PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- His expression said David Wright had lost his best friend -- because he had. Joe McEwing had been released. His one-man support group had been exiled. One could read it in Wright's face.

Wright was the first to know of the Mets' plans to remove McEwing from the roster, the first one to know that McEwing would opt to be released rather than accept an assignment to the minor leagues.

Wright knew all about it Wednesday night. And yet when he entered the Mets' clubhouse Thursday morning and the fact of the matter couldn't be denied, it seemed like a shock anyway.

McEwing's empty locker slapped Wright in the face. Later, Wright acknowledged his eyes had teared.

"I'm not going to like that empty locker tomorrow morning," Wright said.

No one among the Mets will feel the absence of McEwing as Wright will.

"It's like saying goodbye to a family member," Wright said. "I hope he stays in the National League so I can see him a few times a year."

There will be cellular phone calls between the two brothers -- the twin sons of different mothers, a term each embraced. They spoke by phone two or three times a week all winter. They lockered next to each other at Shea Stadium last summer, and at Spring Training, too.

They were third base sidekicks. They were everything two teammates can be. And that's why Jason Phillips said: "I'm not concerned for Joe. He'll get a job. Everyone knows he's pro. I'm concerned for David Wright."

Phillips had seen their relationship develop in the relatively brief time Wright and McEwing were teammates. He recognized Wright probably didn't need a compass too often, but that McEwing was there to point to the proper direction, an invisible Jiminy Cricket.

"I know David's hurting," Phillips said. "He's going to miss Joe. It's the right move for Joe. They both know that, but they're emotionally attached. It's like a divorce. There's going to be a period of adjustment. And it won't be short because it's not an everyday thing.

"When things are right, you just coast. But when things go wrong, that's when David will feel it. We all do. No matter how well you play --- and David's going to be good -- you have those periods when things go wrong. And Joe's not going to be there to pop him out of it.

"You know, you get back from the park, you're go upstairs and you say, 'We'll meet in the lobby.' Now there's no one to do that for David. I remember reading that [former Dolphins coach] Don Shula used to go for a walk every night with his wife. Every night. Then she died, and he had to walk alone. It doesn't matter how old you are, it's hard.

"But someone will step up and David'll get comfortable after a while. But there aren't many guys like Joe.

News and features: • Mets notes: Cameron gets good news • Ginter dealt to Detroit; Colyer to Mets • Amazin' offense shines in Florida finale
Multimedia: • Mets broadcaster Ed Coleman:  • Kevin Czerwinski on the Kaz Ishii trade  • Interview with Darryl Strawberry:  350K
Info:	Schedule  | Ballpark  |  Tickets MLB.com's complete coverage

"Joe taught him the ropes -- how much to tip, where to get the cabs, how to get to the clubhouse in each park. David hasn't even been to all the parks yet. He made it comfortable for David. And no matter how you are, you need that."

Phillips recalled pitcher Donne Wall guiding him when he came up in 2001. And he tried to help Eric Valent and Jeff Keppinger last year.

"When Jeff came up from Triple-A, he had to borrow shoes and collared shirts," Philips said.

"You help them get to the park. Then it's, 'You're on your own. I've got my own problems when I'm here.' But you do what you can -- like Joe did for David. And David will never forget it."

Not even if he wanted to.

"I know what he's taught me will stay with me," Wright said. "He used to tell me so many guys change when they get to the big leagues. Their personalities change when they get called up. He told me 'Don't change.' He told me to continue working -- that I can be a good player, or work at it like I did with him, and be more than that.

"He's going to stick with me, I know. I know that if I don't get to the park early, somehow he's going to find out, and I'm going to get a call. It's like he'll be on my shoulder, 'C'mon, get going.'"

Wright says he's proud to be McEwing's Mets legacy.

"Real proud," Wright said, "if people saw me play and thought of Joe. I'd like him to be remembered in New York. I want his influence to mold my character so I can be like him."