A .168 average, with 21 hits, 4 RBIs, and a home run. If you looked at those stats, you’d probably say to yourself, “Wow! That pitcher had a pretty great year at the plate!”
Take a deeper look, and you soon realize that these aren’t the offensive statistics of a pitcher. They are in fact that statistics of Jose Reyes, who for some reason is still on the Mets. Many Mets fans (including myself) have been scheming ways to somehow get this guy off of the team. When Todd Frazier went to the disabled list again, Mets fans from all walks of life came out to vouch for the promotion of late-blooming prospect Jeff McNeil. The guy has hit nearly .400 with the Las Vegas 51s, which is fantastic even out in the desert. The notion was quickly shut down by Mets brass, with their claim being that McNeil was not experienced enough at third base. I guess 148 career games in the minors at a position simply doesn’t cut it these days.
With Frazier gone and McNeil out of the picture for now, that left manager Mickey Callaway Jose Reyes to plunk at third base. In addition to his atrocious batting average, Reyes is also a liability at third, which is not his position of choice. While it may seem like there is no end in sight to this constant onslaught of watching the shell of a former All-Star wander around the left side of the Mets’ infield, there is a guy just waiting in wings for his opportunity to rise once again, and that man is T.J. Rivera.
After being torn apart by injury to the point of requiring Tommy John Surgery to heal his wounds, Rivera is slowly on the mend. This is great news for the Mets, as they will be returning a player that is a lifetime .304 hitter and is versatile around the horn. This is even better news for Mets fans, because Rivera might finally be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in regards to getting Reyes off the team. After all, Rivera at this point is above Reyes in just about every way you can think of in terms of playing ability. You might have been able to make the argument that Reyes had the advantage over Rivera in speed a couple years back, but with the combination of Reyes aging and him not making an effort out of the box on a ground ball, it is safe to say that Rivera is above Reyes in that regard as well.
This of course is not saying that Rivera can save this team from desperation, because nothing is sufficient enough to do that at this point. This is simply a hope that Rivera will finally be the one to spell Reyes of the roster spot that the Mets are letting him steal from more deserving players. While Rivera may be 29 and not appear to be a long term solution for the team, he is at least talented enough to play for a WAR that is above zero. While many keep their skeletons in the closet, the Mets consistently choose to keep theirs on the left side of the infield at Citi Field. It has been long overdue to get rid of Reyes, and here’s to hoping that Rivera finally be the man to do so.
Bring on TJ, the man can rake. How about this line up going forward after the All Star Break:
1B- Dom Smith (let’s see what there really is here), 2B- McNeil (his bat has earned the chance), SS- Rosario (kid ends up like .260 / 5 hr / 50 rbi with good defense, that ain’t so bad for a rookie), 3B- Flores (fan fave that hits), C- Nido (see Dom Smith above-same), INF bench – TJ Rivera, Cechinni, Plawecki, LF – Cespedes returns, CF- Nimmo, RF- Conforto – OF bench – Den Dekker, Bautista. Outta here please ! – Bruce, Reyes, Cabrera (trade), Frazier (trade), Mesoraco (trade).
Pitchers – SP – deGrom, Thor, Matz, Lugo, Gsellman, RP – Peterson, Sewald, Rahme, 3-4 other relievers from last year’s trades and this year’s pending trades. Outta here please – Wheeler (trade) Familia (trade), Blevins (trade), Swarzak (trade), Ramos (release).
I bet this team above makes a run at .500, then in the offseason improve without Sandy (wish him best of health in his recovery, but time is up as GM). By the way, if Girardi is available in the offseason, get him as MGR, ‘Cab Callaway’ is not the guy. Job is over his head !!
Smith? Nido? Don’t think so. Flores at third? The guy isn’t a 3B,it’s first or nothing. Get a real CFer, if you can’t give the pitchers any runs at least let’s give them some defense.
Amed starting to hammer the ball and yet Mickey still wants to give Amed two days week off as per his postgame comments, so ridiculous. According to the the Vegas beat writer TJ Rivera left yesterdays game with arm discomfort so that could set him back quite a bit sadly. Here’s the tweet from Betsy https://mobile.twitter.com/betsyhelfand/status/1018015152384270336 .
Thor did a nice job battling yesterday and most importantly staying upright and hopefully his comments on the postgame about wanting to be a Met his whole career didn’t fall on deaf ears.
In addition to the expiring contracts being traded, I would be happy with anybody but Reyes or Bruce.
Realistically, we will probably see Familia and Cabrera go and maybe even Bautista.
The problem in trading Wheeler, is who in the world is he replaced with.
I agree 100% about Rivera. I’ll take Rivera in an arm cast over Reyes.
leave reyes alone . season ruined already
Oh god what an embarrassing comment. Reyes’ supporters are crazier than sub in your least favorite politicians supporters.
Reyes starts again today at 3B! Sheesh!
And played well
2 for 4
He isn’t going anywhere
And he isn’t taking real playing time away from anybody good
McNeil will be here once Cabrera is traded to get a chance to play consistently
All others in system that are near the majors are filler.
None can play short
He isn’t close to the biggest problem….only a media distraction for bloggers who have no other narrative to follow
That is flat out as short cited at possible. Reyes is the far away past. This season is lost. Having him play, infect the clubhouse, and be a media distraction is exactly the last thing this team needs. That he is taking a single AB from anyone who may be part of teh future is a classic Metsian mistake.
Bobby Abreu…..where are youuuuuuuuuuuu?
DFA Reyes now, start the antbiotics to rid this team of illness today.
One of his “hits” was due to the pitcher taking forever to throw the ball. And he blew a DP by double clutching. McNeil should be playing 3B until Cabrera is dealt.
McNeal joins TJ and Phil Evans as AAA and AA batting champs. I think the expectations are a bit too high on these infielders. Additionally TJ does not play shortstop.
As far as cleaning house on the injured guys, correct me if I’m wrong but they get be released while on the DL. And Jay Bruce at the moment has no value(contract/performance).
But back to Jose, every time I see him I ask: “what is he doing there?”
Another Mets site mentioned that the reason they are keeping Reyes around is that he and Wright can take the field together one more time and reap the PR that would give them. I think Wright coming back this year, even for one game, is a long shot
If thats the case, then it shows baseball is not important. Furthermore, weve seen Wright field balls at 3B, hit off a tee, travel with club. If they want a zoo exhibition with animals on display, they can do that now. In fact, this home stand with ASG would have been excellent.
But if the plan is to wait for Wright to be a legit player, this is a complete waste beciasue its not gonna happen *and* it means we need to continue seeing reyes take ABs from anyone < 30 yo, and that is a total mistake. Period. Yet again, we recognize the season is over (except for the most delusional), and so *now* is exactly the time to play those advanced minor leaguers to see if any have major league chops or just to get them needed playing time.
Most people remain in denial that this team is already toast for next year unless ownership doubles down on vets, except this time for real, not second and third tier has beens. Failing that, the team is already another 85-95 loss team, regardless if your rotation is deGrom, Syndergaard, Scherzer, Verander, and Kershaw.
September will be great! Tebow in RF,Wright at third and Reyes at short. Bobble heads for all three on successive nights. The place will be jumping.
You, Mr. Madman, are a steely eyed rocket man. Well. Done.