25
2012
New York Not Good Enough For Reyes, But Perfect For Wright
An article by 
Jose Reyes received cheers last night. He also heard boos from the largely uninspired Citi Field crowd. Reyes didn’t exactly pack them in last night, did he?
David Wright wasn’t surprised by the lukewarm ovation, saying some people would never forgive Reyes while others understood why he left.
Reyes simply said the Mets never made him an offer, and he took that to mean they didn’t want him. There can be no other explanation.
In retrospect, despite some lip service to the contrary, the Mets were never going to be in it for Reyes. This is a player who makes his living with his legs, but missed considerable time the previous two seasons with assorted muscle pulls. The first years of his career were the same.
Reyes is a breakdown waiting to happen. He is a high maintenance sports car that is frequently in the shop.
What Reyes didn’t say last night, was he was in it for the last dollar and the Mets knew they couldn’t swim in that end of the pool. No, the Mets didn’t go out of their way last year to keep Reyes, but he didn’t exactly go out of his way to say he wanted to stay.
It was an inevitable divorce; two parties seeing the end and doing nothing to stay together. Passive aggressive? Not committing is a statement.
The Mets, not knowing what their future finances would be, knew they couldn’t keep Reyes, then re-sign Wright, and then fill in the rest of the pieces. It just wasn’t going to happen. It couldn’t happen with Johan Santana and Jason Bay on the payroll, and after all that money wasted on Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo and others. Even with Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez gone, the Mets couldn’t afford to keep both. Not with what they knew at the time.
The choice was Reyes’ flash and speed against Wright’s power and consistency. While both had sustained injuries, the Mets decided Wright might last longer than Reyes at the top of his game, even with the latter having a stellar year and winning the batting title.
Reyes had injuries the previous two years and had already been on the disabled list twice last summer. When he returned the second time, he turned it off as to not risk hurting himself and his chances in the market. In doing so, they had to wonder if this decline would continue and what he would be like at the end of his contract.
Conversely, Wright hurt his back, but it was in making an aggressive play. These things happen. Wright lost his power stroke hitting 14 homers last year, but after 29 the season before. The Mets’ gamble, enhanced by moving in the fences, was Wright would be able to sustain being a power hitter longer than Reyes could be a speed threat.
Power is more marketable, and so is Wright’s personality and grit. Reyes tweaks a hamstring and is out for two weeks; Wright played a month with a small fracture in his back and this year with a broken pinkie.
Wright plays with passion; Reyes plays with flair. Which would burn out first?
The Mets might have gotten their answer when Reyes took himself out of the game after bunting for a hit to preserve his batting title. I can’t imagine Wright pulling himself from a game for such a me-first motive. Reyes turned his back on the fans who supported him and came out to say good bye.
Maybe the Mets and Reyes weren’t loyal to each other, but the fans were loyal to Reyes and he dissed them. Mets fans have, and always will have, some inferiority complex. It comes from being the second team in town. And, in leaving, Reyes reinforces that insecurity, and was telling the public Miami’s millions were more important than the Mets’ millions.
He was saying New York wasn’t good enough. Meanwhile, Wright has been saying New York is all he wants.
It really wasn’t that hard a decision after all.
* * * * * * * *
Joe D – Check this out… Thanks to die-hard Met fan Geoffrey Sorensen, who was kind enough to allow us the pleasure of posting his footage of the Jose Reyes Tribute Video… Thanks Geoffrey!
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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Thanks for posting the video John. It’s good to see Citi is still intact after they aired this considering all the hoopla over this when it was announced.
Sorry Joe D I must of glossed over your name when looking at the video. Thanks for the video.
First chance I had for seeing the video. Thanks for posting it.
Delcos’ article is certainly one way of looking at this. Baseball as we all know, is a business first.
I just can’t help wondering how this Reyes situation would have went down had their been no Madoff, no negative revenues, no money issues. We’ll never know.
I’m not even sure it’s a question of Wright or Reyes. Could be neither, depending on how they want to go forward. My money right now though is on Wright gets an extension.
I honestly thought this stuff would end after last night. Hopefully after today?
