I'm rooting for a David Wright Comeback

[Centerfield]

I mean. What else is there to root for this summer? I hope he comes back. Citi sells out that night. Reyes gets the sentimental start at SS next to him. He hits a dramatic HR. Gets a standing ovation. Goes out on his terms.

Sure, this goodwill tour will end up costing the Wilpons quite a bit of money. In a way, that makes it better.

[seawolf17]

I can't imagine *not* rooting for a comeback. I don't have any realistic notion that he'll be a key piece of a World Series team any more, but I want to see him back on the field again. Ten more home runs seems like a pipe dream, but you never know.

[Edgy MD]

Why not? He wouldn't be the first player to successfully return from spinal stenosis. Or spinal fusion surgery. Or a torn rotator cuff.

All three? Um ...

[Frayed Knot]

He certainly doesn't look as ghastly thin as he did a number of months back (early this year? late last year? - can't remember now) and he's at least doing some baseball activities.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I sincerely wish for a David Wright to make it back (if only for a few games) so the fans can show their appreciation for all he did for the franchise. Wright deserves to be honored as one of the greatest players in Mets history. He represented the team with talent and class.

[ashie62]

Sure! Something to pull for as the trading season begins

[MFS62]

Ashie62 wrote: Sure! Something to pull for as the trading season begins

You want them to trade David Wright if he's healthy?
Where did you read that?

Later

[Guest 41Forever]

According to the internets, David Wright is playing third tomorrow for St. Lucie!

[smg58]

It would be something.

[MFS62]

Well, I guess they'll need something to attract fans in September, since they've announced they won't be bringing up Alonso.
You know - a move that might actually be beneficial for the future.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Keeping Alonso in the minors until next May 1 would be more beneficial for the long-term future than having him accrue service time playing meaningless games this month and next. I support not promoting him.

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: Well, I guess they'll need something to attract fans in September ...

Or maybe, just maybe mind you, Wright has been cleared to play and wants to play even if his attempt is to the dismay of some of the fans from his own team who seem more interested in rooting for insurance policies.

Edited August 11, 2018 by Guest

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Keeping Alonso in the minors until next May 1 would be more beneficial for the long-term future than having him accrue service time playing meaningless games this month and next. I support not promoting him.

Peter Alonso should only be good enough that his arbitration and free agent status becomes an issue years down the road. Manipulating young players' progress to limit the club's obligation at the expense of their potential development does not inform an inspirational rallying cry for diehard fans.

The Mets held Ike Davis back in 2010 so he wouldn't be a free agent until after the 2016 season. The Mets held Matt Harvey back in 2012 so he wouldn't be a free agent until after the 2018 season. The foresight was amazing -- and futile. If Alonso is really judged not ready to take swings against major league pitching and get his feet comparably wet at first base in September, that's fine. But as long as rosters still stretch in September, and this guy has driven in more than a hundred runs in the minors, I can't see choosing loopholes over at-bats.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I agree with the part about not just automatically delaying call-up dates for every maybe prospect who comes down the pike.
The Cubs did it with Kris Bryant but he was an uber prospect coming out of a major college program and the #2 slot in the draft, but cases like those are more the exception rather than the rule.

That said, Alsonso is hardly a finished product at this point. Since his promotion to AAA: his BA is down some 70 points and his OPS around 100; his strikeouts are up even with fewer ABs (nearly 1/3 of the time)
and reports on his fielding are basically rotten. Power is up somewhat but, remember Jake, it's Vegas-town.
So let's not act as if his non-call-up this September (if that turns out to be the case) is some sort of example of workplace malfeasance.

[Edgy MD]

And while calling him up or not calling him up in April may be an issue of delaying arbitration, calling him up or not calling him up in September adds the additional wrinkle of burning an option year, which is an issue of development, and not just money.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: And while calling him up or not calling him up in April may be an issue of delaying arbitration ...

Holding out for April would be for the purpose of delaying FA status (effectively 7 rather than 6).
There's no specific cut-off date for assuring a delay in arbitration eligibility but it's usually considered to be around June 1st.

And who knows whether the rules are even going to be the same if/when Alonso gets to be somewhere between his 3rd thru 7th years of ML service.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Because of a delayed promotion, the Mets currently have two more years of control over deGrom instead of one. And right now that extra year has great significance.

[Edgy MD]

Well, his promotion wasn't particularly delayed strategically.

But, HEY! David Wright!

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I definitely am pulling for Wright to make it back to the Mets. I am very skeptical that he will ever be able be a contributor at the MLB level again. I truly hope that Wright proves me wrong.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm thinking that with 4 or 5 or 6 guys hanging around who might also be first basemen next year ... including Wright... maybe the play is, trade Alonso before he destroys his own value being overmatched in the bigs. Young first basemen are hard to establish.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: Well, his promotion wasn't particularly delayed strategically. But, HEY! David Wright!

I know. But the result is the same.

[MFS62]

Rockin' Doc wrote: I definitely am pulling for Wright to make it back to the Mets. I am very skeptical that he will ever be able be a contributor at the MLB level again. I truly hope that Wright proves me wrong.

Exactly. His fans should not have memories of a once-great at the end of career etched into their memories like we had with Willie Mays.
He should retire gracefully.
Maybe not an endless Jeter fan fellatiation but maybe just a loving hug and kiss on the cheek; a Lou Gehrig moment.

Later

[Edgy MD]

I have a different idea of grace than yours. I saw nothing graceless in Willie Mays' retirement.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: I have a different idea of grace than yours. I saw nothing graceless in Willie Mays' retirement.

Retire gracefully is an old expression, not meant to be taken literally and not the direct opposite of graceless. I meant it to mean with all honors due him.
In his last year, Willie was a mere shadow of the magnificent player I had seen when he came up in New York. Actually, that player WAS the epitome of grace and his skills had decreased dramatically by the time he played that last year with the Mets. Do you want to see that happen to David?

Later

[ashie62]

Go David go!

[Edgy MD]

MFS62 wrote: Do you want to see that happen to David? Later

I want Wright, Mays, Rickey Henderson, and any other dignified player, to compete as long as they are physically able. There’s grace in going down on the field of honor.

[batmagadanleadoff]

MFS62 wrote: In his last year, Willie was a mere shadow of the magnificent player I had seen when he came up in New York

Isn't pretty much every all star a shadow of what they used to be when they retire? What are you hoping for? That David Wright returns and wins the MVP in his last season?

[MFS62]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: MFS62 wrote: In his last year, Willie was a mere shadow of the magnificent player I had seen when he came up in New York Isn't pretty much every all star a shadow of what they used to be when they retire? What are you hoping for? That David Wright returns and wins the MVP in his last season?

No. I want to see him retire, so his fans can remember him at his best.
Later

[Edgy MD]

We can and will, no matter when he retires.

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: I want to see him retire ...

I want to see him play.