs to Be Done?

Wendy Adair — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:13:49 -0400

The Mets have a lot to work on this coming off season, and like most winters, transactions should be a constant priority.

Here is my list of what I think are the most pressing items for management to consider:

1) Do not issue long term, high dollar contracts to any player. In this time of financial difficulty, no player is worth acquiring if that goes with the demand of being locked in for a long term deal.

2) Make sure that players are mentally and physically ready for the season in Spring Training and condition their minds and bodies accordingly. I realize that this past season the WBC wreaked havoc on the schedule and on the players, but team-first needs to be stressed from the top down.

3) Acquire an everyday left fielder, no insult to Corey Sullivan or anyone else who has been filling in this season, but this is a priority.

I know that I am setting myself up for Manny mania by making this list, and that is fine, but as a fan, i do not have realistic expectations that he will be a Met in 2010.

Marlon Anderson is an outfielder who was missed this year, he could also have made significant contributions to both the outfield and the bench but he was released.

4) Appoint David Wright as Captain, even though the official title means very little to the team itself, I do think it is important that the leadership be official and not implied or de-facto, that has gone on way too long in my opinion.

Being the "face of the franchise" has its perks no doubt but without the captain title in these modern days and times can be a double edged sword as Wright has the responsibility without the recognition.

Even though he has had his struggles this year, Wright's leadership has been stronger than ever and for that he should be commended. Even after he was beaned and placed on the DL, instead of staying home and resting, he was in the dugout and clubhouse cheering everyone on and providing guidance.

5) Do not overstate or understate the condition of a player when they are injured, it does not help the player, team or fans to do so, be honest about it so there can be little room for doubt or mistrust of the medical staff.

Injuries are a part of the game, the players and fans both accept and understand that, but if communication is not there, everyone loses. Much has been said about players being "soft" or "milking", fair or unfair, fans draw their own conclusions when the media makes more known about the injuries than the team itself.

6) Utitility infielders are no doubt important as we have found out with the injuries to our infielders, especially to Jose Reyes.

The Mets were foolish to let Damian Easley go, even though he was often injured himself, he could have made a big difference to this 2009 team.

Alex Cora did admirably filling in for Reyes most of the season but was forced to end his season with thumb surgery. Fernando Tatis also filled in for David Wright admirably during the two weeks after Wright's concussion.

7) Pitching has been an issue yet again in 2009, even though no one could have predicted the injuries to the starting pitchers, more needs to be done especially in the farm system to make development of pitchers a priority.

John Maine, Oliver Perez and Johan Santana all missing time with injuries hurt the Mets tremendously and even their replacements suffered injuries, most notably Fernando Nieve and Jonathan Niese.

8) If Carlos Delgado is not rehabilitated, do not resign him with the hope that he goes back to late 2008 form, it is not fair to Daniel Murphy or any other player with every day first baseman aspirations.

Delgado is one of the core players, with good reason, he has earned it, but keeping him on the roster when he cannot play 90% of the season is nothing more than a distraction.

9) Acquire a starting catcher even though Josh Thole appears to be on his way to becoming an everyday catcher. Thole is not ready and Brian Schneider has made peace with his days as a Met being numbered. The pitching staff needs a reliable catcher and the merits of Omir Santos dropped in value as the season progressed.

10) Carlos Beltran is another player whose health is questionable at this point, and if he cannot play in centerfield on a consistent basis with his knee bruise, then an acquisition needs to be made, because honestly I am not sure that Angel Pagan fits into the Mets plans.

David Wright: Back In the Saddle Trying to Get Comfortable

Wendy Adair — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:19:07 -0400

David Wright is back in the lineup as an every day player and is struggling at the plate.

Taking a 94mph fastball to the head is one of the most horrific things that can happen to you on a baseball field and that's exactly what happened to Wright on Aug. 15th at Citi Field.

In a lost season for the Mets, what matters the most is that he got back in the batters box the day he was eligible after being beaned by a Matt Cain fastball.

The Mets are now in the role of spoiler, fully out of any kind of playoff contention so individual statistics for their regulars mean less than ever at this point in the season.

There are many Mets players who may be auditioning for spots on the roster for the 2010 season but David Wright is not one of them, so his confidence as a hitter takes priority.

Wright and the Mets know that recovering from a concussion is a process and that there are symptoms that can linger or appear suddenly such as headaches, dizziness, and sleeping trouble, and he does need daily monitoring for this process.

For his first at bat since returning from the 15-day Disabled List, Wright hit the first pitch he saw from Jorge De La Rosa of the Rockies for a single. He knew that was the best course of action, get back in there but don't stay in there too long in order to get a case of nerves, which did help his immediate confidence at home plate.

His average is dropping, the strikeouts are still mounting and his power has not returned, but the fact that he wants to be in there every day speaks volumes about David Wright, the competitor and de-facto captain of the Mets.

Fans may get frustrated with the slump and the 118 strikeouts which will most certainly end up increasing during the last several games of the season.

Frustration is fine but they need to keep in mind what Wright has gone through and appreciate the fact that he cares enough about his team and his role as captain to be in there every day.

