Jose Reyes = Chump

gumbyfan

In 1982, Willie Wilson went into the last day of the season with a batting average of .332. Robin Yount was behind him with an average of .328. Wilson sat out that last game to preserve his small lead. Yount played that last game of the season and went 3-4 to end at .331. Willie Wilson was your 1982 Batting Champ, but in the end, sitting out that last day made him a chump. Yount was the AL MVP and carried his team to the World Series.

Going into the final day of the season this year, Jose Reyes was hitting .336. Ryan Braun was behind him with an average of .335. Reyes led off today's game with a bunt single, raising his batting average to .337 and was then pulled from the game for a pinch runner. A few words come to mind - pathetic, selfish, CHUMP. Braun will have a shot at overtaking him tonight. He has to go 3-4 to do it, so here's hoping he does it.

Selfish players like Reyes and Wilson don't deserve to be called "Champions"...there's still a chance that it won't happen for one of them.

Dboneesq

I think that was more of the manager's decision. On one hand I do agree with you, but I believe Terry Collin's thinking was as follows: The Mets had a ton of injuries this year AND ONCE AGAIN a very disappointing season. Collins seems to be the type of guy that wants to get something positive out of anything the team does. I guess he believes that possibly having a Met win the batting title for the first time in 50 years would be a positive for the team to build on. JMO

WinPitcher

Craig why are you blaming him? You really think it was his decision?

gumbyfan

<< <i>Craig why are you blaming him? You really think it was his decision? >>



Hi Steve, good to see you. Hope things are going well.

As to your questions, here's a link to Reyes' cowardly comments.

Dboneesq

Craig,

I did not look at your LINK, BUT I TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID. Listening to the radio here on Long Island they are killing Reyes. Supposedly Terry Collins was not in favor of the move when Reyes asked him. HOWEVER, since he has built up a pretty good relationship with Reyes he did not want to do anything that would get him annoyed and give him more reason to play somewhere else next season.

So YES, I think it was Reyes' decision. I also think that quite a few players may have done the same thing. (Not saying it makes it "right".)

perkdog

Im torn actually, on one end sure its a BS move to get the title in that way but looking at it another way maybe it was ok from the standpoint of giving the fans and the team something to look at, I wont say it was a completely selfish move.

At the end of the day does it really matter if another asterik is placed on a Baseball stat?

alnavman

they were tearing him up on espn....my opinion is he should have played...just curious if he has a batting title bonus included in his salary....as if it's really needed with the salaries these guys make....

Saberman

George Brett did something similar in 1990. He sat in games 158 and 159 because Langston and Finley were the opposing pitchers...so he could hold his batting title lead.

WinPitcher

His teammate Hal McRae did not appreciate it either.

I'm not sure what to think, Ted Williams chose to play a game when he could have batted 400 even.
Instead of protecting it he played and his average rose to 406.

Dboneesq

Wade Boggs also sat out a couple of games back in the day to protect his batting title.

Darin

Wow, tough thread for a Royals fan.
Well, there was only one Ted Williams.

As for Willie Wilson, I think 82 was the year he had 230 hits, maybe he was tired.

ctsoxfan

There's no way to defend Reyes. He didn't invent taking your ball and going home when you have a slim lead in a statistical race, but his example seems especially weak. Reyes is so fragile, he gets hurt when the wind blows. How much time has he missed this season? Or just about any season for that matter? Now he can play, and he takes himself out of maybe his last game in a Mets uniform in this way?

I always liked Reyes, but this move today really makes him look bad.

jdip9

I don't know what's worse...Reyes taking himself out, or laying down a bunt single to get the one hit that he did get....it's a B.S. move, but other than Ted Williams, I think almost every other player in the same situation does the same thing. Guys hitting .300 take the day off to preserve the .300 average....The book "Scorecasting" gets into this subject.

PowderedH2O

I am not a Reyes fan nor a Mets fan, but I have no issue with it whatsoever. Quite possibly, this is the only chance that Reyes would have to ever win a batting title. No Met has ever won a batting title. Not in 50 seasons. So, this was the best way to protect it. The game meant nothing to him or the Mets. They are a losing team and this last game would not change that. Plus, I do not know what his contract says, but perhaps there is an incentive for $100k or so for winning a batting title. I remember Willie Wilson doing that. I had no issue with it then either. You have 162 games. If Robin Yount was hitting higher than Wilson, I have no doubt that Wilson would have played. Same here. Do we criticize the Yankees for not starting Sabathia in his normal spot in the rotation last night in a game that meant nothing? Nope. At least I don't.

