![\"\"](\"http:\/\/lh3.ggpht.com\/_WiYnnqmj-NY\/TTMbAbGazCI\/AAAAAAAAKOw\/xmNYdv4xoN4\/CaptainDavidWright.jpg\" "\\"Captain")
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Last year I wrote that Wright was, and should be, the captain <\/a>of the New York Mets. I still believe this, and maybe now more than ever. \u00a0In a way the Mets have put all their cards on the table here; they\u2019ve hired some of the brightest people to reboot most of the management team. \u00a0Sandy Alderson has talked about having limited flexibility this offseason, but if the current crop of talent can\u2019t show us some success, he\u2019ll have no qualms about using the flexibility of 2012 to find players who can. \u00a0It\u2019s imperative that the players work together to the best of their abilities.<\/p>\n Being a leader is more than being the best player on the team, or the \u201cface of the franchise.\u201d \u00a0None of us will ever truly know how Wright acts when it\u2019s just players with no media or fans around. \u00a0What we do know is that he\u2019s always willing to own up to mistakes, always willing to answer a hard question. \u00a0He\u2019s fiercely competitive, and doesn\u2019t accept anything less than total effort. \u00a0He openly cheers and roots for his teammates, and is always looking for ways to get better. \u00a0He\u2019ll wait on the field to reward a good fielding play by an outfielder, or he\u2019ll go to the mound if he feels the pitcher needs a moment. \u00a0If he gets picked off, he doesn\u2019t sulk but opens a dialogue about what prompted him to take the big lead, and what he\u2019s going to do next time.<\/p>\n Naming Wright captain would have other benefits as well. \u00a0If some are worried that Terry Collins may be too fiery, installing the calmer Wright as an intermediary would help buffer some of that fire. \u00a0Wright would have the authority to direct his players. \u00a0If he feels they should come early to take extra batting practice, guys are going to show up for him. \u00a0He\u2019s already shown his ability at team-bonding; he orchestrated team haircuts, and the attempted no-shave until .500 quest of 2009. \u00a0This is mostly silliness and might not mean anything at all, but Wright\u2019s clearly at the core of this team.<\/p>\n Even if it doesn\u2019t mean anything, Wright as captain would also be beneficial from a marketing stand point. \u00a0The vast majority of Mets fans love David Wright, and naming him officially captain would only heighten the lore. \u00a0You could sell more gear with a big \u2018C\u2019 on it. Newspaper writers would have a field day with dueling images of Wright and Jeter during Subway Series weeks. \u00a0Clearly his team likes and supports him, so I see no downside to this title. You don\u2019t name a leader AFTER you win a war, you name him to lead you to victory. \u00a0The Mets would benefit from \u00a0a unified core with a strong leader as they march into the fierce battle that is the 2011 season.<\/p>\n