I must say, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Mets shortstop Jose Reyes play all year long.
The speed-demon is the most exciting player in New York, Mets or Yankees, and any doubt that he is one of the top players in the game was erased by his consistently high level of play in 2011.
But after cheering for him all year, Reyes lost my respect on the final day of the season.
Ryes, who at press time holds a slim lead in average over Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, is vying to become the first ever Met to win the batting title.
Heading into the last game of the year Wednesday against the Reds, New York manager Terry Collins had made it clear to the media that Reyes could be pulled early if he led off with a hit.
Well, it turns out Collins wasn’t lying. Reyes put down a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and then, at his own request, was pulled from the game for a pinch runner.
Ryes official average for the 2011 season has now ended up at .3371. Braun, who is facing off against the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night, has a .3345 average. He will need to have at least three hits in no more than four at-bats in order to pass Reyes and claim the batting title.
Of course, Braun and the Brewers, who are still fighting to lock down the second home field advantage spot in the National League, are still playing meaningful ballgames. Meanwhile, Reyes and the Mets were mathematically eliminated from the postseason on Sept. 14. So while Reyes has the cushion to pull a trick like this, Braun will surely be taking all his ABs on Wednesday night, even if he starts out three for three. I suppose that’s the luxury that comes with playing for a non-contender.
But just because the Mets are eliminated from contention doesn’t give Reyes the right to stop competing for the batting title.
I mean, you must be kidding me with this, right Reyes? What you did to attempt to preserve your batting title was the definition of ‘bush league.’ Ted Williams, who 70 years ago Wednesday chose to participate in a doubleheader on the final day of the year and risk marring his .400 average (he went 6-8 and ended up at .406), is surely rolling in his cryogenic tank right now.
The batting title is supposed to be for the best hitter after 162 full games, not 161 and one-ninth.
Let’s disregard the batting title chase for a mere moment, though, because there’s another important issue at stake here. Reyes, who will become a free agent after the end of the season, might very well have been playing his last game in a Mets uniform on Wednesday.
Is that the message that you want to send to your fans that have supported you during your time in Queens, Reyes? That you’re more important than the organization and fan base that have had your back through hamstring injury after hamstring injury?
The bottom line is that Reyes put himself and the pursuit of individual accolades ahead of the fans, his teammates and ultimately the game itself.
Reader, by the time you are digesting this column on Thursday, we will know for sure if Reyes’ cowardice paid off. Even if he does win it, though, in my mind there will always be an asterisk next to this year’s National League batting title.
Injuries are one thing, but to pull yourself from competition just to protect your average is weak-sauce, chicken, even borderline cheating.
If Reyes truly was the “batting champion,” he would have gone out Wednesday and proved it — through all nine innings — just like Williams did on the final day of the season in 1941.
Reach the columnist at kyle.j.newman@asu.edu
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