“I just want to say I’m humbled and honored to win the batting title. It means so much to my family and my country, the Dominican Republic. I have been through a lot over the past few years so this really means a lot to me. It’s also very special to be the first Mets player to win a batting title. There have been so many great players throughout our history. I want to thank Terry Collins, my coaches and all my teammates and of course all the Mets fans who have always supported me and been behind me 100 percent.”

Last night in Milwaukee, Ryan Braun went 0-for-4 against the Pirates and failed to overtake Jose Reyes who is officially the 2011 National League Batting Champion.

Reyes ended a spectacular season with a .337 average and became the first Met ever to win a batting title.

I’m a bit puzzled by some of the terrible remarks being made after Reyes removed himself in the first inning following a bunt single.

This is a game so what’s wrong with a little gamesmanship?

I can understand a clown like Mike Francesa getting all sanctimonious, he’s an ass and does that all the time, but I’m shocked that so many Mets fans bought into that idiots false outrage.

It surprises me from what I’ve heard and read that some fans believe this is the first time a player had ever done this – believe me it’s happened many times before.

Maybe some Mets fans sense that this front office won’t re-sign Reyes when all is said and done, and are looking for a reason to say “who needs Jose anyway”? You know, soften the blow a bit…

I don’t know whether that’s actually true or not, I’m simply guessing, but that’s because I can’t understand why any Met fan won’t celebrate a temendous accomplishment for him personally, and for the franchise, and for the fans who cheered Reyes on all season long.

While some will cast aspersions on Reyes for taking a well earned rest-of-the-day-off in the season finale, I had to laugh when some said he was afraid he might have failed if he played the whole game. I guess people will say anything just for the sake of saying something.

The truth is Reyes went 9-15 in his last four games of the season, including a two-homer game on Tuesday and back to back three-hit games leading up to his bunt single yesterday.

It was a storybook ending to watch Reyes drop a perfect bunt, burst out of the box, and then sprint to first base like we’ve seen him do countless times before.

If I could have made one addition to the final script, it would have been to see Reyes stealing second base and then being removed to the sound of thunderous applause.

Congratulations Jose, thanks for making this season worth watching and a memorable one.