Not until Wright hits a walkoff granny in game 7 of the World Series. Maybe not even then.
You really think that? Looking at the never ending debate your having about clutch I find it hard to believe you really believe that. It’s like the story of Sisyphus for some with the clutch debate.
True.
I am just hoping we can move on from the Jose and the contract no contract want me don’t want me stuff.
Did you really think all talk of Reyes would end last night? Lead story on Loudmouths and Daily News Live, every other call on WFAN today is about Reyes. Come on you’re a blogger – give the people what they want.
Good analogy.
and sometimes, there really is no one side to “blame” for the way things turn out. Here, a lot of factors comspired on both sides to make it almost inevitable. And still, it to me is impossible to say either side screwed up, even though I know on this site it is seemingly required to take a side (blame it all on Sandy, or love Wright?)
But enough with the “they didn’t want me” crap. say the truth if you are going to keep harping on it (“they wouldn’t pay me what I wanted to be paid”).
And BS on the not wanting concept in general. they would have been very happy to have him back, just within the parameters Sandy discussed with the agent (the infamous informal formal offer).
LoL infamous, nice.
That is indeed the business side of baseball but to infere that Jose was going to go for the top dollar and nothing else is unfair. I mean, such an important business decision for both parties and the Mets don’t take any further steps after an “informal” discussion (we don’t know if any actual offer was even put on the table) except to tell Jose to shop around first? If that wasn’t the handwriting on the wall, then nothing else will be.
Which is OK with me. Just that one should not try to make one party out as the villian. The Mets weren’t interested in his services anymore for many reasons, financial and health wise.
Don’t forget that nobody has contacted David’s agent yet for an “informal” discussion, either.
Hi Joey D,
You keep missing the boat. The Mets wanted him but it had to be with equal risk. They were not going to simply guarantee him 6 years or $100M.
As far as villains go I have seen both sides painted as such and it is what it is nothing I can do about that. Speaking for myself Reyes did what was right for himself and his family and I don’t begrudge him one bit for having done so.
Yup, Reyes did what was right for him and he had every intention of doing what was right for him from the beginning. He always spoke of how he was looking forward to his first FA. That being said the Mets also did what was right for themselves as well.
Hi John,
Thanks for pointing out it seemed an uninspired crowd and a lukewarm reception for Jose at Citi Field last night for that’s what it appeared to me as well. To be honest, despite the pitching duel I found myself doing other things at times instead of remaining glued to the set.
The team is as uninspired as the fans are so both go hand and hand it seems. I still wish things went better the last two months of last season so there would be more of a momentum rather than this continued apathy on both our parts.
“The team is as uninspired as the fans”
Are you seriously saying the players are trying their asses off? You must be seeing something else.
I think you meant to saw “aren’t” playing their arses off, because IMO they certainly are.
Yup, sorry about that.
They are playing uninspired ball because one can see they have little confidence in themselves as a team. These things go hand in hand. They fall behind and they give up. This is the sign of a losing attitude. Somebody has to start a fire under their assess so they can work themselves out of this funk and it looks like they don’t have the veteran leadership to do so at this point.
Like I said you must be watching a different game than I am unless you are just going off of those 2 games in the double header? I didn’t see them give up in those either. They just couldn’t come up with the big hit.
You must have missed last night’s game. Or Saturday’s.
I think Joey has these Mets confused with the Jerry Manuel led Mets who once fell behind mailed it in the rest of the night.
Hi Joey D,
It’s amazing to me how often a team’s struggles is interpreted as a uninspired lack of effort losing attitude.
I personally find you sell this team short. Despite the struggles offensively they have found a way to win so far more times than not against some quality starting pitching. Players like Murphy, Wright, Tejada and Capt Kirk are laying it out there night after night but somehow you fail to see that.
I don’t know what awaits down the road but your not watching the same team I am if you believe they are playing a uninspired lack of effort losing attitude type of baseball up to now.
As much as I’m not a fan of TC as an x’s and o’s manager, he would never tolerate this team playing uninspired baseball. His one strength as a manager is getting his team to leave it all out on the field.
