Everyone reading this has probably watched at least 1,000 MLB games, most of them involving the Mets. One of the reasons we watch is to see something we’ve never seen before, especially if it involves our team. If you’re a greybeard, you probably remember the thrill of seeing Dave Kingman, a true home run threat. Or maybe it was Frank Taveras and his push bunts. Or Darryl Strawberry, the first overall pick, who lived up to the hype.
Jose Reyes was like that, too. A homegrown guy with game-changing speed. Taveras stole 42 bases for the Mets in a year when the leader had 77. Reyes led the league in steals three times. And unlike Taveras, he could hit the ball with authority. Reyes had 72 extra-base hits in 2008, pretty awesome for a leadoff guy. He was a joy to watch play.
But we can’t let the memory of what Reyes was cloud the reality of what he is now.
Reyes’ posted an .877 OPS in 2011, his last season in New York in his initial stint with the club. From there he notched OPS marks of .780 (2X), .726 and .688 in 2015. In his return to New York, Reyes recorded a .769 OPS in 60 games and 279 PA. Was he rejuvenated by his second chance or was this a form of dead-cat bounce?
In his first week with the Mets last year, Reyes slugged three HR in six games. Then he went through a stretch of 28 games where he had a .365 BABIP. In a bit of a surprise, Reyes was never a guy to run ultra-high BABIPs. His lifetime mark in the category is .311, elevated but not to a huge extent. So, the .365 mark didn’t last. In fact, in his last 128 PA, Reyes had a .253 BABIP and a .687 OPS. Note that this .687 is nearly identical to what he posted in 2015.
When the Mets made their big charge down the stretch, Reyes was not a huge factor.
Having missed half of the year, Reyes should have been in much better shape than his teammates down the stretch. But he wasn’t. This could have been nothing more than a poorly-timed slump. Or it could have been regression from his quick start. However you’d like to define this period, it seems odd to count on Reyes repeating his 2016 numbers over 500+ PA in 2017.
So, where does that leave him for 2017?
In my mind, he should play the role that the team envisioned for Wilmer Flores in 2016. Reyes shouldn’t be starting on a regular basis. Instead, he should be filling in all over the infield and be the insurance policy for David Wright at third base, one that hopefully doesn’t have to be cashed in during the month of May.
The Mets have Reyes at minimum wage in 2017. Unfortunately, that means that Kelly Johnson probably won’t be back with the squad, even if he’s a perfect fit for the club and Collins seems to have an excellent feel on how to best use him. Actually, it would be nice if Collins could utilize Reyes much like he did last year with Johnson, with an eye on not burning him out.
Perhaps either installing Flores as the second baseman, or trading him if Neil Walker comes back, would allow the team to keep Johnson. But it seems more likely that the infield backups in 2017 would be Flores and Reyes. Until Wright gets hurt and they trade for Johnson for the third straight year.
I think you are picking and choosing your data. Reyes actually had a slow start. Hit .239 in his first 16 games. And got hurt. After coming off the disabled list he got rolling as did the Mets once Cespedes and Cabrera joined him a few games later. He also had no spring training and was playing a brand new position. He will be starting every day next year and hopefully plays 130 – 140 games. At this point he is better than Wright. Additionally , I would be more worried about Cabrera repeating his late season run and salvaging his season than Reyes putting up a .770 ops
I don’t see how having no Spring Training and playing a new position buys him favor in September. By that time, he had played 35 games, more than a typical ST, and had 25 games at 3B under his belt.
Reyes showed a good level of play. His Superstar level dynamism is gone Day to Day, but he has good all around skills that still play well.
Granderson….Reyes….Walker….. Cabrera……. if all of these guys are still with the club, Collins needs to anticipate and respond to wear and tear. Of Reyes finds himself in a 459-525 ab role, that will add to his production, as well as the guys he’s spelling
The Mets need him to lead-off and be a threat on the bases. TC loves him in that role.
