An excerpt from today’s must read.
Want to know what I would have loved to hear from Reyes? How his career in New York, despite wildly productive at times, can be considered a disappointment. How he wishes he could have done more to change things. Let’s look at this objectively and understand that Jose Reyes was a franchise player for about 2.5 seasons out of the 9 he spent here. In 2006, half of 2007, and 2008 he was a player you would build around. Prior to ’06 and the last three seasons, he was an incomplete player that was injury prone. This past season was a perfect example as most of his production was stuffed into the first three months of the year. This isn’t Tom Seaver or Darryl Strawberry leaving, this is Edgardo Alfonzo leaving. A very good player that we all loved, but won’t cripple the franchise for a long time. As a matter of fact, I predict the fans won’t think much of Reyes as the new crop of kids starts to make an impact the next couple of years.
via Mike Silvas New York Baseball Digest » Blog Archive » Love Works Both Ways.
Like I said yesterday, he isn’t the greatest Mets player since Seaver. I would have to put Doc, Straw and Mike Piazza above him, with him and David Wright neck in neck.
I went from frustration with the franchise (still have it) to anger over some fans acting like he was a lock for the HOF. He is a great player, and I wanted him to stay. I wanted the team to pretend to care, but he isn’t Mike Piazza.
The Alfonzo parallel is infinitely closer to the truth than the Seaver comparisons. I was actually sadder to see Fonzie go, to be honest (when did Reyes ever put a playoff game on his shoulders and carry it, something Alfonzo did multiple times?). In both situations, though, it was time to part ways for the good of the team going forward.