DENVER — It was the poor fit — and not the relentless national ridicule — that made him do it.
That was David Wright’s explanation yesterday for abandoning the comically oversized “Great Gazoo” batting helmet he donned to relentless teasing Tuesday.
The switch back to his normal-sized helmet, not to mention a night off after his return from a concussion-induced stint on the DL, apparently worked. Wright went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in the Mets’ 8-3 rout of the Rockies at Coors Field.
“It’s just not comfortable,” Wright said of the bulbous, heavily padded S100 helmet from Rawlings. “It’s just the last thing I need to be worried about in the box, to be trying to shove it on my head.”
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Carlos Beltran played five innings in center field last night for the Brooklyn Cyclones and went 0-for-2 with a walk. He left the game, as scheduled, in the top of the sixth.
Beltran said he will speak with trainers and listen to his body, but he expects to play tomorrow — either seven innings in center field or serving as the DH.
“I feel good,” Beltran said. “I didn’t feel like anything was wrong. It was good to be out there. It’s been a long time since I was able to play the outfield. So it was a very good day for me.”
The Mets say the decision to play is up to Beltran. “The ball is in his court,” assistant GM John Ricco said yesterday. “The word from the doctors is that he’s clear to play. Unless something else comes up, there’s no plan for him to see the doctor again.”
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Despite a published report, the Mets said yesterday that they will not decide until after the season whether to alter the cavernous outfield dimensions at Citi Field or leave them intact.
According to hittrackeronline.com, Citi Field ranks 11th in the National League in home runs and 25th out of 30 in all of baseball in that category.