I’ve Made My Peace With This…

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• Des November 10, 2011 at 7:10 pm

  Well said John. Jose has been a very good player but his lack of focus and sometimes his inconsistent hitting undermine any claim to historical greatness. I take issue with his retirement from the batting average race to protect his then current average. It’s not the stuff of greatness, no matter how vehemently his defenders caterwaul.

  Very good? Yes. Great? No.
  • METS62FAN November 12, 2011 at 7:30 am

    MLB-TV’S HOT STOVE SHOW OF 11/11 SHOWED A GRAPHIC THAT OVER THE PAST 5 YRS PLACED REYES BEHIND ONLY TULOWITSKY & RAMIREZ AS FAR AS AVG & OBP ACHIEVEMENTS AMONG MLB SS. ONCE MORE, JOHN’S SOUNDING HIS SOUR GRAPES & I’M SORRY; BUT I FIND NO FAULT IN THOSE FAULTS JOHN CHOSE TO FOCUS ON, BEING THE FIRST BATTING TITLEIST IN NYM HISTORY IS A BIG DEAL FOR BOTH PLAYER & FRANCHISE WHILE REYES OVER HIS ENTIRE CAREER HAS MANAGED TO STAY ON TYHE FIELD FOR 76% OF THE GAMES, I’M CERTAIN HIS 76% HAS CONTRIBUTED MUCH MORE TOWARDS WINNING THAN PLAYING EVERY SINGLE GAME BY ORDONEZ DID, OR TEJADA’S WILL. IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT ISN’T AS IF HIS REPLACEMENT IS CAL RIPKIN-ISH

    UNLESS HE IS THAN CAL DOESN’T MATTER. NOR DO TULOW OR HANLEY

    NO ONE EVER MENTIONS HIS SELF SACRIFICE IN ACCOMODATING THE HAIR-BRAINED CONCEPT OF REBUILDING HIS RUNNING STULE OR SWITCHING TO 2B TO ACCOMODATE A RUMORED TO BE(BY RICHARD WILPON) BETTER SS IN MATSUI

    CAN ANYONE CLAIM ANY OTHER NOTEWORTHY SS WOULD BE SO OBLIGING WITHOUT COMPLAINT?

    IN A CAPITALISTIC ATMOSPHERE OF MLB SINCE WHEN IS LOYALTY ONLY MEASURED AS PLAYER TO FRANCHISE? WHY SHOULDN’T HE PUT HIS FAMILY & SELF’S BEST INTEREST ABOVE A TEAM THAT HAS SPURNED HIS BEING LATINO CHOOSING THE LESS OVERALL TALENTED CAUCASIAN AS “THEIR FACE”.

    OVER AN 8 YR SPAN THE MET’S W% HAS RELIED UPON HIS PLAYING AVAILABILITY, THAT IS NO COINCIDENCE & MUCH MORE LIKELY WHY HIS UNAVAILABILITY IN 24% OF GAMES CONTRACTED FOR SEEMS MORE HARMFUL THAN R.HENDERSON’S OR R.FURCAL’S IDENTICAL CAREER PARTICIPATION RATES.

    DYNAMIC BASE RUNNERS SUFFER MORE LEG INJIURIES JUST AS MASSIVE HR HITTERS STRIKE OUT MORE. THESE ARE STATEMENTS OF HISTORICAL FACTS TO DENIGRATE THE GREATEST SS IN FLUSHING’DS 50 YRS OF BASEBALL PARTICIPATION SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS INFLICTED MUCH THE SAME AS HIS GENRE OF PLAYER HAS ALWAYS BEEN IS LUDICROUS.

    AS SOMEONE WHO’S FIRST LIVE GAME EXPERIENCE OCCURRED IN FLATBUSH I WILL STATE THAT REYES IS A MUCH BETTER SS THAN EITHER REESE OR RXZZUTO, BOTH OF WHICH ARE IN THE HOF, JUST AS HIS 76% PARTICIPATION RATE MIRRORS THE 76% CAREER RATE FOR HENDERSON(HOF)