H9 North,
Me, sell the team short? Me, the one who insists this team had the rug pulled out from under them in 2011 by the front office when thinking they had a chance to make it for the wild card? Me, the one who thinks had Sandy went after one or two key pieces (don’t ask me which ones, please) that this team could still do something?
I’m not selling the team short – I think this is a very good team. It’s just that I also see it as a very young club without veteran leadership and I am noticing their confidence and self-assurance dropping quickly, just like it did the end of last season. There is no life to them at all and it is obvious in their body language.
That’s what I meant about the importance of building up a winning attitude and momentum last season to carry into this one and beyond.
Joey D – great name by the way – sell the team short? How many times have I told you the Wilpons are not going anywhere?
Hi Joe,
I remember the first post I made I called myself Joe D., not realizing the monicker already belonged to you and someone called you a hypocrite and your answe was “that wasn’t me be somebody else”. LOL
Oh, if only they did indeed not own the team.
Hi Joey D,
Sorry but describing the team as uninspired, lack of effort and losing attitude I view as selling the team short. Like I said your not watching the same team I am if that is your description of this team after 17 games.
HI North,
I’m not suggesting at all that the team doesn’t want to go out and win, but I do mean that their confidence is low and that they are quite down on themselves, resulting in uninspired play. According to the American Heritage College Dictionary, uninspired means “dull” whereas inspired means “motivated”. When any of us is depressed, it is hard to be motivated. The same goes for athletic competition. How often have we heard of a depressing club house?
I think these kids will snap out of it but without some veteran leadership to help keep them more at a steady level they are also going to be suseptable to many ups and downs instead.
Hi Joey D,
Rather than continue this going in circles i’ll just leave it at that I will have to agree to disagree and move on.
Hopefully the Mets can in time do enough for you to change your opinion about them and by the same token I hope the Mets don’t show me anything to make me agree with yours.
Have a good one.
LGM!!!
Hi North,
You understand I was only talking about the past week and that I was commenting more about this being a young team that can come quite down on itself very easily without one or two take charge guys? They did play awful the last two games in Atlanta and throughout the entire Giants series.
Was not referring to a lack of desire or not playing hard – just that their self confidence appeared low at this point and that often results in uninspired play which is not unusual; we’ve seen this with many a team many a time over many a year.
Hopefully one or two hitters will start to get hot which is all the team really needs to get it’s spark back. And hopefully we won’t need to have this friendly discussion this time next week.
LGM.
Reyes obviously wasn’t selling too many tickets when he was wearing a Met uniform, why would anybody expect him to drive up ticket sales as the enemy. That crowd reminded me of what Shea looked like in the late 70′s.
Numerically, maybe, but those fans were hot all night. I was in 106 and it was loud and the fans there were really into it.
Yeah I heard it on the TV. They made a lot of noise for a small crowd. I think Jose was expecting a warmer reception. He hightailed it into the dugout really fast after the video. Tipped his cap and went right down the dugout steps. I was at the 1st game back for Piazza in 06 and he got an ovation as soon as the crowd realized he was warming up the starter in the bullpen. The ovation continued from that point on which was when they did the video for him and continued as he walked from the bullpen to the dugout and got louder and louder as he was heading towards the dugout. He got a huge ovation again his 1st at bat and a smaller one each at bat after. The next night he got an ovation again, hit a HR took a curtain call, then hit a 2nd HR and got the shit booed out of him.
Two Things
1. Why have some Mets fans continue to say Reyes left the Mets, that’s not true and it’s lazy journalism/blogging. When in all actuality the Mets never gave him an option to stay. Alderson said as much out of his own mouth in plain English. Thats like if you (John), had a 1yr contract with a company and they and after that year they decide not to renew it. Are you going to continue to show up to work and beg for a job or will you accept an offer from another company that is actually showing interest and recruiting you?
Stop trying to make Reyes out to be some sort of traitor that us Mets fans should revile. Because if thats your feeling about Reyes then you should have that same feeling towards “Tom Seaver”.