He’ll be a starter, no question about that. If he goes through an extended slump, maybe, maybe that will change, but I’d bet a lot that they don’t put him on the bench right from the start.
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First let me say that Reyes is one of my all time favorite players, not just mets players but all players ever. That being said, I have followed him with the Marlins and beyond and in my opinion he should not be a starter anymore and I say that with heavy heart. He is a shell of his former Met days. He can still play but I feel he is average to below average in most categories except he still has a great arm! I am hoping for him to be the super utility infielder next year along with Flores and I’m sure he would still get 400+ AB’s knowing how fragile out infield has potential to be so in closing I completely agree with your article
Gee…I thought he was pretty good….at least he contributed.
Jose Reyes had an OPS of .769 in 2016 which matched his career OPS of .769 exactly. It was only the 11th best (bottom third) among third baseman in the NL. Reyes will turn 34 next season so some regression should be expected. It is difficult to envision him an everyday third baseman over the course of a full season.
David Wright is the starter based on the assumption that because of his health he will play in a restricted role similar to the initial plan of 2015. He should always start vs LHP because he has a career 337/430/568/998 vs LHP. In 2016 his 788 OPS in a limited 137 AB’s ranked him 10th among NL third basemen.The Mets should avoid relying on Wright as an everyday player due to his lack of durability over the past three years. If he is not cleared to play, and retires, then they should look to upgrade the position.
Hopefully, between Wright and Reyes, they can get adequate production from the third base position. It is a tenuous situation for the Mets two fading stars without many alternatives. Wright is the Captain and face of the franchise, with an expensive long term contract, and as long as he puts up adequate production he will be getting more than half of the starts. Reyes should be able to pick up starts for Cabrera if he gets rested once every road trip and home stand.
Ironic that Alderson gets to pay Reyes an amount that he is finally comfortable with.
I would be kind of cool, if even for just one game, to see wright at 3b and Reyes at SS 🙂
Yes, I’m so hoping we get to see this. And it should be a home game, too.
In general, Reyes is on the downward slide of his career and should rest more, play less.
Several factors complicate that situation, and all have to do with context.
1) He’s the Mets leadoff man. It will be difficult for TC to consistently create that hole in the lineup.
2) His value comes not from OPS — which as we know, is the bluntest of tools — but for the specific qualities that he brings to the NY Mets that would otherwise be lacking. Speed, stolen bases, runs scored. Jose has a knack for coming all the way around — and he plays on a sluggish, station-to-station team that’s low on energy.
3) David Wright. It makes planning roles nearly impossible.
He’s an ingredient in the soup that, at the moment, the Mets seem wholly unable to replicate. Again, difficult to sit. At the same time, Brian is right. It’s a little scary to think the Mets will lean heavily on the contributions of Jose Reyes.
Of course, should Sandy go hard after Andrew McCutchen . . .
I have always loved the positive energy Reyes brings every day it’s probably the reason I like him so much
Jimmy P – I keep agreeing with you lately. Reyes is not exactly Ricky Henderson, but he’s the only true leadoff hitter we have. Beyond the stats, he has intangible qualities that spark this team. I’m thrilled he’s back.
The David Wright thing is complicated. It may force us to keep 7 infielders with Flores and Johnson ready to jump in as soon as Wright or someone else goes on the DL. If we keep 7 infielders, 5 outfielders and 2 catchers that leaves room for 11 pitchers. 10 years ago that was plenty for most teams. Now? Another option is to move Wright over to first like the Nats did with Zimmerman and have Duda or Loney as his platoon partner. As long as he’s healthy, he should be our DH in AL road games too.
I agree that Reyes in the role of semi-regular playing 2B, SS, and 3B would be best for both the player and for the team. And while I hope things work out to keep Neil Walker for a couple more years I do think first shot at the 2B position should go to T.J. Rivera if Walker does sign elsewhere.