    JOHN, PLEASE SPARE US THE EXCUSES AFTER THE PRESUMED FACT. MORE THAN LIKELY REYES RIGHTFULLY SIGNS BASED UPON AAV(AVERAGE ANUAL VALUE) NOT LENGTH & TOTAL PKG AND WHY SHOULDN’T HE? LOYALTY? TO WHO? FRANCHISE? FICKLE FANS? ONCE MORE, I ASK, WHO IN REYES’ CAMP HAS EVER REFERRED TO CRAWFORD AS AN EXAMPLR OF JOSE’S TARGET? THE PRESS ESTABLISHED IT AS A PRESUMED BASELINE & HAS REPEATEDLY STATED IT AS A FACT IN EVIDENCE. HARDLY! ONLY THE PRESS & OWNERSHIP HAVE LINKED JOSE & 7/157 TOGETHER

    LET’S TRY A SIP OF REALITY INSTEAD OF THE PITCHER OF SOUR GRAPEJUICE DISGUISED AS KOOLAIDE.
• Rickeybobby November 10, 2011 at 7:22 pm

  i not a peace yet but it’s looking more like he’s gone ..ill be more at peace if they spend some money this offseason. They DEF shouldve traded him midseason..
  • any November 10, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    no one knows if they would have done it if a big offer came in, but going on the DL right at the beginning of July with a leg injury probably tanked any chance of getting a worthwhile return.
• acoustic567 November 10, 2011 at 7:48 pm

  With respect to Reyes’s “twinge of selfishness” … as evidenced by … ? Is he different from or worse than most players in this respect? How does his selfishness compare with, say, Cal Ripken’s selfishness in insisting on the consecutive-games-played record even though it was hurting his team?
• Luis November 10, 2011 at 8:13 pm

  When he stopped stealing I was losing respect, when he pulled himself in the last game, I was done. Thank you Jose, but it is time to move on. I too am at peace.
• XtreemIcon November 10, 2011 at 8:30 pm

  I still want him back, but not desperately enough to over-commit to him and hurt the organization down the road. I have no more respect for him as a person, but as a player, he’s too talented to just let go. I hope the Mets make a nice offer. If someone tops it, so be it. I won’t miss him too much.
  • Des November 10, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Xtree -= Well said on your part. :I really like the athleticism that Jose gives us but it’s obvious he’s saving his legs now. I think his next four years won’t be nearly as good as his 2005-2008 years. Time marches on.

    The Mets had a great bargain but they probably wouldn”t at the bucks some other team might offer Jose. Anyway, thanks Jose. You were terrific during your running rampage days.
    • XtreemIcon November 10, 2011 at 10:22 pm

      Thanks, Des. This career year came at a great time for Reyes, but I think it clouds the memories of those who choose to remember what they want to remember. In Reyes’s best years (05-08), he hit .287/.342/.442, had only a 79% stolen base percentage and averaged only 113 runs scored. Those are nice numbers, but coupled with his injury and decline, it’snot worth the kind of contract some teams will shell out for him. In 2006, he finished 7 in MVP voting, and in no other season did he crack the top 15. Who gets contracts like that when they’re so far from being considered the best in the game?

      I mean, he averaged 113 runs scored even with the old Wright, Beltran and Delgado behind him. The current Wright and Bay don’t compare, and that’s a hefty bet to think that Davis and Duda, at their age level and experience will even come close to Beltran’s and Delgado’s production. Even if they get there in a couple of years (and I do think they will), Reyes will have already hit the big 3-0, and we know what happens then.

      And lest we forget those “very good” numbers cam when he was in his prime and healthy.
      • Joe Diaz November 11, 2011 at 12:57 am

        Well Xtreem the reason why Reyes runs scored totals were good but not great is that 342 OB% you mentioned. If he was anywhere near the 384 OB% he had this year then those years in front of Wright,Beltran and Delgado he would’ve been around 130-135 RS.That’s why I don’t understand how some folks here don’t think it’s worth emphasizing the importance of OB%,especially from your leadoff hitter.The amazing thing about Rickey Henderson was he was able to maintain a 400 OB% over a 25 year career.2006 Beltrans OB% was 388 and in only 138 starts 140 games overall he scored 127 runs.Reyes started in 152 and 153 overall had a 354 OB and 122 runs.I love watching Jose play but I can’t see giving hm 100 million.
• Reyesforprez November 10, 2011 at 8:43 pm

  Does thrashing Reyes name through the mud make you at peace? I don’t see how he has done anything wrong. We have not heard from him or his agent yet and everyone is getting on him. Just because reporters write these assumptions don’t mean that that’s how he feels.