2. Also your comment regarding D.Wright
“Wright’s power and consistency”
Wright hasnt been consistent for 3 years now, and out of those 3 years only one of them has he shown his put up his past power numbers. But with that power came his new found propensity to strike out at an alarming rate. So I beg to differ Wright is as much the risk as Reyes especially with that bad back.
Well theoretically that’s not true either. Jose could have accepted arbitration and came back for a one year deal if he LOVED the Mets. LOL. Like that was going to happen, Jose should have been shot if he did that. Look both sides knew where each other stood and they both moved on.
I think all these whinny comments by Jose are geared more towards trying to get the fans to still like him. He seems like the type where those things would bother him.
I think his comments are just sincere. He actually loved playing here for mets fans and he probably feels bad when he here’s how some Mets fans think he betrayed them and left them.
Could it be he’s actually telling us the truth and not just giving us the generic interview answers that most athletes use.
If the Mets let Wright go as they did Reyes I wouldnt blame Wright and say he left us. And I know these same Mets fans whom say Reyes left us wouldnt say the same about Wright either they will blame the Mets….It is a double standard
I hate to say it but Mets fans are gullible, we believe and accept/tolerate things no other fanbase would.And some of us act as if every athlete would love to play for us which is false…Mets fans treat their players worst than any other franchise in NYC thats why we have to overpay no player has ever said I want to be a Met unless we overpay.
But you have to admit the double standard street goes both ways. Maybe Alderson said one thing and did another, or said one thing in October and said another in March, but what do you make of Reyes, in virtually the same interviews, saying how much he loves NY and the Mets and the fans while also saying he can’t wait to be a free agent and won’t even listen to an offer lower than six figures? If he loved the team so much, wouldn’t you think he’d let the team present an offer comfortable for them, then decide? Greenberg told Reyes what Sandy had said was comfortable for the team and Reyes told Greenberg no, he wanted the money. So isn’t that the same double talk?
Both sides did the right thing. The Mets decided not to match that foolish offer, and Reyes decided to jump at it because clearly, obviously, it was the best he was going to get, since it was the ONLY one he got.
Met fans treat their players worse than the Yankees? A fanbase that booed the greatest closer of alltime in early April 2007 aginst the Redsox( I was there). Booed A-Rod even after he carried them to a WS title in 09. Booed the shit outta Mickey Mantle one of the greatest World Series performers of alltime. Booed Roger Maris in the year he hit 61 HR’s follwing up an MVP season in 60. I don’t know about that one.
Butchered a couple sentences above but hopefully it makes some sense. Sorry about that kinda busy thought i could sneak my 2 cents in quickly.
Guess I………… #FAIL
Yeah but we understood what you were saying. Can’t argue with it either. Only difference is Seaver was traded.
True Seaver was traded but he asked to be traded after “the worst thing to happen to the Mets before the Wilpons, Donald Grant” and his partner in crime Dick Young provoked him by giving the final blow writing a not so flattering article about Seavers wife.
And remember this whole thing started because Seaver wanted more money and Grant rejected him. But no one called or calls Seaver greedy except for Dick Young of course. Another tid bit Seaver said numerous times last year on air that he counseled Reyes and told him he better test the market and get your money(market value).
Reyes did the right thing taking the money he already gave the mets a home town discount on his first contract…Met fans also forget that…
Both parties separated thats cool its the past now, but lets not make Reyes out to be the bad guy saying he left us…The Mets didnt want him yet still wanted to profit off of him with this crazy tribute but it was a bust…
The Mets Organization still dont get it…Wilpons need to study the Giants Organization…but I guess you cant teach CLASS!
Leroy, you make some good points but with one MAJOR DIFFERENCE.
Tom Seaver was and had been the best pitcher in baseball for almost 10 years. In addition he had almost no physical problems that made him a risk for the Mets.
With the coming of Free Agency, mediocre pitchers who had a good year were suddenly getting close to three times what Seaver was getting. Tom Seaver asked that he be given a contract extension with escalating salaries so that he would be paid what he was worth.