David Wright and Carlos Beltran's Returns Show Heart, Just May Not Be Very Smart

Wendy Adair — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:12:59 -0400

Carlos Beltran returned to the starting lineup for the Mets last night and had a solid game even though the Mets lost by a score of 4-2 to the Marlins.

Beltran even came very close to being the game hero with the bases loaded in the seventh inning after David Wright struck out swinging, but he flied out to end the inning.

He did have a double and made a terrific defensive play so his knee was tested during the game. Beltran said his knee is not 100 percent but it did feel good to go out there and do his job.

The Mets have mishandled a lot of injuries this year, and many fans are questioning the rationale of putting Beltran back in the lineup in a lost season when he still has a bruise in his knee and could require yet another surgery.

Carlos Delgado and Gary Sheffield are done for the season and most likely so is Jose Reyes, so Beltran and David Wright are trying to help the Mets to as many wins as possible to play the role of spoiler in the NL East.

Beltran, like Wright, could have easily been shut down for the season, but both of them chose to come back and contribute any way possible, and this is commendable but possibly unwise.

Wright is struggling at the plate since his return a week ago from a concussion suffered on Aug. 15 when a 94 mph fastball by Matt Cain hit him in the helmet.

He has now struck out 115 times this season, and has struck out nine times since his return to the lineup.

Last night, Wright had a bad game that saw him strike out twice, once with the bases loaded, and he also hit into a double play and made an error which was not costly.

The Mets have less than a month remaining and even playing excellent baseball will probably not bring them up to .500, so the risks to these players outweigh the benefits.

Brian Schneider: End of the Road for His New York Mets Career?

Wendy Adair — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:20:31 -0400

Brian Schneider's tenure with the Mets the last two seasons has no doubt been a roller coaster, both physically and emotionally.

The Washington Nationals traded Schneider and Ryan Church to the Mets in the winter of 2008 in exchange for Lastings Milledge, who did not fit into the Mets plans or the clubhouse.

Milledge did not seem to want to abide by the hierarchy of the team and upset the chain of command in the clubhouse and broke or at least bent several team rules.

Both Church and Schneider were valuable pieces on a team in last place, but Church was longing to be an everyday outfielder.

He started off the season with a bang and it appeared that his wish would have been granted if it wasn't for two concussions in March and June of 2008.

At the time of the trade, many teammates, past and present, billed Schneider as a trusted game-caller and defensive catcher whose offensive contributions were secondary, but adequate for the position.

Paul LoDuca had been the starting catcher for the Mets since 2006, but a variety of issues kept the Mets from retaining him. Injuries and some off-the-field incidents were the ultimate reasons he no longer fit into their plans.

In my opinion one of the reasons that LoDuca fell out of favor is that he was and still is close friends with David Wright and with the off field controversies it was feared that Wright would be pulled in to the situations and wind up in difficulty of his own.

Lo Duca was a terrific hitter and worked very well with the pitchers, but his defense wasn't good enough and they wanted it to be a priority for a catcher entering the organization.

Schneider has been riddled with injuries, starting with an infection in his finger which required him to be hospitalized. He's also had several back and knee injuries that have kept him out of action for extended periods of time.

Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, and Oliver Perez have all benefited from Schneider's guidance and friendship on the days they pitch.

In the beginning of the 2009 season, the Mets had Ramon Castro. Castro was often injured, and was a great offensive producer, and he was also the clubhouse clown who kept everyone relaxed and laughing. But the Mets traded him to the Chicago White Sox for Lance Broadway.

During Schneider's absences, Omir Santos proved to be a productive backstop and it was apparent that Schneider's job may be in jeopardy, despite manager Jerry Manuel's vote of confidence.

Josh Thole made his MLB debut yesterday afternoon at Coors Field and did admirably, and with Brian Schneider a free agent at the end of the season, it is quite possibly the end of the road for him.

N.Y.'s David Wright Returns as Pitcher's Headache With New Rawlings Helmet

Wendy Adair — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:28:25 -0400

When David Wright is activated from the disabled list tomorrow, he should already have in his possession the new S100 batting helmet from Rawlings that will hopefully protect him from another concussion.

Wright has had a very bizarre season so far with career high strikeout pace and career low home runs and RBI's, but make no mistake, this guy cannot be taken lightly and should never be considered an easy out.

He has also played with several nagging leg injuries and had actually been run down with the flu when he was hit in the head on August 15. Prior to the concussion he had only missed two games all season, May 30 (fatigue) and August 11 (flu symptoms).

The new helmet has been tested and should prove to be invaluable in preventing many concussions as it is designed to withstand thrown pitches at 100mph.

Today's Major League pitchers are exceeding 90 mph at an alarming rate and batters need to be protected in order to avoid serious injury in the event that they are not able to duck out of the way in time.

Rawlings is sending one to Colorado for him to use, and it should be available before tomorrow night's game at Coors Field. Even if it is not, though, Wright will be in there to face any possible batter's box fears that may reside in the back of his head.

Ryan Dempster of the Cubs wore a slightly different version of the new helmet on Saturday and the new S100 helmets will become mandatory for all the players in the Minor Leagues next season.

Scott Rolen and Marco Scutaro have also both spent time on the Disabled List after being hit in the head with pitches.

While the up and in pitches are a part of baseball, getting hit in the head is very dangerous and the players need to be protected.

