Designated organization hatchet man John Ricco was nowhere to be seen while David Wright went through a simulated game at Citi Field before the varsity crushed the Phillies 10-5 on Saturday night. This meant that for one day at least, no one in the Mets’ front office was available or willing to besmirch the captain and his attempt to make it back by the end of the season.
As much as possible, then, this was a feel-good day for No. 5, uncomplicated by cold-blooded, clinical analysis offered by the assistant general manager, who presumably had been given his talking points by the Wilpon ownership group before providing a steady drumbeat of doom and gloom.
Wright, who went through two simulated innings at the plate against Anthony Swarzak and Tim Peterson and two simulated innings fielding grounders at third base, went out of his way to correct the impression that a “rift” had formed between himself and the organization.
“The last thing I want to portray is some sort of a rift,” Wright said in a brief on-field meeting with the media. “The communication has been great. They know where I stand and I know where they stand.”
We can deduce where the organization stands following weeks through which Ricco has been spraying cold water all over Wright’s stated desire to return to the majors following an absence that dates back to May 27, 2016. There is, after all, the very real matter of millions in insurance money at stake — believed to be approximately $2.6 million for this season and up to $3.7 million next year — if the 35-year-old makes it back.
The Mets want to pretend that isn’t the issue when it can be the only reason that Fred and Jeff Wilpon and the entire organization aren’t clicking their heels over the possibility that one of the greatest and most popular players in franchise history could pull off one of the more unlikely comebacks in big-league history.
Wright will go through another simulated game Tuesday. After that, he said, he will meet with Jeff Wilpon to formulate/finalize a plan. But he also left no doubt what his plan is, as long as he is healthy coming out of these exercises. When asked if he believes he will make it back this year, Wright gave a one-word answer, and it was neither, “No,” nor “Maybe.”
It was, “Yes.”
Jeff Wilpon and Minaya took in the latter stages of the sim game from behind the batting cage. Wright struggled to make contact against Swarzak. After appearing spry in the field on off-the-bat grounders and throws, he cracked an opposite-field home run against Tim Peterson. Someone suggested Wright might have fared better against Tyler Bashlor, who has allowed six homers in 26 ¹/₃ innings, but let’s get serious here.
Wright chatted briefly with Wilpon and lightly with Mickey Callaway, the manager who knows Wright more by reputation than as a player. For whatever it is worth, Callaway said he and Wright agreed his timing at the plate could be better but he was impressed by his agility and footwork in the field.
“This isn’t playing,” Wright said following the exercise. “It’s practice.”
The Mets apparently need all the practice they can get in not alienating their fan base.
Publicly encouraging Wright rather than dousing his dreams in techno-babble management speak would seem to be a slam dunk. But no. The hierarchy cannot seem to control itself. Wright is attempting to give the team a gift in the final days of this lost season and ownership seems preoccupied with the price tag.
This is the organization that appeared on its way to awarding/rewarding Tim Tebow with a September call-up before the former NFL QB suffered a season-ending hand injury in July. This is the organization that in 2003 gave 30-year-old minor league journeyman Mike Glavine a call-up and seven September at-bats because his brother, Tom, pitched for the team. But this is the organization that may not see itself clear to activating Wright.
Saturday was a good day for Wright. He was on his home field taking cuts at the plate and grounders in the field. Best of all, no one from management rained on his parade. Of course, there is always Tuesday.