Grant was an old timer who would have made a good Southern plantation owner with slaves and he treated his players as if they were his to play with. In those days writers like Dick Young were on the payroll and he began spewing all kinds of b.s in the NYC papers. when it came to the attention of the non involved Payson/ Whitney heirs they offered Tom Seaver exactly what he asked for but the Grant/ Young tirades turned on the heat and brought Tom’s family into the matter……At that point Seaver wanted out of NY and Grant was happy to trade him away…..
M DONALD GRANT WAS AN IDIOT WHO DID NOT SEE WHAT WAS COMING
Before you make a comment….you should know the facts….THE WHOLE AFFAIR and the subsequent trade was known as the Midnight Massacre and still the worst day that longtime Met fans remember.
Jose might very well have left the Mets no matter what but the fact is that the Mets literally fired him by not entering into serious negotations when they still had the upper hand over other clubs.
Not to say it wasn’t a bad business decision, considering Jose’s health issues and Tejada being in the wings but considering the Mets overall financial situation their hands were probably tied and were out of the running altogether so it’s obvious Jose was not going to be asked to come back, even in an “informal” maner.
putting aside that the FO did have the general talk with his agent, I have a question for you.
Say on October 1st (the window) the Mets handed his agent a formal, typed offer that said we will go 4/66, with a team option for 2 more years at 17 each. And that it was the most they could go, all in, ain’t gonna be no more.
Do you think there was any chance in the world that they did anything but laugh, and take it out to shop around? of course they were going to do it. Jose was on record as wanting 100mill guaranteed, and being super excited to test the FA waters.
Sandy knew it too. hence the way it played out (telling the agent the parameters, meaning we will can guarantee in the 4 and $x range, whatever it was, being told they want to shop, and Sandy saying let us know).
also, it was reported that when the agent got the 6 year offer, they did come back to the Mets to see if they wanted to beat it, and were told no. So obviously that was what was expected. But there were no reports that Jose wanted to stay, to the extent that they offered any kind of deal or consessions to the Mets to make it happen. it was just about the benjamins.
Stick,
But the Mets did not make any such an offer and that is the bottom line. Jose had nobody to deal with as far as the front office was concerned. If there were negotiations and the Mets offered a fair contract and Jose still walked, that would be an entirely different story. In fact, I wish such an offer was indeed made so we can see how sincere one is about loving playing in front of the fans and living in the city.
I have no desire to rehash the whole semantics of an offer debate again. Among other topics here, that one was beaten well past death.
I don’t understand the hate and boos for Jose.
Jose busted his @ss for this team and played hard and played through injuries and lost time to injuries because of the Mets poor handling of him.
Was Reyes perfect? no, but nobody is…was he emotional? Yes, but why is that a big deal? People bashed Beltran for not being emotional…so how do win as a player?
Mets went into the off season with no intention to gamble big money on Reyes. They sat back and waited to see what the market was for Jose and the Marlins were all in.
Now I will miss Reyes and I wanted him back and I would have outbid Miami’s offer…but I understand why Alderson decided Reyes was too big of a risk for the price, especially seeing what the Mets money problems were at the time.
I don’t like or understand why Sandy or Fred didn’t at least have a dinner/meeting with Reyes and say that they want him back. but they weren’t sure they could afford him at his expected going rate. This guy has done everything for this team for over 10 years and you don’t even show him a little respect when his contract was up?
I can understand why Reyes is upset. I had the same situation a few years back.
I started with a company at a “bottom” position. After a couple of years I worked my butt off and got moved into other more important positions. I finally made it into a high dollar sales position and I was consistently one of the top sales people every month. But I was making 1/3 then my co-workers and I could make that money working for a competitor. When I brought that up to my management, they told me too bad, I wanted the position I got so I didn’t deserve to get paid market value. WTF? Then I found a job that paid me very well…when I went to the manager I told him about the opportunity, he didn’t wish me luck, give me any kind of counter offer…he just said OK. Well E’ff you buddy…I busted my @ss for you and show me no appreciation? I’m not mad, but I was very hurt and disappointed…
Imagine working for a company from the time you were 16 and they didn’t even buy you a box of chocolates?