The Baseball Commissioner's Office has taken a very strong stand on pitchers who throw at batter's heads and suspensions and fines will result if they feel that the intent to injure is present.

The game in which the head injury to Wright occurred was the Saturday Fox Game of the week on national television, and the entire baseball world gasped and prayed for both David Wright and his family.

His parents and the youngest of his three brothers were in attendance that day and it had to be an extremely traumatic experience for them to witness. Wright admitted it was probably harder on them than it was on him, he was in a lot of pain but dazed and shook up, according to Mets teammate Jeff Francoeur.

Here is a quote from ESPN.com: "He was all shook up when I came in," Francoeur said. "He was scared."

Hiroki Kuroda and Ian Kinsler were also injured that same day with blows to the head, Kuroda by a ball hit back through the pitchers mound and Kinsler by a thrown pitch. Wright and Kuroda were both hospitalized overnight after CAT scans confirmed that concussions were suffered.

Wright has been disabled since August 16th with post-concussion symptoms and is due to be activated before tomorrow's opener in Denver. He joined his teammates in Chicago this past weekend after being cleared by the medical staff; he took batting and fielding practice and is feeling fine.

Earlier that week, Wright was asked about wearing the new helmet, and he said that he was fine with what he was currently wearing but added that he had faith in Rawlings to make a quality product and would gladly wear it for protection.

Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants hit Wright in the left earflap of his batting helmet with a 94 mph fastball and Wright was spun around and fell on his side and laid face down on the ground motionless for a few minutes.

The trainers and manager Jerry Manuel immediately came running out and Gary Sheffield who was the on deck hitter ran to home plate to attend to Wright.

After he was rolled over on his back, he sat up for a few moments to have his eyes examined, he was helped to his feet by the trainers and walked off the field on his own power to relieved applause from the Citi Field fans.

Matt Cain and the other Giants players were all extremely upset and concerned for Wright, and he and Cain did speak by phone the next day and shake hands two days later.

Seeing Wright walk off the field was a huge relief to Cain and to whoever was watching because honestly it looked like Wright was going to have to be carted off by stretcher when the initial impact sent him face down and motionless on the ground.

Besides Cain, several Giants players and coaches texted and called Wright the next day to let him know that the pitch was not intentional and that they were wishing a speedy recovery.

Wright is of the belief that the pitch was accidental, not like the pitch that Brad Thompson of the St Louis Cardinals threw earlier in the month that narrowly avoided hitting Wright in the head.

Thompson was fined and suspended for three games, he appealed the suspension and the suspension was reduced to two games. Tony La Russa was very disappointed in his pitcher for the location but did say that he thought the suspension was unfair.

Jerry Manuel has already said that Wright will not play every game initially, and he knows that Wright will no doubt protest the decision to rest him every other game.

It will not be easy for him to sit and watch on the sidelines if he is feeling well but he understands and appreciates his manager's concern and what is done is ultimately for his best interest.

Baseball players want to be in there helping their team; they do not want to be spectators. If Wright feels good after the first game, he will want to be in there for the next several days, but knows that it will be a battle.

He is a proven warrior who wants to be in there every day no matter what and his games played numbers for his five plus years career speak for themselves.

The Mets have been decimated by injuries this season, and Wright did not think that he would be one of the injured players. He was actually embarrassed at first that there was a need to go on the disabled list two weeks ago.

Wright is as tough and competitive as they come and is extremely anxious to get back in there and help the Mets win as many of their remaining games as possible.

Jerry Manuel and Howard Johnson have both commented in recent days that Wright seems to be fresh and thinking clearly and they know that they have to monitor him closely to make sure he doesn't overdo his workload until he plays several games.

Tomorrow night will be a test for David Wright, but those that know him and his competitive spirit are confident that he will be ready for any challenge that comes his way and will meet it and most likely prevail.

New York Mets Look Forward to 2010: What Can Fans Expect?

Wendy Adair — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:45:10 -0400

With 2009 being all but entered into the history books as one of the most bizarre and frustrating seasons for Mets fans, it's time to look forward to things improving in 2010.

Predictions for What Mets Fans Can be Thankful for Next Season

Jose Reyes plays a full year and returns to being the spark of the lineup and basepath terror, his presence will no longer be sorely missed.
Carlos Beltran returns to MVP form after hopefully avoiding microfracture surgery.
Carlos Delgado shows that he is past his hip injuries and is our much feared cleanup hitter.
David Wright goes back to pimping the orange shirt and neck chain, but more importantly shows that his legs are healthy and does not have any lingering effects from his concussion.
Johan Santana regains his form as our pitching ace, but does not need to be the glue that holds the pitching rotation together.
Oliver Perez has successful surgery and is in Cy Young contention. I predict he will be a 15-game winner.
Mike Pelfrey has put the "yips" behind him and his new found fatherhood has prepared him to being mentally tough, without relying on Wright to talk him down from the Whitestone Bridge.
Fernando Martinez wins Rookie of the Year Award and is able to stay healthy for the whole season.
Luis Castillo proves that his offensive prowess in 2009 was not a fluke and continues to be a valuable member of this team. He also goes on to win another Gold Glove Award.
Jeff Francoeur and Wright become co-captains of the Mets, leading them on the field each day and both continue to be accountable to the media and show their teammates that its part of the game.
Citi Field will not be brand new next year, the learning curve drops way down.
Minaya works out a great deal in the winter months to bring some much needed power to the lineup in the unfortunate event that Delgado and/or Beltran go down with more injuries.

