There already could be buyer’s remorse. Yet even with the disaster the Mets’ 2013 season had become, David Wright insisted yesterday he has no regrets about giving the organization a long-term commitment.
“Zero,” Wright said.
The Mets, whose game Friday night against the Braves was suspended because of rain at 5-5 entering the ninth inning, have a miserable 17-27 record, their .386 winning percentage ahead of just the Astros and Marlins. Just as important — and disappointing — a slew of key youngsters the organization needs for the future are struggling.
Maybe Wright eventually will change his tune, or maybe as the Mets captain and a loyal soldier, he simply is choosing to publicly handle the mess by declaring his trust in the organization. Wright was sold on the Mets’ future by general manager Sandy Alderson before signing his eight-year $138 million contract this winter, and he says he still trusts the GM’s design.
“I’m disappointed in our performance so far,” Wright told The Post. “As far as specifically what Sandy and I talked about and I guess the plan moving forward, a big part of that plan is pieces we have in the higher minor leagues.
“I’m disappointed in our performance as a team. I’m not disappointed in [what] I believe what the plan is going forward and what I believe this organization is capable of doing in the near future.”
Ike Davis has been a catastrophe, Ruben Tejada has struggled, Jonathon Niese is having a tough season, Dillon Gee has regressed and Triple-A catcher Travis d’Arnaud is injured.
To top it off, Johan Santana is out for the year, preventing the Mets from getting anything for him in a deadline trade.
The state of the Mets recalls the scene in “Apollo 13” when Ed Harris’ character asks of the damaged shuttle, “What do we have on the spaceship that’s good?” His colleague replies, “I’ll get back to you, Gene.”
But the Mets are not entirely barren. Wright has been terrific, posting an .885 OPS, the best among National League third basemen. Matt Harvey has been brilliant, Zack Wheeler is on track for an imminent promotion from Triple-A, d’Arnaud’s injury is not serious, Niese has rebounded in recent starts, other prospects (inlcuding right-handers Rafael Montero and Noah Syndergaard) are performing well in the minors and the team has approximately $50 million coming off the payroll this offseason, giving Alderson room to spend on free agents.
The 30-year-old Wright signed for eight seasons, not one. The beginning of this season, while alarming, is a small sample in terms of Wright’s overall commitment.
“There’s a long way to go for this season,” Wright said. “I want to get to the point where we’re a perennial playoff team. Not ‘let’s trade away some of these great pieces we have to win right this second.’ ”
Wright said not rushing prospects such as Wheeler is important, citing his own experience. And he hardly is ready to give up on his struggling teammates. The Mets could really use Davis to be an answer at first base and Tejada to be an answer at shortstop, and Wright believes both can be.
“I’ve seen Ike at a ridiculously high level. I’ve seen Ruben be a very, very solid shortstop,” he said. “I’m sure they’re frustrated with the way they’ve played. But they have a track record of being able to produce at this level.”