General Media Commentary

OK, this really does not have much to do with the Mets per se, but I felt like I had to comment on this.

As a fan of sports in general and New York sports in particular, there is one person who looms large in the media there that has a great deal of power, but maybe more than he actually FEELS he has.
That man is Mike Francesa, heretofore known as Fatcesa. I don’t usually like to get personal in my criticism, unless warranted. In his case it is warranted.

Fatcesa is a Yankee fan, and makes no bones about it. That is fine, I have no problem with that. However, letting your bias cloud your judgment, and allowing it to help you to ignore actual facts makes your supposed objectivity as a media observer suspect.

Some background, Francesa has been calling David Wright an “unclutch” player all winter, and has put forth the rumor that Ryan Church wants out of New York (supposedly does not like the fans).

The problem? There is absolutely NO basis of fact for EITHER assertion.

To attack both statements, I’ll begin with the second one first, since there is written evidence of it.

Ryan Chuch stated flatly several times, both to print reporters and on air media outlets that not only is he NOT dissatisfied with playing in New York, he actually RELISHES it. A simple google search would put that rumor to rest, but I guess fat fingers can’t type too well to actually fact find.

Now, as to the assertion that David Wright is not a clutch performer, there are a few caveats:

Most importantly, the actual DEFINITION of “clutch” is a ephemeral one. What actually IS “clutch”? We know it when we see it, but how do you define it? Impossible.

Second, in a famous example stated over and over by Mr. Fatcesa in one major clutch situation last September, specifically against the Cubs the last week of the season, David came up with Dan Murphy on third and none out and struck out on three ptiches. Admittedly, DW looked really bad in that particular at bat.

Does that mean that DW is NOT a clutch player? Really? ONE at bat in ONE game?

Let’s look at the actual statistics. This will get a little dry, but the numbers are stunning, in my opinion.

Everyone knows that a .300 average .400 OBP and .500 SLG are optimal numbers, Hall of Fame, even.

What are David’s numbers in “clutch” situations for his career?

Late and close (Plate appearances in the 7th or later, with the score tied, or team behind by one run with the tying run at least on deck) David has hit .307/.407/.483 for his career with 13 homers and 52 rbi in almost 400 PA.

Looks like he gets the job done.

How about in a tie game? Try .318/.394/.544 with 37 homers and 140 rbi.

Down a run? Hmm.   .323/.405/.544 with 66 homers and 256 rbi.

Down two? Wow.   .324/.421/..556 with 92 homers and 340 rbi.

How about High leverage at bats? .315/.397/.531 with 23 homers and 160 rbi.

Still think he is not clutch Fatcesa? Maybe a simple look at the well, ACTUAL FACTS would enlighten you.

I mean, really, by ANY metric you choose, David Wright is a clutch player. ONE infamous at bat does not change that fact.

Did the Mets as a team collapse in 2007? Sure. Was the 2008 season a collapse? I say more a fade than a collapse, but if you want to say the bullpen collapsed, fine.

Did David Wright collapse? Was he unclutch? Has he EVER been unclutch? The numbers say no.

Oh, and also for the record, in September 2008 Wright’s numbers were: .340/.426/.577 with 6 homers and 21 rbi.

In September 2007 he went for a .352/.432/.602 line with 6 homers and 20 rbi.

Is there any question why I turn off WFAN from my computer from 1pmto 5 pm?

If you are going to call David Wright unclutch, then you can’t be a fan of a team that blew a 2 out in the ninth, no one on, 3 games to none lead in a 4 game series.

Pot calling the kettle black, Fatcesa, pot calling the kettle black. Keep drinking the Diet Cokes, but it sure ain’t working.

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