Citi Field Seems To Be Cursed: Bring Back Shea Stadium, Please

Wendy Adair — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:25:36 -0400

When the Mets moved into their brand new stadium this past spring, there was an incredible sense of a clean slate and great things were expected for this team.

Putting the last two Septembers behind them has been accomplished only because of the horrendous injury situation that gets worse by the day.

My husband and I were at Shea Stadium last September when Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza closed the gate and the memories, both good and bad, were going to be kept behind those doors.

Offseason transactions were the biggest headlines, but the anticipation of sending 16 players to participate in the WBC in March was also on our minds.

I am not saying that one has anything to do with the other, but you do have to admit that the Mets' injuries this year are above and beyond anything that as fans we can wrap our heads around or can accept as another September looms on the near horizon.

During this last 10-game homestand the Mets have lost David Wright to a concussion, and now Jeff Francoeur is being examined for damage to his thumb which he injured making a terrific diving play in yesterday's game.

The roster is due to expand on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the Mets are anticipating that Wright, Putz, and possibly Beltran will return to the lineup once they prove that they are rehabbed from their injuries.

As bad and depressing as the past two Septembers were, they pale in comparison to the Mets being currently 15+ games out of first place behind the reigning World Series Champion Phillies and having all starters except Luis Castillo being lost to injuries.

While it is easy for fans to say "at least we don't have to worry about another collapse," I do not believe that to be the primary reason for not being able to watch the team currently on the field.

No disrespect is intended to those who are out there battling each day; they are giving it their all. I don't believe that they want to lose the remaining games, even though some fans do seem convinced to the contrary.

The Mets did have both good and bad memories at Shea Stadium: postseason play, World Championships, and other incredible milestones that Citi Field may not see for quite some time.

Citi Field is beautiful, no question, but so far there is not much reason for optimism that a World Series Champion flag will fly there in the near future.

David Wright Wants To Come Back, Post Concussion Symptoms Getting Better

Wendy Adair — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:34:27 -0400

David Wright addressed the media for the first time since his concussion on Saturday.

He acknowledged the terror of a pitch coming at his head, and knowing that he had no chance of getting out of the way. He does not believe that he lost consciousness while on the field, but admits to being dazed and scared.

The pain in his head has been pretty bad, but he maintains that the headaches are getting better, and he did not seem bothered by the lights and noise, which is a good sign that the concussion was not severe.

Wright is eligible to come off of the Disabled List on Aug. 31. He is making it known that he has every intention of doing everything possible to return to the active roster as soon as he is eligible.

In addition to having lingering groin problems and a season long strain behind his knee, Wright played with flu symptoms immediately prior to going on the DL.

This time of forced rest should help his entire body to heal and not just the concussion symptoms. It should also help him come to grips on how to take care of himself to avoid further injury.

The Mets' management has been and will continue to be in contact with the neurologist who treated Wright in the hospital this weekend. They did not want to put him on the DL for obvious reasons, but the doctors knew that he would need the 15 days to fully recover from the concussion.

In order to begin any physical activity, medical clearance will be required. Wright will be undergoing a concussion test to check his motor skills and reaction time, the grade of concussion will also be measured.

The recovery process will likely take longer than they would like, but they have to proceed with caution. Wright is as tough as it gets, and wants to get back in action as quickly as possible, but the doctors and medical staff will need to gauge his progress and pace him accordingly.

The Mets are now in the position of being spoilers, no longer in postseason contention. As some of the other injured players working their way back to active duty, some of the pressure may come off Wright and he can take his time and make sure that he did not suffer permanent damage.

Wright wants to be a big part of the rest of the season, but his medical limitations could make it harder than he may realize less than a week after being hit by a 94 mph fastball.

Jerry Manuel Uses A Sick David Wright as a Pinch Hitter: What Was the Point?

Wendy Adair — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:38:45 -0400

On Monday night, Jerry Manuel stated that he was giving David Wright a day off for Tuesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Wright was kept out of the starting lineup, but was used in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter with the hopes of a win. The problem is, the New York Mets were down four runs and Wright would have not represented the winning or tying run.

There was no reason for him to hit, especially given the facts that the game would not have been won unless his getting on base would have loaded the bases for a grand slam.

The fact that Wright is feeling ill and in a very weakened condition made this decision even more questionable.

Below is an excerpt from a New York Daily News article; Wright's illness is also documented on the Mets' Web site:

Wright—who pinch-hit in the ninth and struck out—has appeared in 815 games since his major league debut on July 21, 2004, the most games played in the National League during that span.

Manuel said he wanted to go for the win in the ninth and that's why he used Wright as a pinch-hitter rather than give him a full day's rest. The manager's other option to pinch-hit, he noted, was Anderson Hernandez.

"I didn't think it would kill him," Manuel said about using Wright. "Did you?"

On July 1 in Milwaukee, Wright had talked his way into the Mets' lineup when Manuel planned to give the third baseman a game off. That day, Wright felt obligated to play, given the fact that Mets were on a five-game losing streak and in danger of being swept.

