Jun
18
2011

No. 41 Says No. 7 Should Look Out For No. 1

An article by Joe D

Number 41, Tom Seaver was in town today to help promote the website Bringchange2mind.org, but he wasn’t pulling any punches when the topic of Jose Reyes came up.

Dave Hutchinson of the Star-Ledger has the low-down,

The greatest Met of them all, Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, says Jose Reyes should get what the market bears and if that means leaving the organization, so be it.

As for Reyes possibly hitting the free agent market and cashing in big, Seaver said the shortstop should go for it.

“Why wouldn’t you?” Seaver asked. “If people (teams) are paying. Players aren’t using handguns to take this money. People say it’s absurd. But why wouldn’t you take the money.”

Absolutely, I totally agree. It looks like Tom Terrific is a big Jose Reyes like me:

“He’s a spectacular player in so many ways,” Seaver said. “He’s a spectacularly beautiful player, and he’s a player that a pitcher defends against, too. With this ballclub, that’s probably the most important out of the inning, is him because he can do so many things.”

Baseball is in the business of entertainment and they charge fans very steep prices for it, especially the New York Mets. Right now, Jose Reyes is the biggest draw in New York and he should be paid accordingly.

You only live once Jose, my advice to you is take all the money you can get and keep running.

If the Mets fail to sign Jose Reyes and he walks, shame on them. I’ll hold no ill-will toward any young man who is looking to make the best life possible for him and his family. He’s pursuing his share of the American Dream.

Do I want to see Jose Reyes go? Hell No!

But if this team allows that to happen then they will have to deal with repercussions just as they did when they traded Tom Seaver. It won’t be pretty… You should see half the emails I get about this every day.

We’ve only had one life-long Met on this team in franchise history, Eddie Kranepool – that’s it. That already speaks volumes about what the Mets think about keeping their home-grown stars. They don’t keep any of them because, let’s face it Kranepool was no star.

This whole situation makes me sick and I hate it.

Reyes and Carlos Beltran are my favorite Mets and now I have to face the possibility that neither of them will be back in 2012. Two spectacular players who together hold over two dozen franchise records and never spent a day at the Smithers Institute, the Betty Ford Clinic, or in county lock-up.

I don’t blog as much as I used to this season… Basically it’s because I started Mets Merized Online the same season we signed Carlos Beltran, and Jose Reyes played his first full season and led the league with 60 stolen bases and 17 triples. What an exciting time to be a Mets fan after years of being down in the dumps after that 2000 trip to the World Series.

Whenever I see Beltran blast a home run out of the park I still cheer like always did, but now it’s always bittersweet. Worse yet is watching a healthy Jose Reyes become the most exciting player in baseball (again) and hitting the prime years of his career. Knowing that this could be his last hurrah in a Mets uniform is just too much to take.

Anyway, good job by Tom Seaver, another spectacular Met, for telling it like it is.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

8 Comments + Add Comment

Joe Spector June 18, 2011 at 8:36 pm

Well said Joe. Since we found out that Reyes doesn’t want Boras as an agent, don’t be too surprised to hear that Sandy Alderson in some way has reached out to Reyes agents, if only to just give a “hello I’m here we’ll talk soon” type of call. Alderson knows that MLB is as much a sport as it is entertainment, and Reyes is one of the main reasons fans fill the seats. Have faith.
- t agee June 19, 2011 at 8:56 am
  
  Some guys get all they can regardless of where it is, other take a little less to remain, return or go somewhere they really want to be. Reyes has never had a bad word to say about the Mets but he cannot be thrilled about what Fred had to say about him, Carlos or the team. Nor could he be thrilled at the way the Mets have continually tried to embarrass Beltran, displayed their dysfunctional ownership for all the world to see and now are grasping at straws just to hold onto the team.
  
  Even if the money were equal between this dysfunctional group and a competent organization that doesn’t go out of their way to run down or embarrass their players he might decide it’s better to move on anyway.
  
  Personally I wouldn’t blame him if he does.
LA Mets Fan June 18, 2011 at 10:48 pm

Tom Terrific is the man! My favorite player of all time!!!
Squidoo June 18, 2011 at 11:29 pm

I still say Jose Reyes will be re-signed and isn’t going anywhere. I’m not concerned in the least that he wont be re-signed for a six year deal between $100 and $120 million bucks.
martin June 18, 2011 at 11:43 pm

we dont seem to understand what a free agent is. a free agent has no reason to be loyal to the team he came up with. all teams have cool cats you can be friends with.
Mr North Jersey June 18, 2011 at 11:52 pm

Seaver is right. It is in Reyes best interest to get what the market will bare. If that is 10 years 200M so be it. As fans of course we want him to stay here but like Seaver said “If people (teams) are paying. Players aren’t using handguns to take this money. People say it’s absurd. But why wouldn’t you take the money.”

Don’t know if the Mets will resign him or not but Reyes is having an EPIC year and he should cash in for all it’s worth. Hopefully that is with the Mets but if it is not I wish him the best.
- Brian June 19, 2011 at 10:22 am
  
  He’ll cash in alright, I just hope it’s with us.
Alan June 19, 2011 at 10:26 am

Yes, Mr Seaver is totally correct and Jose should look to get the best deal possible. In what was a lifetime ago, Tom Seaver already had a place in the Hall of Fame by 1976 based on performance and was caught in the middle of the new age of free agency. One year wonders had secured outrageous salaries and Seaver felt that he was entitled to get an extension of his contract that would bring his salary in line with the “going rate”. Had Mrs.Payson not died the Midnight Massacre of 1977 would have never happened. Instead M. Donald Grant chose to be stupid as well as cheap and you know the rest. The worst day in our history……

Hopefully, Grant died a long painful death!

Jose Reyes is our catalyst…no ifs…ands….or buts…..He must be resigned!

Need Tickets To The Mets Game?

Check Out These Great MLB Links!

For wholesale prices on New York Mets gifts and equipment, check these stores out!
Mets Autograph Signings
Mets Fan Apparel
Mets Autographed Baseballs
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Equipment

For the best seats and lowest MLB ticket prices, go to PurchaseSeats.com. Get your Mets Tickets now and follow them on the road with Yankees Tickets, Phillies Tickets, Nationals Tickets and Braves Tickets!