David Wright: Phillies the team to beat
Hey, he said it. Not me 
David Wright: Phillies the team to beat
BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, February 6th 2008, 4:00 AM
JImmy Rollins correctly predicted last year that the Phillies were the team to beat in the National League East. With pitchers and catchers set to report next week, David Wright believes that to be the case this year, too.
Wright, whose Mets suffered a historic collapse last September by blowing a seven-game lead with 17 games to play, said last night that the Phillies have to be considered the divisional favorites for the upcoming season - even after the Mets' acquisition of Johan Santana.
"The team to beat in my eyes is the team that won last year," Wright said. "Philadelphia took care of us last year. They took care of business in the division. Going into this year, we have to take control again of the NL East."
Rollins' prediction last year made for plenty of headlines, and the NL MVP helped his team back up his words with its unlikely surge to the NL East crown.
Wright wasn't prepared to make any such predictions for 2008, but with the Mets adding Santana to their rotation and the Phillies doing very little in terms of changing their roster, the pendulum may have swung back in New York's favor.
Wright believes that the trade for Santana - who will be formally introduced at a Shea Stadium press conference today - has finally allowed the Mets to put the debacle of last fall behind them and concentrate on the task ahead.
"It allowed us to effectively completely shut the book on '07," Wright said of the deal. "It takes away from the aura of what happened last year and we can put that behind us. When your superstars have focused their attention on looking ahead and not behind, that rubs off on the rest of the team."
Wright was one of six athletes honored at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner in midtown last night, joining Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Craig Biggio, Jamal Crawford and Kristi Yamaguchi. Wright will be at Shea today to help welcome Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner who was acquired last week for a package of four minor leaguers.
Before receiving his award last night, Wright spent some of his day watching the Giants' ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes. The festivities left him imagining what it would be like to experience such an event with the Mets, a goal he clearly has in mind for the immediate future.
"Seeing the city rally behind the Giants, seeing first-hand the ovations the guys got at the parade while watching on TV, the city of New York really gets behind a team like that," Wright said. "I think it motivates you that much more to be in their shoes in October."
Assuming they can get past the Phillies, of course.
BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, February 6th 2008, 4:00 AM
JImmy Rollins correctly predicted last year that the Phillies were the team to beat in the National League East. With pitchers and catchers set to report next week, David Wright believes that to be the case this year, too.
Wright, whose Mets suffered a historic collapse last September by blowing a seven-game lead with 17 games to play, said last night that the Phillies have to be considered the divisional favorites for the upcoming season - even after the Mets' acquisition of Johan Santana.
"The team to beat in my eyes is the team that won last year," Wright said. "Philadelphia took care of us last year. They took care of business in the division. Going into this year, we have to take control again of the NL East."
Rollins' prediction last year made for plenty of headlines, and the NL MVP helped his team back up his words with its unlikely surge to the NL East crown.
Wright wasn't prepared to make any such predictions for 2008, but with the Mets adding Santana to their rotation and the Phillies doing very little in terms of changing their roster, the pendulum may have swung back in New York's favor.
Wright believes that the trade for Santana - who will be formally introduced at a Shea Stadium press conference today - has finally allowed the Mets to put the debacle of last fall behind them and concentrate on the task ahead.
"It allowed us to effectively completely shut the book on '07," Wright said of the deal. "It takes away from the aura of what happened last year and we can put that behind us. When your superstars have focused their attention on looking ahead and not behind, that rubs off on the rest of the team."
Wright was one of six athletes honored at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner in midtown last night, joining Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Craig Biggio, Jamal Crawford and Kristi Yamaguchi. Wright will be at Shea today to help welcome Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner who was acquired last week for a package of four minor leaguers.
Before receiving his award last night, Wright spent some of his day watching the Giants' ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes. The festivities left him imagining what it would be like to experience such an event with the Mets, a goal he clearly has in mind for the immediate future.
"Seeing the city rally behind the Giants, seeing first-hand the ovations the guys got at the parade while watching on TV, the city of New York really gets behind a team like that," Wright said. "I think it motivates you that much more to be in their shoes in October."
Assuming they can get past the Phillies, of course.
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