Last night, Wright wasn't pleading his case to remain in the starting lineup. Wright, who last got a day off against the Florida+Marlins" title="Florida Marlins">Florida Marlins on May 30, did not start for only the second time this season. He was worn down anyway, but the biggest reason for him sitting was an illness that left him nauseous and with throat issues.

"Just talking to him today, it didn't sound like him," Manuel said. "I didn't realize how bad he was."

Read more about this story here.

There was absolutely no point in putting Wright in the game as a pinch hitter with two outs in the ninth inning down four runs when he was obviously sick, and the illness started last weekend in San Diego, so he was already in a weakened condition.

I admire Wright for even being available for pinch hit duty even while sick for several days, most players with this kind of illness would have stayed at the hotel and rested.

Manuel used Wright's nausea and throat irritation as the major reason for resting him, which would be fine if he had not been saying late last weekend that Wright was tired and needed a break.

Jerry Manuel has for two months had his sole focus on who is on the DL and answering about their potential return dates.

Admittedly Manuel did not notice that Wright was sick until he asked him yesterday how he was feeling, but he meant it more from a needing a mental break standpoint.

He said yesterday's decision about resting Wright was a combination of physical limitations and mental fatigue.

The Mets have been without their core players, with the exception of Wright, since the middle of June when Carlos Beltran went down, but Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes have been out of action since May.

With 50 games remaining and the Mets out of playoff contention at this point, David Wright should be rested more, whether he is banged up, sick, exhausted or otherwise.

Jerry Manuel needs to be honest about his reasons for playing or resting players, his lineups and player use have not made sense, and instances like this does make you wonder if he does want to win any further games this season.

It would be too easy for Mets management to pin the disappointing season solely on injuries, but Manuel has to be wise with his players and who he uses for the given situation.

Open Letter to Johan Santana

Wendy Adair — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:24:18 -0400

Dear Johan,

Congratulations on having a great year, and this being your second year on the Mets, you have had time to get used to the New York media and fans.

This has been a trying year for everyone linked to the Mets because of the injuries and inconsistent play, your starts are greatly anticipated more than ever.

You are the pitching ace who makes things happen for this team and your teammates respond to your energy.

I'm all for the competitive spirit you ignite on this team, but being that you only pitch once every five days, you cannot possibly relate to what the everyday players go through on a mental or physical basis.

That being said, please lighten up on your teammates, they are trying their best and do not deserve to be glared at, barked at, or snubbed by you regardless of what mistakes they make or attitude problems that you may perceive.

If there is a problem please either walk away until you have calmed down or put up a front for the sake of the media and fans who do not need to see how you treat your teammates, the cameras see more than you realize.

You are the pitching ace, I'm not disputing that, but please, your "I am a man" and "I did my job" lines after the game are quite annoying, you are giving the "I am surrounded by incompetent idiots" message and that will not bode well for you down the road no matter how many games you win.

Wins are team wins and losses are team losses, its about time you understand that, no one means to make mistakes or not come through with the game winning hit no matter who is pitching, but yet you seem to take these things very personally.

While you may do your job on the mound and with the bat, you do not need to tell the media that you did your best and that any failure of the team occurred either without your consent or after you had completed your work that day.

When Daniel Murphy dropped that ball on Easter Sunday, he did not need you throwing him under the bus. He felt bad enough and did not deserve your wrath. He is doing his best and has had to learn a lot in a short period of time, ease up on the kid already.

Same goes for Fernando Martinez, he is 19 years old and was brought up when Carlos Beltran went down with a knee injury. He has endured his fair share of injuries himself and did not need to be glared at for dropping a ball in the outfield.

Ramon Castro was your personal catcher for close to a year and a half, but that did not stop you from treating him badly when he made an error on the field.

He has now moved on to the Chicago White Sox and recently caught a perfect game. I do hope that Buerhle and the rest of the Chisox treats him better than you did before he left.

Yesterday, you shoved Luis Castillo away after he attempted to congratulate you on scoring a run, what was that? Despite how you may have felt otherwise, choosing a time of celebration for a snub does not seem at all fair.

If you were angry at him for spraining his ankle and missing four starts, find a bridge and get over it, if there was another reason, get over that too, he did not deserve that treatment.

This has been a very disappointing season for your team and they need your support, not your competitive hostility by acting like they are out to harm your reputation as the pitching ace.

Sincerely,

Wendy Adair

Not Charging the Mound Does Not Make David Wright Less of a Leader

Wendy Adair — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:27:35 -0400

This season and this week in particular have been brutal to the Mets with the barrage of injuries.

During yesterday's game against the Cardinals, the Mets lost Jon Niese during the second inning for the season when he completely tore his hamstring muscle from the bone. Gary Sheffield also went down lame in the sixth inning after getting a hit.

Less than five minutes before Sheffield went down, David Wright was knocked down by an 87 mph fastball by relief pitcher Brad Thompson. This was probably in retaliation for Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick getting plunked on the elbow by Nelson Figueroa. Pitchers do protect their hitters, always have, always will, and that's how it should be done.

