Comments on: Ted Williams he’s not: Jose Reyes exits finale after leadoff hit to preserve batting title lead

By: mamow74

mamow74 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:51:42 +0000

Listen I was at the game, I think it’s fair to say that nobody was booing Jose Reyes, simply for the reason that I would doubt that anyone even had any idea that the move was Reyes’ and not Collins’ until after the game. I’m pretty sure we all assumed that Collins made the call and really, in the moment, we just wanted to see Reyes play (personally, it harkened back to buying tickets to see Mike Piazza’s last game and Randolph taking him out before his last at bat–I was absolutely furious at Randolph at the time). When I found out the truth about it afterward I honestly didn’t give a crap, and it’s pretty annoying for people to judge a person for wanting to have a silver lining for this shitty, shitty, shitty year. And having a Met win the batting title for the first time ever is goddamn awesome, and having it be Jose Reyes, who a lot of us have watched since he was 19 years old, makes it that much more awesome. More than anything, though, who cares? It was a meaningless game. Nuts to all of you haters, I hope we get him back more than anything.

By: mrhojorisin

mrhojorisin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:51:19 +0000

There seems to be a lot of anti-Reyes sentiment here that existed BEFORE yesterday, so I have a question: let’s say the batting race was such that Braun needed one hit last night to take the lead, and he got it in his first at bat. Since he was also playing in a meaningless game, how much shit would he have taken for coming out after that one at bat? I’m guessing not much. This whole thing is a non-issue; what Reyes did was not new or unusual; and it is amusing hearing people rant about athletes upholding levels of integrity that they probably don’t even expect of themselves in areas more important than professional sports. Plus, Braun going oh-fer makes the whole conversation moot.

By: Jeff Kallman

Jeff Kallman — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 07:44:26 +0000

Might we please remember that neither the Mets nor the Reds had anything substantial to play for this week? It’s not as though a division title or a wild card were on the line. Neither the Mets nor the Reds were in the spoiler role; neither team’s doing or undoing was going to have any effect on any race. The East and the Central were won; the wild card was down to the Braves or the Cardinals; the Mets and the Reds no longer had anything to do with any of those races.

If the Mets did have something to play for, you can bet Terry Collins would have brooked nothing short of Reyes all in, all innings. And Reyes probably wouldn’t have even thought about coming out if he’d gotten a hit the first time up. So with nothing to play for for the Mets, Reyes chose to play for the batting title he probably secured in earnest with those two bombs Tuesday night. If you think Reyes is the most egregious such player ever to check in at the plate, you sure don’t remember Bill Madlock, a man who seemed to live for batting titles and little else. And who, according to Bill James, inspired the men in the press box to get pools going on when his hamstrings would begin to bark in any given September during which he had a clean shot at the titles.

By: tekton8

tekton8 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:06:51 +0000

…you mean his DL time?

By: tekton8

tekton8 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:26:18 +0000

PLEASE don’t defend this d-bag… he deserves to be destroyed by the media and baseball fans alike for this garbage… so refreshing to hear he was booed by his own fans after his stunt…

By: mjanik25

mjanik25 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:22:53 +0000

It’s not entirely that simple.

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/9/28/2456223/jose-reyes-batting-title-mets-news

By: garyman1

garyman1 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:48:34 +0000

As Vito Corleone would say…. “You can ACT LIKE A MAN”.
Jose chose not to.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:38:14 +0000

I follow the Mets pretty closely. I don’t agree with the cry baby tag at all, but the injury bug would certainly concern me. That said – I don’t think Theo would do it. Jose is solid defensively, but he is far from great. And if Reyes speed is compromised than a big part of his appeal is diminished – especially for the money he may yet command.

By: stercuilus65

stercuilus65 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:05:50 +0000

They will “pile on” because it was such a weasel move.

By: aceshigh11

aceshigh11 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:28:28 +0000

Ya think there’s any chance of that?

I will go ballistic if Theo pulls the trigger for him…great talent, but a cry baby and waaay too injury-prone.

By: johngaltwho

johngaltwho — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:28:32 +0000

Perhaps its a NY thing. What Reyes did was similar to what the Giants did this weekend. Players lie down and fake injuries to stop a surging opponent. As with Reyes – its not strictly against the rules, you can argue that other teams have done the same thing – but that doesn’t make it any less sleazy and contrary to the spirit of the game.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:15:23 +0000

Welcome to the Red Sox Jose. You’ll fit right in at the infirmary.

By: aceshigh11

aceshigh11 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:04:21 +0000

That Ted Williams story blows me away every time I hear or read it.

Declining to sit when he’s at an even .400, and ends up going 6 FOR 8!