But you are assuming too much. You are assuming the Mets did not approach Reyes during the season. You are assuming that Sandy did not discuss any parameters with Jose’s agent. Besides isn’t it possible that the Mets knew how much it would take it get Jose and just wanted to move on? Why would they go up to him and waste money on a box of chocolates for a lame duck situation? They gave him his video tribute, time to move on.
It’s not assuming anything..it’s been well published.
Jose was willing to negotiate a deal before the 2011 season started, the Mets didn’t want to. He said he didn’t want to negotiate during the season…was he supposed to take a low ball offer in the middle of one of his beat seasons?
But yes, the Mets knew what they would/could spend on Jose…Jose got offered more from the Marlins…but why should we boo him for that?
Definitely agree with you, USMF. Couldnt have said it better myself.
Although none of us like to admit it, baseball is a business.
While people are dissing on Jose for lack of loyalty, cant the same be said about Mets management? Loyalty goes both ways.
Shocker……
Alex, it looks like the Core has left you to fight this battle on your own.
Tell them you need backup.
The fans that booed Reyes will not forget what he did for this team. Definitely one of the fan favorites for years, and one of mine. It’s the fact that he left the way he did. He could have stayed, even though we all knew he wanted more years. He could have signed a 5 year deal with the Mets, but he didn’t. And yes to be fair we all know the Mets never made him an offer, but it’s the fact that Reyes took the first offer he saw, and that it was with the Marlins, of all teams. He could have weighted to view his options, but he didn’t, and signed with the enemy
Offer or no offer, Reyes was gonna book it the first chance he took, and he did. Way before the Marlins, he was already telling friends while he was still a Met in the middle of last season he was heading out west to play for the Angels. Here’s the kicker, when he was asked not all that long ago if he missed NY, he said “Not a chance”. Call it a hunch, but that could be a good reason why his ass was booed out of Citi Field.
But he didn’t take the first offer he got. They offered him a deal, he sat on it waiting to see what else might come, then Florida upped the deal and gave him a take it or leave it type of offer.
Alderson never showed any real interest in signing him. What Five year deal did the Mets offer him? They hinted they might give him an three year deal with incentive biased options…Jose got a better deal, no real counter offer, so he took the deal.
Can you really blame him for that?
“Meanwhile, Wright has been saying New York is all he wants.”
To be fair, John, Wright ahsn’t been put to the test yet. Lets see what he does when free agency is looming, rather than a team option.
No excuse now SA and Wilpons, Madoff scandal did not drain your future cash input and you can do right by all the drama you subjected fans and city to by re-signing David to a long term contract; if Zimmerman, who is constantly hurt and probably is going to have arm surgery can get his long term deal then David deserves a 5-6 year deal with option years at end agreeable to both him and team to make sure he doesn’t wear another uni and if need be just move into front office.
My two cents worth!
He deserves to finish he career as the 1st homegrown talent to start and finish with NY Mets.
He should be the face of the franchise as they move forward with the new up and coming arms in system and I believe presented the chance he will deliver in post season.
Congratulations on passing the Straw Man David!
Ed Kranepool played his entire career with the Mets.
Also, just because one team gives a long term deal to a similar player does not mean the Mets have to. What if that Zimmerman deal becomes a disaster? Does one team making a bad decision give you an excuse to make the same mistake?
Hi Donal,
For many of us, it’s not a question of extending David’s contract or not but the motives behind the overall personnel moves made by the front office – are these genuine moves believed (right or wrong) to strengthen the club on the field, whether in the short-term or long-term, or is priority being placed on what is better for the owners themselves (at least in the short term) due to their still unknown financial stability or unstability (with rebuilding as a smoke screen).
Sandy Alderson is very prudent when it comes to finances and, as many might or might not know, he had no interest in becoming the Mets GM but applied for it at the bequest of Bud Selig. With the Wilpons always willing to spend whatever they thought would take to bring home a winner and suddenly turn to the complete opposite of Omar to that of Sandy it is not off-base for many of us to suspect the financial stability of the Wilpons was and still is taking precident over the building up of the team (and Selig urging Sandy to apply for the job leads to the speculation about Bud Selig’s role in the actual affairs of the team as well).
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-02-02/sports/27738554_1_mets-gm-wilpons-payroll