Let me be clear about Jose Reyes’ batting title strategy. His decision to lift himself from the game today after getting a hit in his first at bat was weaksauce, plain and simple. I don’t agree with it and wouldn’t make the same decision if I were in his place.
I also believe that Jose has earned a bit of a pass due to the fact that no other Met in the history of the franchise has even had the opportunity to be able to make a decision like this. Again, not how I would handle it, but I’m not going to disown the guy over a difference of opinion.
Come April, 2012 I doubt many of us will even care about this decision as Jose is racing for third after roping a line drive in the gap. Unless, of course, he is wearing another team’s uniform.
The bottom line is, I am not going to let one weaksauce decision in a meaningless game change my opinion on whether I want the Mets to re-sign an upper tier player in his prime. Strike that. I won’t let one weaksauce decision in a meaningless game change my opinion on whether I want the Mets to re-sign an home-grown upper tier player in his prime.
While we are on the topic of re-signing Jose, allow me to share that there are two scenarios in which I would understand if the Mets choose not to re-sign Reyes.
- Jose’s salary demands are too high. Sorry, 20 million a season is too much for one player. Feel free to label me a cheap bastard if you want.
- Mr. Alderson chooses to parlay the money he saves on letting Jose go into serious pitching help. I am talking a #1 starter type here. Don’t ask me who that will be, it’s not my job to figure out the details. That’s what Alderson gets paid the big bucks for.