New York Mets ternionbaseman David Wright during an at bat during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.(Photo: Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK -- David Wright leans over the dugout railing hours to begin withthe New York Mets' game, gazeacross the field, and at least momentarily, finds peace.
He's not cringing at the Citi Field scoreboard flashing his image, soliciting All-Star votes. He's not flushed with embarrassment discovering that the Mets reached emergeto adatingwebsite to see if they'd ask their female subscribers to choosefor the club's longtime hunk.
And, he's not being booed by fans invisitcities, angry that he didn't choose their hometown heroes to be in the home-run derby.
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Tuesday, Wright allow forlive bring outsomething resembling a dream. He'll be the starting third baseman for the National League at the All-Star Game in his kinsfolkpark, playing for the team he loved growing up.
Yet, the compileto this moment made Wright far less comfortable than he was navigating the waters of stardom in New York City.
"It's been crazy," Wright says, laughing. "This is something I've trulylooked forward to, and I really appreciate everybody for everything they'd done, but it's instalme in moderatelyof an awkward situation."
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It took weeks for Wright to even agree to be the All-Star ambassador,believethat honor belonged to a former Mets great, not him.
He had to tell the Mets to changetheir All-Star voting promotions during games. And it's a good thing he had no prior friendshipthe Mets' marketing folks reached out to CougarLife, an online dating site that voted Wright its "hottest cub."
"Yeah, at that placehave been times," Wright says, "when it's really been embarrassing. I really appreciated what everybody was trying to do, but at the same time, I didn't want to turn this into a one-man circus, and I feared it was fairthat."
Wright earned the starting nod with 6.1 billionvotes, putting him on center stage the next two days, as the unauthorisedhost for the baseball world.
"It's one thing to have a living legend host the All-Star Game, like George Brett closingyear," Wright says, "but it's entirelytolddifferent to do it as an active player."
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Captain America
Yet, no one is more appropriate for the duties than Wright, whose image is impeccable.
The son of a Norfolk, Va., police chief and school administrator, he was the kid chasing coldcockautographs and baseball cards from the Class AAA Tidewater players. He vowed that if he made the big leagues, he'd remain respectful, honoring his team, never ill at ease(p)the game.
"I always thought that if I ever got into that position," Wright, 30, says, "it would be so cool for somebody to wear your jersey, or if somebody valuedmy autograph or take my picture. I keep that in perspective, just like the responsibility of being a constituentmodel for young kids."
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He may be rich, possess Madison Avenue looks and be engaged to cast(Molly Beers), but Wright's image is so clean he scarcelyappears on tabloid back pages for baseball feats.
"He is our Derek Jeter," says Mets outfielder Marlon Byrd, "that's why we diagnosehim, "Captain America.' He's the face of this organization, and the way he's handled himself, in the biggest market, is just unbelievable.
"As great a player as he is on the field, he's even a better souloff it."
Says reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who's spent 19 seasons in the big leagues: "When I signed with Yankees, the first mortalto text me was Derek Jeter. When I first signed with the Mets, the first person to text me was David Wright. Need I say more?"
Wright endeavors not to publicizehis charitable efforts. Sometimes, though, word gets around.
"I remember one time when he was living here," said Rhon Wright, his father, "he left for awhile on Christmas Eve. We didn't appreciateanything of it. It wasn't until after the fact, months later, we found out that he was at the Children's Hospital, locomoteout presents to kids.
"I tell you, it chokes me up just talking nearlyit."
'That loyalty thing'
Wright is proud of his image, and he's determined that it remains unblemished, but yet, finds himselfansweringquestions astir(predicate)baseball's current scandal.
New York Mets third baseman David Wright jogs on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.(Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)
Wright is represented by ACES, a sports representationthat had 10 players linked to the Biogenesis seeinto performance-enhancing drugs.
Agents Sam and Seth Levinson are being investigated by studyLeague Baseball to determine whether they had involvement or knowledge of their clients' activity, an allegation they vehemently deny.
The agency had a number of defections since the investigation, moreoverWright remains steadfast.
"I called them when that stuff came out," Wright says, "and I asked them point-blank questions. Ipreciousto know the truth.
"And, at the end of the day, I feel dogliketo them. I know what they've done for me, and the guidance they've given me. So all I can do is judge a person on how they treat me. They've always been good to me, and that's all I can go on."
Wright says, did he never turn overleaving the agency, even though he signed an eight-year, $138 million deal with the Mets in December.
Wright's loyalty certainly wasn't lost on other ACES clients.
"It would have been very easy for him to leave," said Byrd, who has been with ACESthroughouthis career. " If he had left, the stickof the clients would say, "Hold on, wait a minute, should I get awaytoo.'
"But there's that loyalty thing."
It's that same loyalty that influenced Wright to stay with the Mets for perhaps the rest of his career, forgoing greater riches, and the chance to play for a contenderin free agency this winter.
"I never set out to make every last dollar I could," Wright says. "The last thing I wanted was to let free agency creep in my mind, and go out there and selfishlyplay for a contract."
The Mets, 41-50 entering the break, haven't been to the postseason since 2006, and barring a salientturnaround , this will be their fifth consecutive losing season. Yet, Wright refused to concede. He discussed virtually every prospect in the Mets' system with customarymanager Sandy Alderson over a round of golfand dinner in Virginia.
They talked about the $46.5 million coming run intothe books with the Johan Santana and Jason Bay's expiring contracts. And the possibility of contending within two years.
"I had a few questions I needed answered, and after talking to Sandy, he got me excited about the future," Wright says. "I want to be part of the solution getting things turnaround. It wouldn't mean the same winning somewhere else.
"If I perpetrateeverything I have here, and it doesn't work out, I can put my head on my pillow and sleep at night, penetrativeI did everything I could."
Even in this lost season, Wright's hitting .305 with 13 homers and 44 RBI, refusing to induceout of the lineup even with a nagging foot injury.
"He's got a foot that's killing him," film directorTerry Collins said, "but he never says anything. It's the same as two years ago, he's playing three weeks with a low-downback. Even we have a bad game, he won't come out because he thinks he needs to be there for his teammates.
"I knew he was a good player before I got here, but didn't realize his preparation, and desire to be that guy in tough situations. This organization is damn lucky to have him."
Wright says he gets goose bumps thinking about Tuesday night's pre-game introductions .
"This is a moment I've been time lagfor all year," says White Sox coach Joe McEwing, a former Met who mentored Wright in his rookie season. "He always wanted to do what was right. And to see him now, soulwho respects the game like he has, it's going to be a wonderful night.
"I can't wait to hear that ovation, because I'm telling you, no one deserves it more."
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Materials taken from USA Today
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