I came across this post in the blogosphere today and, honestly, it gave me chills. Doug Branch from Mets Merized Online wrote a great article about the fighting spirit of this depleted Mets team. Branch comments about how well the Mets fought off the Cardinals on Monday night and that it’s great to root for an underdog team again (brings me back to the 2000 World Series team). Doug concludes with this statement: “Adversity has a way of strengthening or destroying individuals and teams. Which camp will the Mets stake down their tent in?”

I think this is a great questions and one that I have been thinking about a lot, even before Carlos Beltran went down. I alluded to it a little bit in a post two weeks ago, but the Mets team this season has played with more “grit” and toughness than Mets’ teams of the recent past. More than anything else, the lineup this season has done a better job at putting up runs later in the game. I think  lots of fans remember how many runs the Mets scored early in games last season (I think they led the MLB in first inning runs) but failed to score later in games. Monday night’s win was a great example of how this Mets team has been able to not only score early, but tack on one or two runs in the seventh or eighth to bury any hopes of a comeback for their opponent. If the Mets can continue to develop this “grittiness” over the course of the summer and stay in the playoff hunt – they’re only one game out of first in East, by the way – they will be a dangerous team come the fall.

Another positive I hope will come from all of these injuries is the emergence of David Wright as the team’s leader. Wright has been a great player and a fan favorite for his entire career but I don’t think I’m alone amongst Mets fans in wishing he would take more of a leadership role on the team. Wright doesn’t seem to have the commanding personality that is typically associated with a club house leader. If we take a look at our cross-town rivals, however, they have one of the great team leaders in the Majors; and Derek Jeter isn’t exactly the most out-spoken guy in the world either.

There was a promising sign two weeks ago during Mike Pelfrey’s start against the Baltimore Orioles. In Pelfrey’s usual pattern, he pitched lights out through the first five innings before semi-imploding in the sixth. After Baltimore scored two runs in the inning and with runners still on base, Pelfrey looked as if he would blow the Mets four run lead. As Pelfrey frustradely chewed up his mouth guard, David Wright ran over to him and barked encouragement through his mitt. Pelfrey ended up getting out of the inning without letting up another run and eventually winning the game.

That’s the kind of attitude I want to see Wright have. He can be quiet and calm, and lead by his play. But when a teammate needs a little encouragement or a kick in the ass, he should be the one to act. But as Doug said, only time will tell how David Wright and the Mets react to this adversity.