One thing that came up a few times during the week is how much off-field Wright (and others do).
I’ve never been a major leaguer. Keith Hernandez was the captain of the Mets, so I take what he says seriously.
“I have always felt that for too long the Mets have, you know, done a little bit too much with the players (in terms of personal appearances) during the season,” Hernandez said. “The players have to play baseball. And it’s a long grueling season. David has always been there for the organization.”
via Keith Hernandez says Mets’ crunch of off-field personal appearances hurting on-field performance.
All the more reason to praise all the Mets who will take part in Teammates in the Community.
TEAMMATES WEEK KICKS OFF MONDAY: Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson, Mike Pelfrey, Justin Turner and JasonIsringhausen will kick off the 2011 “Teammates in the CommunityWeek” tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. with a trip to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum located at Pier 86 in Manhattan…Alderson will lay acommemorative wreath for Intrepid former crew members…Manager Terry Collins, players and front-office staff will join with Citi executivesand participate in programs during the week with active military personnel and veterans…The rest of the week will include a softbal ltournament at Citi Field with members of the U.S. Army, Navy, AirForce and Marines, a wheelchair softball exhibition in the Citi Field parking lot featuring veterans, a visit to a Veterans Hospital and aspecial ceremony at the Empire State Building.
I’m going to play devil’s advocate here w Keith for a minute. Sure, there’s no doubt saddling these guys up early in the day for some community visits might be tugging with their mental and physical preparedness, but it also makes sure their priorities are in order, and helps keep them out of trouble.