David Wright – Padre killer

At the start of each series, we at Chicken Friars will zero in on an opposing player known to be a “Padre Killer.” No matter the day, time or place, this player is known to be a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to playing against the San Diego Padres.

In this column, I will analyze that player’s statistics against the Friars and try to offer some insight on how not to let that player beat our beloved team.

The Padres are set to kick off their first and only four-game series in the City That Never Sleeps, but when the Padres play the New York Mets, David Wright always seems to catch the Padres napping.

The stud third-baseman is the heart and soul of the Mets team. While Wright has better numbers against other opposition, his stats against the Padres are quite gaudy.

At Citi Field, the Mets superstar has a .283 average, with 24 home runs and has so far driven in 110 runs on his home turf. Mix these numbers in with his career line against the Padres and that spells total destruction.

On top of all that, this season Wright is flirting with .400, as he currently posses a .399 batting average. Only 28 Major Leaguers in history have batted .400, the great Ted Williams is the last player to do so in 1941 when he batted .406

Now, I’m not sure there is a guaranteed way to stop Wright from being a “Padre Killer,” but what I suggest is for the Padres to make the entire Mets lineup beat them rather than just Wright. There is no question that Wright will get his hits and home runs, but the goal here is to not let him deliver in the clutch. If he hits that bomb, make sure it is not a three- run blast but a solo shot. I know it sounds easier said than done, but hopefully the Padres will finally wake up from their nap.