David Wright Shouldn't Play the Field Again

BleacherReport.com:

As much as we crave certainty and finality, the reality now is Wright and the Mets need to just wait and continue to gather information.

If Wright’s shoulder improves to the point where he can throw but not enough to make the long tosses at third base, maybe he can play first base (especially if Lucas Duda’s health continues to be a problem). If Wright doesn’t respond to the latest treatment, he goes on the disabled list and insurance kicks in.

It’s a tougher answer if he can hit but can’t throw, because the Mets play in the National League and don’t need a designated hitter. Perhaps Wright could be sent to an American League team, but with his health history, his contract and his loyalty to the Mets, that seems an unlikely option.

Alderson told reporters the latest setback hasn’t given the Mets “a more heightened level” of concern about Wright’s career. That’s nice, but there was a heightened level of concern about Wright’s career last year, and the year before.

Fact of the matter is if David Wright doesn't want to retire, he just can't be trusted to play the field again. His body just won't allow him to. He should DH and pinch-hit, that's it. I don't think he can even be trusted to play 1st base where throwing to another base is sometimes necessary and there's a risk he could re-injure his shoulder with a single throw. Plus, at the end of the day, maybe Wright on the bench and only DH'ing is best for the Mets as we get to have Jose Reyes bat leadoff and play 3rd every day.

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David Wright Should Only Play 3rd Base In An Emergency

NYDailyNews.com:

Eight months after surgery for his neck injury, David Wright still hasn’t thrown a baseball, and it’s starting to feel inevitable that a move to first base may be best for both him and the Mets. 

Yet Wright said on Tuesday that no one from the organization has even mentioned it as a possibility, and Terry Collins downplayed it as a move that wouldn’t necessitate any adjustment period. 

“If we decide he needs to get some ground balls at first base, that can be done late in spring training,” Collins said. “He’s such a good athlete, he’ll catch on to that easily.” 

Perhaps that’s true, although as recently as a couple of years ago we saw Alex Rodriguez, once a Gold Glove shortstop, look surprisingly awkward playing first base, to the point where the Yankees gave up on the idea.

To me, this is a no-brainer. The way things have been going for David Wright the last couple of years, your damn right the Mets should have him trying out at 1st base. In fact, to take it even further, if I'm the Mets, I get Keith Hernandez down to spring training immediately and have Wright go through a month's worth of 1st-base boot camp with one of best defensive 1st basemen of all-time. After all, can anyone really see Wright staying injury-free this year? Much less playing 3rd base with that weak arm of his? The best chance to keep Wright healthy is to DH him whenever possible and let him back up Lucas Duda at 1st. And then make Jose Reyes your starting 3rd -baseman.

Jose Reyes Talks Yoenis Cespedes, David Wright and 2017 Mets

What can David Wright still contribute to the New York Mets?

So Jose Reyes, who should be playing every day and batting leadoff anyway, will be backing up Wright at 3rd?

David Wright To Have Neck Surgery, Could End His Season

Great guy, hard worker, great Met and the team captain. But spinal stenosis and now a neck injury/surgery, in addition to looking like he's on the downside of his career anyway...just equates to the idea that chances are likely that it might be best for Wright to put his long-term health first and retire after the season.

Yoenis Cespedes Should Be Batting Cleanup, Not 3rd In Mets Lineup

As a baseball purist, its always been my opinion that your best average hitter should be batting 3rd and best power hitter 4th. It's really not complicated and it certainly worked for the Mets in '86 when Keith Hernandez consistently batted 3rd in the lineup with Gary Carter right behind him. That being said, why Terry Collins wants Yoenis Cespedes as his 3rd place hitter with David Wright Wright batting second is beyond me. Cespedes is a streaky hitter and the Mets best power hitter. Wright, for all his recent injuries, I feel if he stays healthy, can still hit in the .280 to .300 range, get you about 35 doubles and drive in 80 to 90 runs. Wright also strikes out a lot and is not a what used-to-be-typical 2nd-place hitter: a guy puts the ball in play a lot, can lay down a good bunt every now and again and can slash-one-behind-the-runner when you need him too. Considering too that Collins has gone on record stating how much he despises the new era of sabermetricians (which I loved because I hate it too). leaves me wondering why Collins has Wright batting 2nd and Cespedes 3rd instead of say a Michael Conforto or Asdrubal Cabrera batting second behind Curtis Granderson with Wright and then Cespedes behind them. Of course, it's easy to pick on Cespedes now that he's opened the season in a huge slump. but Collins backing up his ealier opines and going with a traditional lineup, to me, would be the best option for the Mets in the long run.

Mets Take 2 Outta 3 From Padres

I know Johan Santana is going to get all his millions regardless, but he wouldn't be human if he wasn't pissed at just how inept his bullpen is. Yet, another blown save...seems like the bullpen has cost Santana at least 10 wins this year. Anyway, nice to see David Wright make up for his huge error yesterday, we picked up a game on the Phils and Carlos Beltran seems to have remembered how to hit again. All in all, not a bad series and yeah, I'm feeling this Daniel Murphy kid so much so that I'd be really comfortable with him in left-field if Ryan Church never comes back.

Why Is Billy Wagner In The All-Star Game?

Billy Wagner has blown 5 saves this year, almost all in dramatic fashion and now it's a possibility that he'll be the lone Met represented at this year's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium. That's a disgrace. Thankfully there is a chance that you can still vote David Wright to the team.

(9-4) Mets 9, (6-8) Florida 2

Brilliant performance by John Maine (2-0) last night, who had a no-hitter before giving up a single to lead off the seventh in New York's 9-2 win over the Marlins. Maine gave up two hits before leaving; Miguel Cabrera singled to led off the seventh for Florida. Joe Borchard had a two-run homer for NY. Maine walked four and struck out seven. By the way, nothing against David Wright who I love, but hitting streaks that started in a different season should never count.