  Reyes has been a great player for the Mets and he is within his rights to see what’s out there. The ball is on the Mets court to make a fair offer to a young homegrown core player that will continue to bring excitement and revenue to the team.
  • XtreemIcon November 10, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Who’s thrashing Reyes’s name through the mud?
    • reyesforprez November 11, 2011 at 9:32 am

      The author of the article. He along with the fans that want him gone are just bitter that Reyes is in a position where he is free to sign with any team he is actually making the best of it. What is he suppose to do not listen. When the Mets publicly make an offer i think the sentiment will change with most fans but i don’t see why we have to vilify Reyes just because he might leave. I’m just as upset but at management for not getting the negotiations started. The longer it takes to get started the more assumptions will be made by beat writers and the more restless the fans will become.
• Joe Diaz November 10, 2011 at 9:18 pm

  Excitement yes! Revenue,not really.He’s tremendous but I don’t think he’s a franchise player that should get 100+ million. He’s just missed too much time the last 3 years.
• Ruben DeJesus November 10, 2011 at 11:50 pm

  I have been a Mets fan for 35 yrs. In my opinion, Jose has been one of the most selfish players, not only on the Mets, but in all of baseball. I saw how he stopped stealing bases, I saw how he took himself out of the last game to protect his precious batting title. For a person, let alone a player, to not see where he came from and where he is now is really sad. From going to school barefoot, playing with cardboard gloves and God knows what for a baseball. He states in his song how the only friends that matter is his mother and family, I can understand that. But who put food on not only his plate, but his mothers and family’s plate as well? Who put shoes on his feet? Who made him a millionaire when the people who watch him still have to work for a living?
  That my friends, was the Mets. His baseball mother….is the Mets. If he had any loyalty, any self respect, he would tell the Mets let’s get it done, make me a far offer. I want to appreciate what you have done for me AND my family. Sad but true, I’m positive that he will just go for the money and his selfish pride. How many millions do you really need to survive?
  And to think some of these players compare themselves to Roberto Clemente, come on really? Clemente gave his life on a plane providing food for people who were in desperate situations. Not too many players would take time off practicing their golf swings or rapping sessions to do that.
  Good riddance Jose, go walk straight to the bank.
  • Des November 11, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Ruben — I was a fan of Clemente even though I didn’t root for the Pirates. He was one of a kind. In today’s game, few if any deserve to be compared with Roberto. He had great talent and an even bigger heart.
• alex68 November 11, 2011 at 7:35 am

  wow, this has got to be one of the worst articles i’ve read since the urinal disaster… horrible job by the writer who has some sort of vendetta against jose reyes.. how can reyes be called reyes or to say he will get the most money he can?? has reyes at any moment has said whoever pay me the most is where i’m going.. but live and let live right?!? what ever happened to the good writers here??? we are now subject to butt kiss alderson in most articles written here, is a real shame to tell you the truth..
  • Kay November 11, 2011 at 7:45 am

    Joe D is a great guy and welcomes guest writers all the time, instead of always being a critic and bring up the same thing every day about urinals, how about you grow a spine and write your own article.

    Just because some people do not hate Alderson does not make them a butt kisser now matter how many times you reply with the same comment.
    • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 7:54 am

      I don’t understand you’re obsession with me. whenever you see alex68 look the other way.. i told you last time where you need to be instead right.. move along ok..
      • Kay November 11, 2011 at 7:58 am

        Is your ego that big that you think I, or anyone else that replies to you are obsessed, get over yourself already. When you post comments, comes a responsibility that people are going to reply with what you say, when are you going you learn that. You can continue to tell me to move along, but I will continue to do as I please while following the guidelines on this site.
      • Nester November 11, 2011 at 8:08 am

        alex68, do you notice the blue button that says reply? You activate that button every time you comment. The less you comment the less people reply. Do you think you are stalking every time you keep bringing up urinals or calling people terrible writers whenever someone posts an opposing opinion on Reyes or Minaya? Look at your own writing. It is very terrible.
        • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 9:22 am

          nester, i have no problems with ppl replying back to me on things they disagree with, none whatsoever, but that person you’re defending has made 3 ppl get banned from here because all that person does is bait ppl into insulting her, then that person goes and complains to moderator about how women are getting disrespected, then the person gets ban, pretty much an intigator, kinda like donal.. if you wanna talk baseball is fine, but i told that person not to do it with me, not to waste her time
          • Joe Diaz November 11, 2011 at 10:53 am

