Face of the Franchise

DAVID WRIGHT - IF
2011 stats - .254 BA, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 97 KO, 389 AB

Over the last few weeks, I've written about and touched upon those players who will most likely start the season on the 25-man roster.  As I get to the end of the alphabet, I've realized one thing.  It doesn't matter what this player does or how that player manages his season; the 2012 Mets will go as David Wright goes.

As the longest tenured position player, the boyhood fan who grew up cheering for the club who has grown into the face of the franchise, 2012 will be the most important season in Wright's career.  By far.

During his years playing at Shea Stadium, Wright had the monster offensive seasons that everyone expected him to have.  It was easy to know he would bat over .300, knock in at least 105 RBI, hit over 25 home runs while smacking the baseball all over the field.  He was a bonafide superstar in New York and a perennial All-Star.

As soon as the Mets moved in Citi Field, everything began to fall apart for Wright.  He sustained long term injuries in two of the three seasons; a concussion in 2009 and a fractured back in 2011.  His power numbers drastically declined as 2009 and 2011 saw him combine for only 24 home runs.  Worst of all, his strike out totals have increased at an alarming rate.  In 2009, Wright struck out 140 times and followed that by whiffing 161 times in 2010.  His pace last season would show that trending continuing had he played a full season.

Possibly the largest question looming over Wright is the same issue that was over Jose Reyes' head last season.  Wright is entering the final year of his contract and no one knows what will happen next.  With the financial troubles the owners are in, the question rises of whether or not they can afford to keep Wright.  And if they can't, can they possibly trade him away and further infuriate the fan base?  Or keep him and watch him possibly walk away for nothing in return?

In essence, today marks the beginning of 2012 for Wright, as he's been sidelined with a minor ribcage tear for the first month of Spring Training.  For both Wright and the Mets, he needs to stay healthy and stay on the field.  If he can do that and put up numbers similar to his old self, the Mets will win more games.  It is that simple.  And as people know, winning cures almost everything.

Yes, the Mets desperately need Johan Santana to stay healthy for 28-32 starts, they need Ike Davis to come back from his ankle injury, they need their new bullpen to pitch like a solid bullpen, they do need all that.  But of all, they need David Wright to be none other than David Wright.