Offseason Filler: David Wright's Greatest Hits

by James Kannengieser on Feb 10, 2010 5:00 AM EST

Mike Jacobs is back. Jason Pridie was acquired. A nicely executed public relations event attempted to make Met fans think Daniel Murphy = Keith Hernandez. None of these are remotely inspiring to write about, so here are David Wright's top ten most valuable plate appearances, per WPA.

10. 8/19/2004
Play: Two-run homer off Steve Reed in the 9th inning
WPA: .336
Game Result: Mets 4, Rockies 2

In Game Two of a doubleheader at Coors Field, David put the Mets ahead after Eric Valent tied the game in the 8th inning with a solo blast. Mike Stanton earned the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.

9. 7/17/2008
Play: Two-run homer off Francisco Cordero in the 9th inning
WPA: .349
Game Result: Mets 10, Reds 8

This homer, off one of the better relievers in baseball, tied the game. RBI hits from Carlos Delgado and Fernando Tatis followed, giving the Mets their tenth win in a row.

8. 9/23/2006
Play: Three-run homer off Mike O'Connor in the 5th inning
WPA: .360
Game Result: Mets 12, Nationals 6

2006 was David's most "clutch" season yet and for that reason it seems most fans think it was his best. Half of the moments on this list came from 2006. This one came after the Mets already clinched the NL East, and was part of a 17 hit attack on the hapless Nats' staff.

7. 7/18/2007
Play: Three-run homer off Scott Linebrink in the 8th inning
WPA: .371
Game Result: Padres 5, Mets 4

This is the only Mets loss on the list. Joe Smith blew the game in the bottom of the 8th and Trevor Hoffman notched a 1-2-3 top of the 9th.

6. 5/19/2006
Play: RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the 9th inning
WPA: .388
Game Result: Mets 7, Yankees 6

David's career OPS vs. Rivera: 1.000

5. 5/5/2006
Play: RBI double off Jorge Sosa in the 14th inning
WPA: .392
Game Result: Mets 8, Braves 7

This double won the game, sparing the Mets' bullpen (8 IP, 3 runs). Jose Reyes went 5-7 with a walk and a triple.

4. 6/18/2006
Play: Grand slam off Adam Loewen in the 5th inning
WPA: .421
Game Result: Mets 9, Orioles 4

David has four career grand slams and this one helped Glavine to his 10th win. Ramon Castro also homered.

3. 8/7/2008
Play: Two-run homer off Heath Bell in the 9th inning
WPA: .436
Game Result: Mets 5, Padres 3

Bell has owned the Mets in his career (12.1 IP, 2.19 ERA) but on this day he gave up a walk-off. Scott Schoeneweis previously blew the save in the top of the 9th, surrendering a long-ball to Mets nemesis Jody Gerut.

2. 7/9/2006
Play: Three-run homer off Logan Kensing in the 8th inning
WPA: .528
Game Result: Mets 7, Marlins 6

The Mets were up 12 games in the NL East heading into the All Star break after this Sunday win. David participated in the Home Run Derby the next night.

1. 9/12/2009
Play: Two-run homer off Ryan Madson in the 9th inning
WPA: .715
Game Result: Mets 10, Phillies 9

This is probably the second best moment of the 2009 season, behind Omir Santos's blast off Jonathan Papelbon. No matter the Mets' record, it's always nice to beat the Phillies in the 9th inning at CBP.

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Comments

I remember watching that San Diego game

with the walk off homer on the commuter rail from Boston to Providence on mlb.tv. When he hit that I punched the air and yelled “YESS!” and every one looked at me weirdly.
Didn’t Evans make a great play at first base that game?

"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"

by firejerrynow on Feb 10, 2010 6:25 AM EST reply actions

No.

You didn’t see it. Good day.

by Pack Bringley on Feb 10, 2010 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

I didn't see the Evans play?

"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"

by firejerrynow on Feb 10, 2010 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

Joke. Conspiracy against Evans.

by Pack Bringley on Feb 10, 2010 10:08 AM EST up reply actions

comment fail by me

I meant to write
“I didn’t see the Evans Play”
because Nick who?

"We're investigating the investigative procedure of the investigation of Tony Bernazard"---Omar Minaya (he really didn't say it but he would"

by firejerrynow on Feb 10, 2010 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

Perhaps you ate at a Bob Evans and that's the source of the confusion

by Pack Bringley on Feb 10, 2010 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

Yay

We love David Wright.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 10, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Yes We Do

DWDLD

by Jadden Hopkins on Feb 10, 2010 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

Rec'd.

This is a happy day. Recs for everyone who praises David Wright!

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Feb 10, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

How come there is a David Wright post and wrightttxgirlllx3 hasn't posted yet?

by Michkin on Feb 10, 2010 11:15 AM EST reply actions

I'd guess she's probably at school

although kids these days with their I-phones i guess thats not really an excuse anymore.

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 10, 2010 11:31 AM EST up reply actions

Actually, we had a snow day.

So my lazy self slept until 1:15 and I just woke up five minutes ago. So I guess I started the day off right by reading this. (: This actually did make me smile most of the way through (especially the picture, which is now saved to my computer…thank you james!). But I couldn’t help bit feel sad reading number one. I had actually entered a contest to win a trip and tickets to that game, and of course I didn’t win and of course my boyfriend goes off and hits two game winning homeruns (both of which I called by the way, and won $2 from my dad by doing so). David actually has never hit a homerun at a game I went to, probably because I don’t get to go to many, but still. Either way this list made me uber happy and it is automatically the greatest post in the history of greatest posts, and has been rec’d. I’m gunna go sledding now with a smile on my face.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Feb 10, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

I applaud your dedication to sleeping in

by KeithsMoustache on Feb 10, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Why thank you.

It’s nice to see my absence was noted while I was.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Feb 10, 2010 1:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

This proves David Wright is a selfish player and a bad leader...

All he cares about is getting cool game-winning hits for himself. Instead, he should be using his leadership abilities to help his teammates get game winning hits. We should trade him for a gritty player like Chone Figgins.

"For $11.4 million you can actually get a good player. But of course this is one of the things foolish organizations do: They complain that they can't afford good players after spending millions of dollars on not-good players." --Rob Neyer

by boom_roasted on Feb 10, 2010 11:39 AM EST reply actions

But I thought David Wright was an unclutch loser

Seriously though, this guy is going to be the greatest Mets hitter of all time and by a lot when his career is over.

by Evan_S on Feb 10, 2010 12:28 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Um, rec'd.

by wrightttxgirlllx3 on Feb 10, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

He's been playing for a few years, and he's pretty much mostly there.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 10, 2010 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

He's at least in the top 31 players in Mets history

by BobbyV_Incognito on Feb 10, 2010 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

You don't know that

We only know the 32nd to 50th greatest Mets in history. Nobody knows numbers 1-31!

"You know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there -- always have." - Keith Hernandez

by OSUmets on Feb 10, 2010 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Actually, he's not.

He’s #40!

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Feb 10, 2010 5:16 PM EST up reply actions

Three years ago, he was Number 40.

Eric promised that “if he continu[ed] to hit the way he [had] to [that] point, his position on this list in the coming years will assuredly rocket northward”. Wright’s two best seasons came after that was written. I think, given everything that’s happened since, he’s moved up a tiny bit there.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Feb 10, 2010 6:25 PM EST up reply actions