            Alex just out of pure curiosity,who are the 3 people that got banned.It seems like everybody except Omar Fan is still here and if he is one of the three than I could see why.I mean the guy told me to go f myself because I didn’t lke the fact that Jose left the field after a 1st inning bunt in what could’ve been his last at bat as a Met.
            • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 11:54 am

              Joe diaz, you fairly new here, this has been going on for the past 3 years, me, bayonne, maniac,now omar have been banned from here because some ppl in here feel the need to instigate, and when called upon it, they feel insulted and go to moderator to complaint. funny, this site used to be the bombed, then, these few came in and everything turn to sh** for the most part, from a baseball blog it became a math quiz with all those crappy articles about sabermetrics and urinals.. is a shame, really it is, you missed out on some good articles being written by good baseball people, now is guys writing article kissing alderson’s butt, their dispise for reyes, and second guessing …
              • Joe Diaz November 11, 2011 at 8:03 pm

                Actually Alex I’m not really all that new.I comment more now than I used to but I’ve been a frequent reader for a few years and I used to go by the user name Joe D but there are a few other Joe D’s so I use my full name instead.This has always been one of my favorite sites for Met news.I do’t know what went on before with you guys but as far as Omar gettting banned I can honestly say he deserves to be after the way he attacked me verbally all because he didn’t like my Reyes comment about him walking off the field in the 1st inning.Telling me to go F myself and a piece of shit,stuff like that should not be tolerated on here.He could’ve easily disagreed with me without all that nonsense,before that I had never had a back and forth with him,he just went on a tirade over calling Reyes weak for what he did.Yet he called Wright a pu$$y all the time.

                I wish we could just keep it to baseball related comments and if people disagree then just disagree without any personal venom spewed at one another.Being a Met fan is stressfull enough.
  • Des November 11, 2011 at 8:08 am

    Alex, please …. Do I need to finish the sentence?

    Many of us bring differing views than you on this subject. There’s no reason for you to be so accusatory. We’ll probably agree on a lot of issues in the future but in this case we don’t.
    • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

      Des, me and you have gone at it for the longest, even when you’re sarcastic we keep things to a perspective, but you’re not a baiter you know, it doesn’t get out of hand as some others here..
  • Donal November 11, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Actually, it is a well written article. Maybe not John’s best, but still easy to read and he makes his points pretty clearly.

    How about you actually rebut what you disagree with rather than trying to put down an accredited member of BBWAA?
• NCMetFan November 11, 2011 at 9:57 am

  Parting with Reyes is not a bad thing if keeping him means 20 million a year for 5 years. He is not a 100 million dollar player. The Rockies Tulo is a $100M shortstop. Adrian Gonzalez is a $100M player. Durability, OBP, HRs, & gold glove caliber defense = $100M players. Jose Reyes’ game is about speed and athleticism but legs typically are the first skill/attribute to go and on top of that Reyes isinjury prone. His OBP is very batting average dependent so a bat speed dips his average strike zone judgement/plate discipline will errode his value. If the Mets are going to spend $18 – 20M a year on a player for 5 plus years it shouldn’t be Reyes. I’d commit 8 years @ $20M per year to Fielder before I commit 5 years $90M to Reyes. Fielders skills of power and OBP are much less age impacted and both are 28 yrs old. With that in mind, I bet a trade package that included Ike Davis would be attractive to SF, Oakland and maybe the Mets get a good young pitcher in return. A good young pitcher (#2 caliber, Bumgardner/Geo Gonz type), Prince & Reuben vs Jose, Davis, & Gee. I pick the first group.
  • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 10:04 am

    Thank god you’re not the GM
    • XtreemIcon November 11, 2011 at 10:12 am

      How insightful. Glad you were here.
    • NCMetFan November 11, 2011 at 10:46 am

      Thanks for the comment Alex. I always feel a bit smarter after I read your posts.
      • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 10:48 am

