Wright Watch: David Wright Walks it Off!

Posted on 17 Mar 2009 by Danielle

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David Wright walks Team USA off into semi-finals over Puerto Rico

Posted on 17 Mar 2009 by Danielle

The crowd packed into Dolphins Stadium roared as Team USA piled on top of David Wright as he made his way towards the center of the diamond. His crosstown counterpart Derek Jeter, perpetual rival Shane Victorino, and 2009 interleague opponent Kevin Youklis got to him first, jumping up and down in celebration. It was also Youkilis who grabbed his helmet and ran off, causing David to be tackled by his team as he gave chase.

Wright blooped a dramatic two-run single, capping a three-run ninth inning, that lifted Team USA to a 6-5 win over Puerto Rico in an elimination game at the World Baseball Classic.

For Wright, the Mets All-Star third baseman, it was the ideal finish to a 3-for-4 night in a game in which Team USA struggled to find the big hit.

With the victory, Team USA is guaranteed a place in the semifinals in Los Angeles. They will join Venezuela from Pool 2 in making the trip out West and Team USA wraps up its six-game set at Dolphin Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET against Venezuela in a game that will decide seeding.

After squandering chances all night, Team USA responded in its final at-bat.

Shane Victorino opened the inning with a single off his Phillies teammate, J.C. Romero. Brian Roberts singled, and the drama began to build. Derek Jeter lined a long fly to right, and Victorino tagged and moved to third. Roberts swiped second, and Jimmy Rollins walked in an eight-pitch at-bat, loading the bases.

Fernando Cabrera relieved Romero to face Kevin Youkilis, who homered in the third inning. On five pitches, the Red Sox All-Star walked, closing the gap to one run.

For Team USA, Tuesday was sweet revenge. On Saturday night, Puerto Rico swarmed Team USA, 11-1, ending the game by the 10-run rule in seven innings. The crowd on hand Tuesday was treated to a more competitive and compelling contest.

Team USA split two games with Venezuela in the first round in Toronto. And it was embarrassed on Saturday by a strong Puerto Rican team that now is going home after Wright slapped his opposite-field single on a 2-1 pitch to become the hero.

Puerto Rico built its lead on Carlos Delgado's two-run homer and two RBIs and a homer from Alex Rios. Rios scored an insurance run in the ninth inning, giving his country a two-run cushion.

Walks allowed hurt Team USA's pitching staff on Tuesday. Of the seven combined walks issued, Puerto Rico converted three of them for runs. Still, Team USA was able to prevail.

After overcoming a two-run deficit, Puerto Rico reclaimed a one-run lead in the sixth inning. Capitalizing on a leadoff walk issued by reliever Heath Bell to Ivan Rodriguez, Rios slapped an RBI single to center.

Team USA missed on several chances, stranding runners on second and third in the third inning, a runner on second in the fifth and runners at the corners in the seventh.

Down by a run in the seventh, Victorino singled and went to second on Roberts' sacrifice bunt. Jeter walked, and Rollins lifted a fly ball to right field. On the play, Victorino advanced to third when right fielder Rios' throw deflected off him while he was standing on second base.

Puerto Rico protested briefly, claiming Victorino obstructed the ball. Their argument was denied. Reliever Saul Rivera entered and retired Youkilis on a groundout to shortstop.

Again in the eighth inning, the United States left a runner at second. Wright singled to open the inning. But with two outs, Romero struck out Brian McCann, stranding pinch-runner Curtis Granderson on second. Granderson ran for Adam Dunn, who reached on a fielder's choice.

In the third inning, Youkilis gave Team USA a 3-1 advantage when he launched a shot to left for his third homer of the Classic.

David Wright was 3-4 in tonight's game with a walk and three singles, including the walk-off, as well as a stolen base.

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A few pictures of the the WBC crew!

Posted on 17 Mar 2009 by Danielle

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Wright Watch: David's On-Deck Routine

Posted on 17 Mar 2009 by Danielle

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3/16 - What Wright Said...

Posted on 17 Mar 2009 by Danielle

(On his knee to the head in the game vs. the Netherlands)

"My eyes got watery a little bit," the Mets' All-Star third baseman said. "But I was all right."

Credit: MLB.com

(About injuries in the WBC)

"Nobody wants to get hurt, but, unfortunately, that's part of the game," Wright said.

Credit: NY Times

"Once you start going out there and worrying about staying healthy, that's when little things start to find you," he said. "I'm going to go out there -- I think everybody in here is going to go out there and play hard -- whether it's Spring Training or whether it's the World Baseball Classic.