The big difference was that Thompson went after Wright's head, a major no-no in baseball world. Because of this incident, in addition to the fine and suspension imposed by Bob Watson of the Commissioner's Office, Thompson will have the label of "head hunter" added to his reportoire.

Most likely about 75 percent of the other players in the Major Leagues would have at the very least glared at, yelled at, or more likely charged Thompson, with a bench-clearing brawl being the end result.

I have seen many games where a knocked down player has said after the game "he hit me below the waist so it was a message, if he had hit me above the waist, that would have been personal and I won't stand for it."

Wright took the high road and dusted himself off and got back in the batter's box after the umpire warned both benches, no doubt shaken and angry, but he was not about to make a federal case out of this event.

He was not shocked that he was thrown at, maybe his back would have been the target, just not at his head. He said that sticking up for teammates is a part of the game but throwing at it a guy's head in retaliation is not how its done.

Wright hit into a double play that particular at-bat, but he had three hits on the day, and five hits total for the two game series, so he was no doubt a target and Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa admitted as much after the game.

Thompson said the pitch got away from him, he missed the spot, but I don't think even his own manager believes that, and neither should Mets fans. La Russa was clearly upset at Thompson for taking the inside pitch advice too literally.

Gary Sheffield and Jeff Francouer were more clearly angrier than Wright, but honestly, they were on the outside looking in during that at-bat and were pissed that their teammate was targeted to be hit in the head.

Sheffield even called time out during his at-bat which followed Wright's and had words with Thompson and asked him "are you going to throw at my head too?".

Wright appeared to be fairly calm but had to be upset, however charging the mound is not his style—just not how he was raised.

He frequently credits his parents for being role models and that sportsmanship is as much a part of the game than the end result.

Surprisingly, there are many fans who last night and today are saying that Wright is not a real man, or a team leader, they would charge the mound regardless of the consequence.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I do think that Wright not reacting violently shows a self control that comes with leadership. It's easier to react negatively than to take a step back and evaluate the situation to decide your course of action.

He is the face and voice of the Mets and holds Fantasy Baseball Camps and Bowling Events for underprivileged children.

Wright is a role model figure to many kids, and being that it was Camp Day at Citi Field, no kid would probably ever look at David Wright the same way again.

If Wright had done the unlikely and charged the mound, his teammates who know him would have no doubt been shocked and concerned, and maybe to a certain point disappointed in him for this lapse in class and humility.

Make no mistake—if he had charged, the Mets players would have followed, and the result could have ended very ugly for all involved, more injuries, ejections and even suspensions.

As much as the season is over for the Mets, there are still more than 50 games to be played and they need all the healthy bodies to at least make things interesting, and even play the part of spoiler, like the Marlins did to the Mets the last two seasons.

After all, the Mets were winning the game, mainly thanks to Wright's two-run homer in the first inning. So he was already a hero for the day. There was no reason for him to be bitter in the first place.

The bench-clearing brawl that would have ensued may have been disastrous for Wright and the Mets, as he is the last man standing on the injury front.

While Wright has battled some nagging problems, he is the closest player to healthy right now of the Mets starting lineup from April 2009.

Many fans are saying that despite the warning from the umpires, the Mets should have retaliated, and if suspensions occur, so be it, they have to show the world that they have a fighting spirit and you cannot do that to a man and get away with such actions.

Again, that's their opinion, but what would that have solved? I don't think it would solve anything.

In September of 2007, during the second to last game of the season, the Mets were winning 11-0 and ended up with a bench clearing altercation with the Marlins after Luis Castillo was thrown at, but it was his leg, not his head.

Wright was the on deck hitter who the home plate umpire pushed Castillo to and he was on the front line side by side with Castillo when both benches cleared for words and then a shoving match. He showed that he will defend his teammates, but will not instigate any problem, regardless of who provokes him.

The Mets are literally on their last legs, and a fight would have showed fire and spirit, but that's just not how David Wright rolls, and as fans we should be proud that he chose the high road.

David Wright: Are Mets Fans and Media in His Head?

Wendy Adair — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:06:05 -0400

This has to be one of the most mentally and physically trying years that David Wright has had to endure during his five year career since his MLB debut with the Mets in July of 2004.

As the lone core player in the lineup every day, Wright has had to pick up a lot of slack in both getting on base and driving in the runs which never seem to be enough for the Mets to win most ballgames.

To date in 2009, Wright has seven home runs, well below what is typically expected of him in production numbers. The media and fan base has blasted Wright from here to California and back about his different swing and/or approach to adjust to life at Citi Field.

Wright has answered his critics honestly, Mike Francesca of WFAN radio (Mets flagship station) being at the top of the list. He has done so respectfully and head on and when asked has replied that home runs are fun to hit but he does not need to hit a lot of them to be successful: he is a line drive gap hitter and his doubles and triples back up that statement.

When Wright came in a close second to Ryan Howard in the 2006 HR Derby, no one was more shocked than David and his three brothers who would have been happy with no more than five home runs. He ended up hitting 23 for the evening, and even hit one in his first All Star Game at bat the next evening.

His health suffered, mainly strained rib cage and back spasm issues, and the 2nd half of 2006 season suffered as well, he only hit five home runs after the All Star Break, mainly due to the fact that because of his rib and back problems was rested more than usual.

