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Mets’ David Wright says Jenrry Mejia ‘needs to be punished’

By Stanford Crissey

Jul 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) runs as he singles during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets third baseman David Wright (5) runs as he singles during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mets 3B David Wright expresses his disappointment in suspended closer Jenrry Mejia

New York Mets closer Jenrry Mejia was recently handed an 80-game suspension for use of a banned substance.

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Mejia’s teammates have given their public reactions to the suspensions, and they’re not very happy.

In particular, third baseman David Wright, the team captain and 12-year veteran who would probably be known as “Mr. Met” if that wasn’t already the name of their mascot, spoke out against the suspended closer, telling the Wall Street Journal that Mejia “needs to be punished.”

“Not only do you cost yourself 80 games and don’t get paid, but you’re hurting everybody in here,” Wright said. “You’re letting down your teammates. That probably means just as much, if not more, than hurting yourself.
“He messed up, and he needs to be punished.”

The story also mentions outfielder Michael Cuddyer as another disappointed teammate, and quotes manager Terry Collins as saying “there were a lot of shocked faces” when he informed the club.

Mejia’s suspension for use of Stanazolol, a banned substance, was announced Saturday.

Mejia, 25, was expected to be the Mets’ closer this season, but the role will now have to go to either young reliever Jeurys Familia or Bobby Parnell, the former closer who is still recovering from injury.

It’s not hard to see why Wright and the other Mets are disappointed; the Mets were seen as fringe contenders this year, but a few bad breaks, like Zack Wheeler’s injury and now this suspension, could torpedo their hopes.

Mejia is the fourth MLB player to be suspended under the new rules, which increased the suspension for a first-time positive test from 50 games to 80. The Mariners’ David Rollins, the Braves’ Arodys Vizcaino and the Twins’ Ervin Santana have already been suspended this year.

Mejia, for his part, issued a statement on his suspension, saying “I am sorry to the Mets organization, my teammates and the fans, as well as my family” but arguing that “I can honestly say I have no idea how a banned substance ended up in my system.”

The “I have no idea how this happened” defense is the most common for players who test positive for banned substances. Santana used it, David Ortiz has used it, as have countless others, which makes it harder to believe anyone who does use that excuse; it’s become the “dog ate my homework” of baseball.

Despite the team’s reaction, Wright did add that once Mejia comes back, Wright and the rest of the Mets will “do whatever we can to make him feel a part of this team.”

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