Barndog

<< <i>There's no way to defend Reyes. He didn't invent taking your ball and going home when you have a slim lead in a statistical race, but his example seems especially weak. Reyes is so fragile, he gets hurt when the wind blows. How much time has he missed this season? Or just about any season for that matter? Now he can play, and he takes himself out of maybe his last game in a Mets uniform in this way?

I always liked Reyes, but this move today really makes him look bad. >>



personally, I have no problem with what he did. The more I think of it though, the more I think the Red Sox will try to sign him to a huge contract. What bigger mistake could they look for to get people to forget about Lackey's two years and Crawford's one? (truth be told, I expect Crawford to perform much better next year)

jdip9

<<<(truth be told, I expect Crawford to perform much better next year)>>>

Could he possibly play worse? Frankly, I don't expect much more than .275/15/80 with 35 steals - and that is nowhere near $20m worth of production. I'm almost afraid that he might fall into "sports psychologist" territory. You can tell by the look on his face during this Baltimore series that he doesn't enjoy the pressure. I don't know how he plays 6 more years here.

gumbyfan

<< <i>Do we criticize the Yankees for not starting Sabathia in his normal spot in the rotation last night in a game that meant nothing? Nope. At least I don't. >>



There's a huge difference between clinching early enough to set up your post season rotation and pulling yourself out of a game to preserve a personal statistic. Putting self before team is too acceptable these days.

Also, there was no financial bonus for getting the batting title. MLB rules do not allow for bonuses based on the batting title, most homers, RBIs, etc. They do allow for bonuses for games played, etc.

Tabe

<< <i>His teammate Hal McRae did not appreciate it either. >>


Hal had been retired for 3 years when Brett won his batting title in 1990.

You might be thinking of when Willie Wilson sat down in 1982 to protect his batting title.

You know what bugged me most about this fiasco with Reyes? More than his bush league bunt single? Terry Collins crying his eyes out at the press conference afterward like this was some kind of moving experience or something. Whatever man.

Tabe

zendude

In my opinion Jose Reyes is a classless, selfish, and immature punk.

The End

grote15

He did the same thing a couple years back, sitting out the last game of the season to preserve a .300 BA. I don't think he is worth a huge long-term contract, either. He is prone to injury and not worth the risk, imo..

PSASAP

Ted Williams is spinning in his grave, and his head is spinning in his cryogenic tank.

fiveniner

I all I have to say is one thing whoever signs Reyes is getting a player thats just into himself.Not a team guy.

swartz1

Yes it was his decision...

He chose to play for the name on the back rather than the name on the front...

Barndog

<< <i>I all I have to say is one thing whoever signs Reyes is getting a player thats just into himself.Not a team guy. >>



that's good to know. Maybe the Red Sox can trade #41 to that team too!

70ToppsFanatic

Not that it makes much of a difference, but Braun ended up having a lousy final game. Reyes would have
beaten him if he had stayed in the whole game and gone "oh-for" after the bunt single.

As for Reyes, he is part of the problem with baseball today. The vast majority of the players are about "ME",
not about the team or the game. Reyes has some real talent, but he and 95% of the other MLB players have
lousy attitudes.

That's why I don't go to MLB games anymore. I'd rather wath minor league games where practically every
guy on the field is thankful to be there and gives his all because he is getting paid to play a game and has
a chance to make a career of it.

perkdog

<< <i>As for Reyes, he is part of the problem with baseball today. The vast majority of the players are about "ME",
not about the team or the game. Reyes has some real talent, but he and 95% of the other MLB players have
lousy attitudes.

That's why I don't go to MLB games anymore. I'd rather wath minor league games where practically every
guy on the field is thankful to be there and gives his all because he is getting paid to play a game and has
a chance to make a career of it. >>



I could not agree more

WinPitcher

Reyes would have been better off sitting out the whole game, the bunt base hit and then the fly is what
makes him look bad, he is not the only player to not play a final game and win a championship.

Garabaldi

Baseball is all about stats. The whole game is driven by sluggin%, on base%, HR's, RBI's, batting average.......and so on. Everyone knows the records and what "numbers" get you into the Hall. I guess you can't blame these guys about trying to preserve some of those numbers. I don't agree with it, but the teams and players all do it.

metsfan

Reyes is not the first player to do this, nor will he be the last. Players do things like this all the time to preserve their stats. The worst part about is it Mets fans may never see him play for the Mets again, so he should have played at least a few more innings. If he leaves the Mets, he will not be easy to replace.

Dboneesq

<< <i>Reyes is not the first player to do this. If he leaves the Mets, he will not be easy to replace. >>


And if he leaves I will be very curious to see the fans reaction the first time he comes back as an opposing player. Before the last game of the season I would have thought they would give him a great welcome back. Not too sure now.

grote15

An injury-prone player like Reyes, as talented as he is, is not worth Crawford money and a long-term contract. We need pitching...badly..