"You can pull an oblique here, and you can pull an oblique in Fort Myers, [Fla.], or Port St. Lucie, [Fla]. It doesn't matter where. When you start to go out there and purposely play 75 percent, that's when you're more susceptible to injury. You've got to go out there and play like you are in Spring Training."

Credit: MLB.com

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General Update!

Posted on 16 Mar 2009 by Danielle

Credit to the Daily News for this one:

"David Wright was smacked in the head breaking up a double play in Team USA's win against the Netherlands on Monday night. He appears okay, but Daily News sports writer Anthony McCarron said he got a little dizzy and had watery eyes."

Hopefully, David will be okay.

I'm currently in the process of loading photos from 3/15 to Flickr, there will be more loaded again after the game tonight. I'm leaving it loading while I'm in Miami.

To view TWS's Flickr album... here.

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Wright Watch: David's Web Gem vs. the Dutch

Posted on 15 Mar 2009 by Danielle

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USA tops Netherlands, 9-3

Posted on 15 Mar 2009 by Danielle

Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and finished with four RBI and two runs scored, as the United States crushed the Netherlands, 9-3, and eliminated them from World Baseball Classic play.

Brian Roberts went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the U.S., which snapped a two-game slide. Adam Dunn added a solo homer, while Kevin Youkilis, David Wright, and Brian McCann each drove in a run in the win.

It was announced prior to the game that Team USA third baseman Chipper Jones will miss the rest of the WBC with a strained oblique muscle.

Team USA will face the loser of the Venezuela-Puerto Rico matchup on Tuesday for the right to advance to the semifinals in Los Angeles.

Roy Oswalt (1-0) was stellar on the hill, lasting four innings and yielding five hits while fanning as many batters.

Bryan Engelhardt had a solo homer for the Netherlands. Yurendell de Caster and Sharlon Schoop drove in the other runs in defeat.

Rick VandenHurk (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs -- one earned -- on four hits in two innings of work.

The bases were loaded with one out in the home half of the first, as Roberts singled and Derek Jeter and Youkilis drew walks. Wright then offered a sac fly to right field, and Team USA was up 1-0 before Dunn struck out on a foul tip to end the rally.

Rollins stroked a homer in the second inning that also scored Curtis Granderson to make it 3-0.

Chris Iannetta led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and, after Granderson went down swinging, Rollins drove him in with a triple. Rollins came around to score as Roberts followed with a three-bagger. Michiel van Kampen then came on to replace Sulbaran and walked Jeter before Youkilis grounded out to plate Roberts. USA boasted a 6-0 lead after four frames.

Rollins' sac fly plated Ryan Braun in the fifth inning, as the Americans inflated their lead to 7-0.

It was 8-0 after the sixth inning, as Dunn chipped in a solo homer.

De Caster's double in the seventh off Brad Ziegler plated Schoop and cut the Netherlands' deficit to 8-1.

Engelhardt led off the eighth with a homer off Matt Lindstrom and Schoop offered a sac fly later in the frame to plate Danny Rombley, which made it 8-3 and chased Lindstrom in favor of John Grabow.

McCann's double scored Youkilis in the home eighth to give USA a 9-3 advantage.

Jonathan Broxton came in to pitch the ninth and got the Netherlands to go down in order.

David Wright was 1-3 in tonight's game, with an RBI sac fly and a single. He also had a spectacular play in the field. His average in the WBC is now .263.

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The WBC is here!

Posted on 14 Mar 2009 by Danielle

I'm officially in Florida, getting ready to head over to the games this afternoon and tonight!

Exciting, right?

Make sure to subscribe to Twitter (or at least keep checking back to the site) for live updates from the actual games with on-site reporting. This is not a play-by-play, it's live blogging!

Check out The Wright Stuff on Twitter... here.

Go, USA!

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DWF Fundraiser Update: Colors

Posted on 14 Mar 2009 by Danielle

More colors choices have been added to each style! Instead of the traditional white, black, and a few colors, there is a multitude of options to choose from.

Once again, these shirts are pretty low-priced, with the majority of our shirts for sale now range from 12.99 - 14.99, with only a few for sale from 17.99 - 19.99. The best part is... not a single tee-shirt is over TWENTY DOLLARS!

Hopefully, this will help us raise even more money to donate to the David Wright Foundation!

Check out The Wright Stuff's merch store... here.

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