Rickey Henderson, Jose Valentin and Julio Franco. What’s the connection? All are veteran players who were around with the Mets in part to help Jose Reyes.
I am not buying Willie Randolph’s comments that Reyes is “still a baby learning to play the game.”
Sorry, he’s been around too long to be playing in the daze that he has been. And, if the Mets believe they need a mentor for Reyes that’s a problem.
This guy has a lot of physical tools, but something is wrong between the ears. I am beginning to believe that this is as good as it gets for Reyes.
30 Comments
yeah let’s beat up on Reyes and not a word on Delgado’s awful effort and play. God love ya John
I remember somebody saying last year that if someone told us 5 years ago that we’d get 160 games, a .280 avg plus 70+ stolen bases – we’d have been happy. I think there are a few things to take into consideration – one is the whole notion that there were vets in the clubhouse to give him guidance. Similar to Pelf needing a personal catcher in Brian Schneider, this is absurd. Reyes has been in the league for over 5 seasons now. Anyway I tend to agree with John here – I think perhaps the “stuff between his ears” might be the whisperings of – MVP, catalyst for the team, as Jose goes so do the Mets…it’s the pressure. Unfortunately I think Jose would be one of those players who might fare better and put up better numbers outside of NY. I actually thought last season he might have been ill with his mistakes and flubs in the field. Finally, we have to think about the associates he has – he sees Castillo, Delgado et al loafing every game – perhaps that attitude has infiltrated his positive attitde. Another thing to consider is the extension he signed in 2006 – another thing the “vets” might point out – he’s gonna get paid if he does well or no. Don’t know which is right.
With all due respect Steve (not that I don’t disagree – I don’t think Delgado could get us a pair of Payless shoes at this point) but with Reyes so young and his noticeable decline, we have to be concerned. Delgado is just done for
Reyes is hitting .300 with a .900 OPS this month, he is busting his ass, and yes he needs to be more careful on the bases, but I think the incident on Friday night was one in which the pitcher clearly BALKED in epic fashion, and Sunday he was just too aggressive, he is trying to do too much with his feet..
Randolph should shake up the lineup for awhile, but he won’t.
Reyes has too much natural talent to recently be having these lapses. Either Randolph should be watching him closely and helping him, or, Randolph himself may be contributing to the problem. I wonder how much residual effect is still out from Randolph sitting him down for not hustling in that game last year.
As for Delgado, I agree that his down slide has made all parts of his game harder to deal with. He is not only affecting himself, but many others on the team as well. I know because of his salary he is almost impossible to move. The best thing that could be done is to sit him down for the time being. They would potentially be no worse without him.
To bring some “factual” details into the mix, here are Reyes projections for 2008.
G AB R H D T HR RBI W SO SB CS BA OBP
160 677 95 187 34 17 20 78 65 95 51 17 .276 .335
These numbers are close to 06 except for BA
and runs scored. If his BA goes to .300 like 06, his runs scored will probably reach his 06 122 runs and he will have an OBP of about .370. Not quite Ricky Henderson like, but I’ll take those numbers from a lead off guy anytime.
That being said, he has made more errors (physical and mental) than you’d like on the bases and in the field.
But to say that “this is as good as it gets” makes it sound like he is a .250 hitter w/no speed or power. If his projections hold (he is batting over .300 for May), then that statement is pretty harsh as I read it.
Nonetheless, I vote to bring back Jose Valentin in some capacity to curtail the mental errors. Just like the Yanks could use Larry Bowa to get Canoe going again.
Hey John it is the aces job to break up losing streaks and slumps. Pedro did it in ‘05 and you’re crying because the pressure is on Santana to do so. Delgado is done as a hitter but how bout giving an honest effort? He dogs it on d and on the bases. Plus his malaise has infected the rest of the clubhouse.
I think Delgado has become a cancer in the club house and on the field. Something has to change with this team, either player personal or manger/coaches because if nothing changes this team will play like this for the rest of the season. They have been playing this way since the all star break last year.
How about bring up Dan Murphy from the B-Mets??? Move Wright to 1st…..just a thought…
Or maybe, bring in Tom Coughlin for a few weeks to shake these fools up…...
Reyes is not the problem. Even with his mental lapses the real culprit is Delgado. I know the Mets have no everyday replacement for him, but could Willie at least stop playing him against left handed pitching. His number are so pathetic even Tatis would be better at this point.
I’m with you, Delcos. He’s been around too long to dismiss these as some type of “growing pain” and, more importantly, he never exhibited these lapses previously. In fact, a year ago, I would have raved about Reyes’ focus and instincts; since then, to quote Borat, “Not so much.”
It’s ironic that Reyes has been playing with his head so far up his butt since the Mets acquired Castillo.
