(Justin Turner, moments before being presented with an invoice for $24.95)
On Monday, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon greeted players arriving at Port St. Lucie with t-shirts bearing Underdog’s “U” logo, clearly proving for once and all that Jeff and father Fred cannot possibly be broke if they’re handing out such glitzy welcoming gifts. To 3B/lame duck David Wright, however, the gesture sets a tone he’s uncomfortable with, as the New York Post’s Mike Puma reports.
“I don’t really like using the whole Underdog thing,” Wrightsaid. “I don’t like really playing that card, but I think it’s a way to remind everybody in here that the outside expectations aren’t the expectations we have for ourselves.
“But we shouldn’t view ourselves as [underdogs]. We’ll let everybody else view ourselves as that because we kind of know what we’re capable of.”
One Met, who did not want his name used, said he didn’t like the Underdog idea because it gives the team a built-in excuse if it plays poorly. Others are less bothered by Underdog.
“I don’t know how well it’s going to catch on, but at the same time it’s something that why not?” Jason Bay said. “It’s just something to rally around, something to banter about. The T-shirt is not lying. It’s telling the truth.”