Do you agree with what Reyes did?

[Casa_Nova]

Battling Ryan Braun for the NL batting title, Jose Reyes took himself out of the game after a bunt single in the first inning in hope to preserve his slight lead over Braun. Fans were obviously booing like crazy.

Reyes justified it by saying that winning the batting title was more important than perhaps playing his last game in front of the Mets fans.

Thoughts?

 

[FTWWTF]

In my opinion very gutless thing to do. No respect for players like that.

 

[d_jedi]

Baseball is a team sport. There's no "I" in team..

 

[The Oracle]

Baseball is a team sport. There's no "I" in team..

There is one in ''title'' though and he's got one .

On the other hand I couldn't see Ted Williams pulling this stunt.

 

[gww]

Bush leage shit... but it really didn't matter. If Reyes went 0 for 3 the rest of the night Braun wouldn't have caught him.

 

[Boss Nass]

There is one in ''title'' though and he's got one .

On the other hand I couldn't see Ted Williams pulling this stunt.

And he didn't. In 1941 he was batting .39955 on September 28, and if he had sat out it would have gone into the record books as a .400 average. But instead of riding the pines he played both ends of a double header on the 29th to close out the season, and went 6 for 8 to end up with .406. More class in his ass than Reyes has in his whole body.

 

[happywanderer]

Pussy...

 

[Ironhead]

Was not the best way to handle it, then talking to the media.
It is not the first time a player did that to in a attempt to win a batting title, likely not the last.

I am niether for nor against what he did.

 

[Ironhead]

Bush leage shit... but it really didn't matter. If Reyes went 0 for 3 the rest of the night Braun wouldn't have caught him.

Au contraire, Braun could easily have caught Reyes if Braun did not go 0-4 and Reyes had played a full game and went 1-4 or something.

At the start of play on Wednesday they were ...
Reyes .336
Braun .335

Braun goes 0-4 and drops to .332, while Reyes did the one and out to finish .337.

 

[Mervyn]

Battling Ryan Braun for the NL batting title, Jose Reyes took himself out of the game after a bunt single in the first inning in hope to preserve his slight lead over Braun. Fans were obviously booing like crazy.

Reyes justified it by saying that winning the batting title was more important than perhaps playing his last game in front of the Mets fans.

Thoughts?

I assumed the Manager took him out, which would not have been nearly as bad.

"Reyes justified it by saying that winning the batting title was more important than perhaps playing his last game in front of the Mets fans."

So he thinks he's more important than the fans ?

 

[Casa_Nova]

I assumed the Manager took him out, which would not have been nearly as bad.

"Reyes justified it by saying that winning the batting title was more important than perhaps playing his last game in front of the Mets fans."

So he thinks he's more important than the fans ?

If I remember what I read correctly, I believe he asked the manager to take him out. The manager ened up being the one fielding the question and was almost in tears apparently because of the backlash. With this possibly being the last game Reyes will play as a Met since he started in the majors, the fans chanted for him to stay. However the manager felt that he owed it to Reyes to let him pull this stunt because of sacrifices that he has made during the rest of the season.

I agree, it was cowardly. If you are going to win something, then win it cleanly. If on the last day Braun hit better than Reyes and overtakes him then Braun deserved to win. At least it would've been a fair matchup. Now we'll never know...and the dumb thing is, let's just say Reyes ended up going 1-4 with his bunt single, and Braun was 0-4 like he was last night, Reyes would've still won and would've won it cleanly and decisively. Not that people will remember in 5 years time...but to me, there'll always be an astrick beside this one...

 

[K Douglas]

I've never been a Reyes fan and this just solidifies my decision why. That is so classless and selfish.

 

[maurice93]

I'm not sure if he thought the title would make him worth a bit more in the offseason, but his intangibles just took a major hit. He could well have made himself worth a bit less yesterday.

Here is what I would have done. Let Reyes have three plate appearances, and then pull him on D in during the middle of the top of the fifth/sixth/seventh. It gives a chance for the fans to have a final isolated moment to cheer him, it gives the fans some satisfaction of seeing him go after the title (3 plate appearances), and it reduces the chance that he loses the title.

I don't think you complain as pulling guys mid way through the game or not playing guys is a common tactic on the final day. He had 3 at bats -- you can't say he was chicken shit, even if he was protecting his title a bit.

But anyway the way he did it, could well cost him in his next contract -- and deservedly.

 

[Mervyn]

I agree , in winning the batting title,that is always good for contract negotiations , but is it enough to counter what can be percieved as a selfish personality ?

Yes, he had the highest BA in the NL, and he has some speed, but he has no power. the Last time he hit 300 was in 06, which I think may have been a contract year, not sure.

 

[gww]

Au contraire, Braun could easily have caught Reyes if Braun did not go 0-4 and Reyes had played a full game and went 1-4 or something.

At the start of play on Wednesday they were ...
Reyes .336
Braun .335

Braun goes 0-4 and drops to .332, while Reyes did the one and out to finish .337.

You will notice my post was AFTER both players were done for the season. So the IF is not reality

 

[shack]

Ted Williams durning his 400 season had an opportunity to sit the last day of the season ( a double header ) to preserve his 400 season but played and got 6 hits and ended the season at 406 ..

You may have missed this post:

And he didn't. In 1941 he was batting .39955 on September 28, and if he had sat out it would have gone into the record books as a .400 average. But instead of riding the pines he played both ends of a double header on the 29th to close out the season, and went 6 for 8 to end up with .406. More class in his ass than Reyes has in his whole body.

 

[Casa_Nova]

If it is any consolation...Just saw Dan Shulman on Off the Record and he thought very poorly about what Reyes did as well. Both the bunt single, and then removing himself from the game. He also brought up the whole Ted Williams thing as well...

 

[Mervyn]

I don't mind bunting to get on base, that's as valid a hit as any other.