To me the veteran players on this team are not good role models for the Mets younger players. The veteran players like Delgado, Castillo are the biggest dogs. These are not players you should want on a team especially when you have two good young players in Wright and Reyes. I’m tired of saying this but Omar Minya is the guy who should be on the hot seat. Willie Randolph can’t even bring in his own people as his coaches. Omar Minya brings in the coaches that he wants which makes Willie a lame duck manger. Omar over paid for Beltran who wanted to go to the Yankees and had boras approach the Yankees and ask for 10 mil less and the Yankees were still not interested. The Yankees have smart people running their organization. The Mets obviously don’t. I can understand why the Yankees didn’t aggressively go after Santana because he was not worth five players on top of 22 mil a year. The Wilpons need to wake up and get a GM in here who knows what he is doing because it is clear to me Omar Minya does not know what he is doing. I remember when Omar Minya was first hired I heard fans of the Montreal Expos calling up on the Mike and mad dog radio show saying he was terrible and the met fans will eventually see how bad Omar is as a GM, well, I now see.
How did this weird ‘Castillo is a bad influence on Reyes’ meme get started. Its bunk. Reyes had a great year in 06. Players careers aren’t just a smooth progression until their age 28 season with a nice smooth regression after that. That’s only the aggregate for all players. There is nothing unusual about Reyes’ performance this year in relation to his career up to this point. I think ‘06 created unrealistic expectations. Up to that point he had not done anything to give anyone reason to expect him to perform that well. This year his performance is in line with projections. ‘06 was an outlier. He may have 2 or 3 more outlier seasons like that in his career but I don’t think that is his normal season. He still has 3 more years of progress though until he reaches his peak.
Also you can tell that some of the criticism has affected him. You can see him worrying about it when he has made a mistake. It sometimes affects his play. So what. He’s human. It’s good that he worries about mistakes. That’s how people learn. He’ll be fine. He’ll learn from his mistakes and be a better player for it.
I have a more general question for you John. What is the evidence for all the supposed influence of veteran players on younger players? Did you actually witness Jose Valentin dispensing advice or giving encouragement to Jose Reyes? Did Valentin help Reyes move in to his apartment? Did he have him over for dinner? What is the source of this idea? This just seems to me like one of those recurring themes in sports writing that some fans just eat up. Its such a feel good idea. Veteran player helps young prospect overcome anxiety of playing in the big leagues. I really doubt it. I think players take time to adjust to the big leagues. Of course you don’t want the players to be jerks and make the newer players uncomfortable but I doubt these stories of these dramatic mentoring effects.
Tom,
The way I remember it, the yankees spent the money for beltran on randy johnson. how did that work out for them? IMO Cashman is a terrible GM. At least Omar doesnt have The track record of Pavano, Jaret Wright, Igawa. It seems like everyone is satisfied that Willie is on his way out, so now its time to take aim at the GM.
Santana is known as a 2nd half pitcher.
So far he is 5-3 with a 3.36 era and 1.18 WHIP.
That’s damn good.
Omar obtained Maine and Perez. Signed Beltran and Wagner.
Did he make some mistakes? Sure. Every GM does.
Omar does deserve his share of the blame. But he is far from a terrible GM.
If this is as good as it gets with Reyes, then you must not have been watching the 2006 season and the beginning of ‘07. That’s probably as good as it gets for Reyes, whether he can get back there is another question. But hey, rewrite history Delcos!
For the life of me I will never understand why Mets speak with such venom regarding Carlos Beltran.
Steve C., I have finally been convinced. Delgado is finished. There are no signs that this guy can turn it around. His skills have left him. Whenever he hits a homer its really just pure luck.
What is yor beef with Reyes? He is 24.. get off the kids back. you constantly bash the guy. He is still learning the game. check out his numbers compared to Rollins when Rollins was 24… people forget how young he really is. So seriously what ever Reyes did to you, get over it
metsfan: With every word you write you show your ignorance and how little you know about this team. But, I guess that’s the best thing about being a fan, you don’t have to pay attention to reality.-JD
JD: Not everyone can be David Wright or Derek Jeter. I do think you have to take into consideration that he is only 24. He came up with more hype than any other Met prospect including Wright. I think someone has to get it into his head though that talent can only take you so far. You have to be able to concentrate and focus. But that does come from more age and wisdom IMO.
There is a big difference between 92 and 94.
What about 93 and 95?
I think the bigger difference is 90 91.
Very funny. The slower you throw the worse you are. Period. Losing velocity hurts. I’m not saying a pitcher can’t be effective if he loses velocity but he can’t be as effective as he was when he threw harder.
Taylor – I didnt understand the context. Just following Tiffany’s lead…
I agree in general. However Big Pelf was throwing hard the other day. Problem was he couldn’t find the plate and did not throw anything else.
I think if you throw a fastball north of 90 and have some offspead stuff 6mph or more hitters look foolish. A 90 mph fastball with control is good enough. If you can spot it inside and out and up and down they won’t touch you.
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