The last two seasons have seen Wright hit 30 or more home runs and it doesn't need to be said how disappointing they turned out for Wright as the "captain" and the Mets as an organization.

Wright had 30 home runs in 2007 after not hitting one home run until May 4th and ended up becoming a member of the 30/30 club ten days before the collapse, and in 2008, he had 34 home runs, a career best.

Wright has been working with Howard Johnson since the day after the Super Bowl and has shown himself to be a workhorse without rival on the Mets.

Last September, while Citi Field was still under construction, Wright was brought over by Jeff Wilpon to the new site along with Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans to test out the new dimensions.

Wright was severely under the weather but wanted to accommodate Wilpon's request, and all three were successful in hitting at least one home run. It took Wright several tries, but because he was not feeling well, not much was thought about it at the time.

During April 2009, Wright was in a major slump but has kept his batting average well above .300 for the majority of the season.

His strikeout numbers during the first half, especially in April, were alarming, but he seems to be leveling off in that respect and his power does seem to be on the increase.

Half of May and part of June saw David Wright as the league leader in batting average, which was close to .370. He had a 42 at bat stretch that yielded 25 hits and a batting average during that time of close to .600.

Since the injuries to Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, Wright has had the weight of the team on his shoulders, and it has been a burden that he has struggled greatly with the past two months.

Much has been said about him not being able to carry the team on his shoulders, which, honestly is ridiculous; this is a team and one player does not make or break a team.

Losses are team losses and wins are team wins.

Wright has played in all but one game so far and that says a lot about the type of team player that he is, and while his home run numbers are down, that does not mean that Wright is not contributing to the Mets' wins.

As it stands now, Wright is the team leader in batting average (though Carlos Beltran did have a higher batting average while active), stolen bases, RBI and runs scored.

Chipper Jones and Mark Reynolds have both recently commented on how Citi Field and the media must be wreaking havoc on Wright's confidence in hitting home runs.

Both of them seem to be sincerely sympathetic and supportive to Wright's plight, but he is still a force to be reckoned with, and considering how things turned out the last two years, many changes were needed on team and individual levels.

While fans need to vent their frustrations, acting like Wright is purposely not hitting home runs out of some kind of protest or laziness is just plain cruel.

With two months remaining of the season, chances are Wright will hit at least a few more home runs, but if not, so be it, there are worse things that could happen, and one of them would be for him to have to go on the disabled list.

Beltran, Delgado, and Reyes: Bring Them Back or Shut Them Down?

Wendy Adair — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:31:23 -0400

The Mets are in a bad place right now, out of NL East contention and dropping further down in the Wild Card standings.

To say that their chances are not looking at all promising for the rest of the season is a major understatement.

Injuries to key players and off field distractions—namely Omar Minaya and Tony Bernazard, not to mention Bernie Madoff—have hurt this team enormously and many fans want the injured players shut down for the remainder of this frustrating season.

Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and Jose Reyes, among others, are in various stages of rehabilitation and fans want them to not bother coming back because things seem hopeless for the team.

There is also the fear that in Beltran's and Reyes's case that if they come back prematurely they will need surgery that has so far been prevented.

While the risk of surgery that is a valid concern, there is no guarantee that even without surgery, their careers are not in danger with the leg injuries that they have been nursing since May.

Carlos Delgado was granted a one year extension this winter, which at the time was practically a given with his play during the 2nd half of 2008, but he will be a free agent at the end of the season so the risk is not as great with Delgado after his hip surgery.

JJ Putz, Billy Wagner and John Maine are all working on coming back from elbow and shoulder injuries, but most likely at least Putz and Wagner will come back and make a few relief appearances later this month.

I realize that they are getting paid to play beyond this year in many cases, but there is never a guarantee that a player will be active for the time of his contract, and to shut them down out of defeat with two months remaining is hurting everyone.

Jerry Manuel has said on more than one occasion that no amount of off field distractions are more harmful or discouraging to this current team than hearing one or more negative reports on the prognosis of their injured teammates.

These Mets players have been anxiously waiting for their teammates to come back healthy, but have done reasonably well considering what they are up against being without the caliber of the injured players.

Omar Minaya chose not to make any deals at the trading deadline last Friday with the anticipation of his injured players returning and that no one deal would take the place of proven production.

I am of the opinion that injuries are a big part of the game, these players know that going in, and unless it would be career threatening to bring them back and play, the players should be on the field earning their money.

If they can't play at all, at least be in the dugout and clubhouse for moral support to cheer them on and guide them on both offense and defense if needed.

Carlos Delgado has been working with Daniel Murphy on first base defense and JJ Putz has been around in the clubhouse and is keeping everyone loose with laughter and practical jokes.

Much has been said about shutting down Johan Santana because his efforts are being wasted, again that is ridiculous, he's healthy, let him earn his money and be a part of this team that he seems to want to take pride in being an active member.

Once the season is over, many will have surgeries, as is fairly common, so even though they are not in playoff contention, they should be helping the Mets if they are able to compete physically with minimal discomfort.

At this stage of the season, any everyday player who tells you that they are feeling 100 percent is not only lying to you, they are deceiving themselves but most will never complain or use it as an excuse.