        You’re welcome NCmetsfan, my pleasure
  • NJstuckinTX November 11, 2011 at 10:10 am

    Why would you trade a power hitting, slick defending, minimal salary guy under control for many moons away? That makes no sense.
    • XtreemIcon November 11, 2011 at 10:25 am

      Hey, for an ace, I’ll talk about it.
      • NJstuckinTX November 11, 2011 at 10:33 am

        And I would listen as well. Felix Hernandez? Sure. Gio? Nope.
  • XtreemIcon November 11, 2011 at 10:18 am

    NC, you’re right about Fielder’s attributes, but I think you’re overlooking Fielder himself. You know what I think when I see Fielder run? I think of Homer Simpson chasing Uter around the locker room squealing, “that kid’s got bosoms.” his skills don’t normally erode, but he will.

    And I can’t trade Ike for a #2. He’s too good. You wanna package him and Gee for a potential ace, I can buy it. But a real ace, not a #2 who would just happen to be the best pitcher on the Mets.
    • NCMetFan November 11, 2011 at 10:45 am

      Valid concern with the deal I threw out there. Both pitchers I threw out there are young and I think under team control for four more season like Ike is. My point was more that Reyes is not worth $20M and if the Mets are to indulge their fan base with that kind of spending there are better ways to do it. My thought process is that for $20M a very good pitcher like one of the two I proposed (current #2′s but could be better as they hit year 3,4,5 & 6 of Met control) that would be under Met control for a long time (like Ike), would be trading a good position player for a good pitcher. Pitching is harder to find, and it happens that this FA class has a hitter/1B that is young and very talented. Fielder may breakdown, but he has been alot more durable than Reyes and is the same age. I’d prefer young pitching and durable, young high OBP/power bat to speed and young high OBP/power bat. Especially since I think Reuben T can handle SS at at least league average level.
      • XtreemIcon November 11, 2011 at 10:50 am

        Completely agree.
  • Joe Diaz November 11, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Why would you spend 160 million on a 1st baseman when we already have a young inexpensive under control very good player already at that position.In this case the Mets would be better suited to bring back Reyes and have him along with Ike instead of Fielder and Tejada and no more money left to fill their other glaring needs.Fielder will be in weight watchers in 2 years.
    • NCMetFan November 11, 2011 at 4:45 pm

      The third part of the three person change is Geo Gonzalez replaces Dillon Gee. I agree Reyes & Davis beats Tejada & Fielder, but think Geo Gonz, Fielder, Tejada beats Reyes, Davis & Gee.
• srt November 11, 2011 at 10:20 am

  I wonder if they’ll be stories on how Pujols is ‘selfish’ when he takes the biggest offer and it’s not from the Cardinals.

  From reading this article and the follow up comments, some appear to be farther along in the 5 steps to losing Reyes than others. Step 1 is the denial, step 5 must be the ‘I’ve made my peace’ step.

  When and if he signs somewhere else, my disgust with the whole thing will be pointed squarely where the blame belongs: the Wilpons. They’re in a financial mess, Alderson was hired to tread water while they try and dig out of the mess, all the while keeping their fingers crossed they can hold onto the team. Yeah, good luck with that.

  I just have to wonder how many Met fans will stay loyal in the next several years while we’re looking from the bottom up. I’ve been a Met fan for over 40 years and stuck through worst times and teams than this so I’ll be sticking around. I certainly won’t blame any Met fan though that decides they’ve had enough of this circus.
  • Joe Diaz November 11, 2011 at 10:46 am

    I’ve been a loyal diehard for 40 years and will continue to be a loyal diehard but I will be a diehard from my living room and not at Citifield.Noobody wants Wilpon outta here more than I do.
  • alex68 November 11, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    SRT, my point exactly, i go to the games 4 to 10 times a year, depends, but i tell you, i won’t be looking forward to go to the stadium next year, they got nothing going on up until 2013 anyways with harvey and familia, and even then, they’re not a guarantee to make the team better, is gonna get ugly for the wilpon when someone else step in as the baseball commissioner and demand questions.. these buffons need to go
• Mike November 11, 2011 at 1:36 pm

  I think the same can be said about Wright.A good ball player not great. I think the mets can live without him as well.