jose reyes

Jose Reyes made his return to Citi Field in a Mets uniform on Tuesday night as the team fell to the Miami Marlins by a score of 5-2.

The controversial Reyes had an uneventful night at the plate, going 0-for-4 in the game. The citi faithful though stood and cheered with glee as he stepped to the plate for the first time as a Met since 2011. A moment that could be seen as being surreal to Reyes, who promptly took a second, stepped out of the box and tipped his helmet to the applauding fans.

“They showed me a lot of love,” Reyes said. “I respect that. I just tipped my helmet as appreciation from me. I didn’t know what to expect when I came here today. To see the crowd reaction like that, that was good.” (ESPN)

The crowd could be heard chanting “Jose! Jose! Jose! Jose!” throughout the night as he stepped to the plate. Numerous Reyes jerseys could be seen in the crowd. There is little doubt that a good majority of Mets fans were ready to welcome their former superstar home.

Reyes had stated that he felt like a rookie all over again after the game. Nerves obviously in his head as he returned home after departing the Mets for the team in the away dugout. Manager Terry Collins has no worries that Reyes will calm down and get to be the player we had come to know over the years.

“He was quite excited,” Collins said. “Tremendous response from the crowd tonight before the game, during the game. I know Jose. He’ll calm down and he’ll get in the flow.” (Newsday)

At the ripe old age of 33, he may not be the player he once was. But there is a strong reason to believe he can be a contributor and a catalyst to a team who needs a true leadoff hitter and has lacked speed.

Thoughts from Joe D.

Brian did a nice job presenting the outward appearances of Jose Reyes and his debut with the Mets. But lurking underneath the happy reunion were the dark undertones I predicted we’d see from the media that was pushing all along for this moment just so they could spew out venom like this:

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In one fell swoop, the Daily News accomplishes to not only throw the New York Mets and Jose Reyes onto their steaming dung heap, but even blast all the Mets fans who cheered Reyes last night at Citi Field as well.

That wasn’t all. During the broadcast last night:

Gary Cohen: “You know what Ron… Why would a team that has scored 40 runs in the last five games suddenly decide to make such a drastic change to what’s been the best offense we’ve seen all season?”

Ron Darling: “If you mean the timing of calling up Jose Reyes, you’re asking the wrong guy, I don’t get it either.”

The two of them then engaged in a 4-5 minute conversation about the pitfalls of signing Reyes, the change in dynamics of team chemistry, and the message it sends. By the time Reyes had his fourth and final at-bat of the game in his 0-for-4 night, Cohen then concludes:

“Even Reyes himself just the other day said he did not want to get called up to the Mets until he was feeling comfortable and performing well in the Minors… He was batting .167… What was the reasoning behind undoing all the good this team has managed to muster over these last five games? Can you give me one good reason?”

There was no response from Darling just the sounds of sighing. I know this wasn’t rehearsed or choreographed, but I wonder if this even gets discussed if Reyes hit a triple to leadoff the game in his first at-bat? My guess is no.

The Mets SNY flagship blog posted the following:

“Many people, including Reyes, have called the events of that night a “mistake,” but domestic violence is a choice. And, if the allegations are true, it is a choice Reyes made. Most people deserve second chances, but no one is obligated to personally give it to them. If I ran a baseball team, this choice would be over my line.”

“I’m hurt and saddened that my team is the one to give him this chance. I’m hurt and saddened that once again, domestic violence is written off as a “private matter,” that it will be forgotten, that the only consequence Reyes has experienced as a result of his choice is a two-month vacation and a return to the team he loves.”

You all know my feelings on the matter, which is to say I found Reyes’ actions to be vile and abhorrent, but he served his punishment, continues to see counselling, has shown contrition, and was forgiven by his own wife and family.

But what I find equally vile is that all the media who pushed for this Jose Reyes reunion only did so for the purpose of writing bombastic front pages and articles, and in some cases even worse than that, just so they can reap a few financial rewards with ratings, sales, and clicks. Don’t expect any apologies from them.

Here is what I wrote when it became apparent that the Mets were going to sign Reyes: