Jose Reyes has done nothing but put up inhuman numbers this season. But lately, the Mets phenom shortstop proved he is indeed, human.
Reyes’ average sat at .339 before Wednesday’s game, the lowest it’s been since June 25. Numbers are a tricky bunch, and on the surface that looks like a fantastic batting average. The problem is, it’s still falling.
Sandy Alderson and team officials announced on July 20 that they would not consider any trades for their all-star. Reyes went 0-for-5 at the plate that night and just hasn’t looked the same since.
In the 14 games since, he’s collected 16 hits in 64 at-bats – a .250 batting average. In that period he’s struck out twice as often as he’s walked – four strikeouts and two walks, and been on base more than twice in a game just once.
For the season, his .339 average comes with 419 at-bats, 29 walks and 30 strikeouts. This indicates his recent strikeout binge is abnormally high for 2011, proof of a slump.
Reyes’ game has always been about speed, even if he does show some occasional power, see Tuesday night’s game. He’s at his best when hitting line drives into the corner for a triple and at his worst when he pops the ball sky high. So far this season, he sports a .769 average when he hits a line drive and a meager .163 average on fly balls. In the same 14 games as before, Reyes has skied a ball to an outfield for an out 14 times. Considering that nearly a quarter of his at-bats have come when he hits sub-.200, it’s shocking his average hasn’t sunk even further.
Reyes is at his peak hitting line drives or ground balls – .331 batting average in 2011, especially to the outfield. He needs to work with Batting Coach Dave Hudgins on getting back to that or he, and the team, will continue to struggle. Hopefully this is not the result of newfound job security.