ONLY Ted could do something so badass. Just amazing.

By: mkanakos

mkanakos — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:25:53 +0000

Mets will re-sign Reyes and he will be injured for a big part of next year!

It’s the METS we’re talking about. Write it down! It’s a lock!

By: jcoan59

jcoan59 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:25:48 +0000

Hey look a list of players who have done it.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/16808/jose-reyes-leaves-game-to-protect-title

But Jose is a Met, so the media will pile on.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:21:12 +0000

I’d love to imagine him as a Bravo.

By: kolipito

kolipito — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:20:42 +0000

if reyes took an o- for today then braun wouldnt even play would you rip him too

By: nixonotis

nixonotis — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:15:28 +0000

Reyes asked out of the game.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:09:43 +0000

There’s definitely a taint somewhere. HEYOOOO! You’re right, it’s similar, but I still find it absurd to boo him or find fault in what Reyes did. I dislike the Favre thing more, but that’s mainly b/c I’m biased and dislike Favre so much.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:06:13 +0000

“I am so proud of my brethren at Shea that boo-ed Jose chicken$hit Reyes.” this leads me to believe you like the Mets so forgive me…otherwise I can’t even understand your nonsensical bullet point argument.

By: kolipito

kolipito — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:02:21 +0000

it wasnt his desicion, Collins said he was gona take him out in the middle of an inning so he can get an ovation.

By: johngaltwho

johngaltwho — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:44:53 +0000

This is just like when Strahan got the sack record because Favre laid down for him. Will always be tainted.

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:40:22 +0000

Imagine if he was a Bravo. You lot would be in the post season of a week a go.

By: jcoan59

jcoan59 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:36:44 +0000

I think they were more booing the decision.

By: johngaltwho

johngaltwho — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:36:34 +0000

Its a fair argument but you shouldnt pretend that there’s any doubt as to why he was pulled from the game. Right or wrong – it was 100% to increase the likelihood that he would win the batting title. I mean come on … benefit of the doubt – thats just silly.

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:34:45 +0000

Considering how often that guy gets hurt, the lukewarm reception he gets from his own fans, the fact that with his perceived and reported "lackadaisical, not trying, lazy, hot dogging" play, he's still the best player on that team by miles? Lemme confess something here; If that crap was being said about me, after I'd been hurt as often as he's been hurt, playing as well as he's been playing when healthy, then you bet your ass I'd walk out of that game, without a backwards glance, with no hint of regret, and I'd take the first batting title for the team & myself, and to hell with what those fair-weather friends have to say about it in the media or the stands. I suspect you'd have done the same; this is what real people do when they get crapped on even when they are legitimately awesome at their job. Ted Williams was loved, and no one ever said he wasn't. Of course he did what he did the way he did it: he had every reason to do it that way, because that too is human nature. It seems like most of The Mets fans want to force Reyes into some villain role. Looks like they got what they asked for.

By: johngaltwho

johngaltwho — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:32:05 +0000

What an inane response…

my team sinks further down the tubes…
1. My team is playing next week
2. Relevance to the question as to the integrity of Reyes’ move today?

Reyes shines elsewhere…
1. Remains to be seen
2. Relevance of future success?

Selfish athletes exist – managers too…
1. This one is too easy

The crap mets…
1. Your most cogent response
2. Inadequate however

People will remember the great year Reyes had in 2011 – The year he stole 39 bases and a batting title!

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:28:30 +0000

Warning: this comment is really stupid. Reading it may cause your IQ to drop 7-15 points.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:25:20 +0000

Okay, I went to the gym and got super tough during lunch…I kid….but I did and they have ESPN. The Reyes thing is the talk of Sportscenter. Guess what? The very headline to this post is misleading. Ted Williams himself said, and I’m paraphrasing, that if he thought .400 was a big deal (he didn’t) and if he knew it would probably never be topped again (it hasn’t so far) he would have reconsidered playing that final day to preserve his average. Thus, even Ted Williams finds no fault in Reyes’ (I’m sorry Collins’ AND Reyes’) decision. Further, Collins has been around long enough and has acknowledged this type of stuff happens routinely, but given the circumstances (impending free agent) the fans go ballistic. There other circumstances as to why Reyes should or would not have played this game,, or the at least the entire game anyway (see other comments above). Reyes deserves the benefit of the doubt doesn’t he? Instead he gets this biased post and haters hating.

Here’s my final opinion on this matter: the Mets fans who booed are idiots. You don’t deserve Reyes.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:16:31 +0000

There isn’t and it not allowed in the MLB apparently. Just caught that fact on ESPN during lunch…along with more facts below, which blow this post out of the water…