Maybe it was for all the homerun celebrations and the choreographed high fives. Maybe it was for all the times he rattled a pitcher with a fake steal attempt and forced a balk. Maybe it was all that and more, but there’s no mistaking the fact that the players snubbed Jose Reyes and that is why he will be watching this years All Star game at home.
There is no doubt that the Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez was the indisputable choice to start this years Mid-Summer Classic and deservingly so. Great job by the fan voting! But when it came down to the players voting to decide which shortstop would back him up, they sent a clear message to the Mets shortstop.
Instead of Jose Reyes, the players elected Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada rather than one of the most exciting players in the game. That’s the same Miguel Tejada who was jettisoned out of Baltimore because of lingering steroids allegations and rumors.
Miguel Tejada – .283 AVG, 10 HR, 44 RBI, .324 OBP, .440 SLG, .764 OPS, 58 RS, 7 SB
Jose Reyes – .297 AVG, 9 HR, 38 RBI, .357 OBP, .485 SLG, .842 OPS, 64 RS, 31 SB
This was not a case where the Houston Astros needed a lone representative for the team. Lance Berkman had already been voted in as the starting first baseman. This was clearly a swipe at Reyes who was more deserving of this years honor based on his performance so far.
The fact that Jose Reyes even trumps Tejada’s Slugging Percentage by 45 points makes the case for his inclusion. If Jose Reyes batted in the middle of the order as does Tejada, Reyes would have easily trumped him in RBI’s as well.
In my opinion, both Jose Reyes and David Wright were more deserving than Billy Wagner. Wagner got in by virtue of an extremely hot start in April to open the season, but since then he has blown five of his last eighteen save opportunities with a with a staggering 6.20 ERA in the last two months.
I know many of you will probably disagree with me, but in my opinion Jose Reyes got shafted.