The majority of players are all out there battling various bumps, bruises, strains, and sprains, they come with the game and these guys all know that when the season starts.

David Wright has played with lingering groin and twisted ankle injuries, and Alex Cora has played with torn ligaments in his thumb, but no fan wants them to quit, slump or to be shut down for the season.

They are showing leadership to their teammates, and that should not be kicked to the curb no matter how many more losses this team has this season.

If the Mets management is giving up, let Wright, Cora, Castillo, Sheffield and Francouer all sit out for the rest of the season and let it be an AA club from top to bottom.

Wright and Castillo are the only Met regulars to not have any time spent on the DL, Daniel Murphy has also avoided injury but he has been given several days rest in between starts.

David Wright has played in all but one game this season, and unless something drastic happens, he will play all remaining games because Jerry Manuel does not seem to have any inclination to rest him.

The salaries that these players make are ridiculous and to let them sit on the DL when they are capable of playing is only making things worse for the fans who are going to the stadium to watch their team.

It is good that the Mets are giving progress reports on the injured players and Mets management does want them to come back, even if it is for a losing cause the last month of the season.

MLB: Let the Players Play Ball, No Need for Outside Distractions

Wendy Adair — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:38:44 -0400

Baseball players today earn more money than most of us can even imagine but, also have more pressure on them being in the public eye.

Recently, this microscope has been more glaring than it should be, thanks to the media and the way it leaks some information but holds back other information that the fans need to know about such as injuries.

The Mets have weathered more this season with the barrage of season threatening injuries and off-field distractions with upper management/media relations than they have in a long time and it does have to take its toll on the players.

Yesterday, it was revealed that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were on a list of PED users from 2003, before those drugs were illegal in Major League Baseball.

David Wright and Alex Cora of the Mets were questioned about it and their reactions were polar opposites of each other. The Daily News reported player reactions to this news yesterday.

Wright was clearly tired of the whole thing and was extremely annoyed at being asked for the umpteenth time about the "cheaters" and who took what when during the Mitchell Report allegations.

Last night, Wright did something completely uncharacteristic and turned away from a reporter and proceeded to glare at him when pressed for an answer. David Wright is the face and voice of the Mets and is typically very polite and forthcoming to the media.

Rhon Wright, who is David's father, is an Assistant Chief with the Norfolk Police Department and he has been with narcotics and vice areas within the department since he was an officer.

Obviously it was something that David and his three younger brothers grew up knowing that drugs are wrong and illegal, so he cannot let on for one second that it should be tolerated at any level even if he is friends or teammates with the accused players.

Cora was teammates with both Ortiz and Ramirez so he obviously saw things different than Wright who was in the Minor Leagues at the time of the steroid era.

Cora was more aloof about the names being leaked and said "it is what it is, its a distraction, but its baseball." As an established veteran, Cora does know more about playing during the era where steroid use was commonplace but somehow accepted.

Enough has been written about the steroid issue, that's not what this article is for, the players need to take care of their own business on the field and should not get dragged in to answering for these outside influences.

Young fans idolize these players and will wait for hours for autographs and even some pictures and conversation with their role models.

The younger players even idolize the veterans, whether they are still active or not in baseball, and hearing that their role models as rookies were cheating has to be upsetting.

The media wants player reaction to these news items and the inevitable answer is "I'm just here to do my job, i can't get involved in things I have no control over." This is a very honest answer, they know they are getting paid to play and are being watched by millions of fans, and it is the fans who do suffer most in the process.

Something the media fails to realize or acknowledge is that professional baseball players are their own fraternity and will have each other's backs no matter what team they play for, or even what league they represent.

They can understand things about each other that most fans could never wrap their brains around, and in many cases, players are associated with so many organizations that some names that come up with illegal activity may have been a former teammate.

Let the game go on and leave the players alone about these issues, they don't need the distractions, their fans are depending on them to play and live good lives.

Mets Are Growing the Playoff Beards: They Believe in Themselves

Wendy Adair — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:21:58 -0400

The Mets are battling their way back into postseason contention, they have a four-game win streak and are currently playing the best baseball now that they have all season.

This group is persevering through injuries to key players and front office drama, but is determined to give it all they have for the remainder of the season.

Mike Pelfrey, Brian Schneider, Omir Santos, David Wright, Alex Cora, Angel Pagan, Jeff Francouer, and some others are growing their facial hairs and this will continue until they break back over the .500 mark.

Back in 2007, at David Wright's initiation, the Mets shaved their heads in a gesture of unity and the Mets went on to have an incredible stretch of great baseball that lasted almost two months.

At the time, the manager was Willie Randolph who was strict with the team enforcing that facial hair is to be minimum and noise in the clubhouse was to be kept to practically non existent.

Current manager Jerry Manuel does not care how his players look, only how they contribute and seems to sincerely appreciate their energy.

Some of the injured may be returning in the next few weeks, but one thing is for sure, this current team of Mets are a united team and should be commended for their spirit.

Jeff Francouer and David Wright are teaming up to show the world that they are serious about playing hard and winning but are having fun in the process.

Even though Francouer is new to the team, he has been an incredible positive influence both in the clubhouse with his enthusiasm and with his bat in the lineup.

Let the Playoff Beards Grow guys, YA GOTTA BELIEVE!!