Mets' shortstop Jose Reyes came through with a clutch three run home run off reliever Ryan Madson in Wednesday's game against the Phillies. It was a beautiful hit and probably the most important hit of the season for Reyes. Despite a very shaky outing by Phillies' starter Brett Myers, which included four walks in the first inning and the bases loaded twice, the Mets were only able to muster three runs against him.
The game was tied at three when Madson relieved Myers to start the sixth inning. Madson gave up consecutive singles to Damion Easley and Brian Schneider. He then struck out the pitcher John Maine, which brought Reyes to the plate. Reyes then drove Madson's first pitch to right for his 11th homer of the season.
As Reyes rounded the bases, he had his right index finger stuck up high in the air, waving it around. Upon reaching the Mets' dugout, Reyes did his arm waving, high fiving dance with a teammate. While I do not like the dancing in the dugout, I understand lots of players do it. It was an exciting hit and I don't fault him for celebrating with his team. What really bothers me is the waving of his finger around the bases, taunting the Phillies and their pitcher Ryan Madson. It is completely and unequivocally unacceptable and classless. An arm pump or two is one thing, but to celebrate the entire way around the bases is jive and immature.
Not to mention that Reyes in large part contributed to his team's humiliating collapse from the night before. For those that didn't catch the game, in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's game with the bases loaded, Phillies' catcher Carlos Ruiz grounded to Reyes. Instead of flipping to the second baseman to start the double play, or throwing to first to get the sure out, Reyes tried to beat speedy Shane Victorino to second base and got there late. Everyone safe all around. Instead of having two outs and a man on third, there were no outs and the bases loaded. Pinch hitter So Taguchi then proceeded to hit a double, scoring Victorino and Gregg Dobbs, with Ruiz moving up to third.
Everyone knows that the number of outs how many guys are on base and who those runners are will dictate how the pitcher approaches his batter. It is certainly not a foregone conclusion that Taguchi hits a double with only Ruiz at third. If Reyes doesn't blow the play then it might have been a completely different game. It takes a lot of balls, nerve, and a complete lack of respect, class, and humility to be showboating just the next day after you screwed up so royally the day before.
Just as much to blame are the gutless Phillies. Instead of intentionally walking Reyes the following inning, the Phillies should have put him on notice that that kind of behavior would not be tolerated and beamed him in the ribs, or the back. Instead they allow him to dance and showboat like the immature four year old that he is and respond by not pitching around him.
Thursday's starting pitcher Jamie Moyer, while not known as a hard thrower, has been around for almost 22 years and is from the old school. He should put Reyes on notice that that kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated by those players who are the symbol of class and tradition.
Jose Reyes is an immature, jive, classless tool and he needs to be taught a lesson. If it's not the Phillies, then maybe it will be the Marlins, who have expressed a grave dislike and disgust with Reyes' behavior. Last year the Marlins were open about the fact that Reyes' cocky and immature behavior was the motivation they needed to keep the Mets out of the playoffs by beating them in the final series of the year. Reyes' behavior is going to eventually come back to bite him and the Mets right where it hurts. If not the Phillies or the Marlins, then it will eventually be some other team. Jose Reyes, look out.
The game was tied at three when Madson relieved Myers to start the sixth inning. Madson gave up consecutive singles to Damion Easley and Brian Schneider. He then struck out the pitcher John Maine, which brought Reyes to the plate. Reyes then drove Madson's first pitch to right for his 11th homer of the season.
As Reyes rounded the bases, he had his right index finger stuck up high in the air, waving it around. Upon reaching the Mets' dugout, Reyes did his arm waving, high fiving dance with a teammate. While I do not like the dancing in the dugout, I understand lots of players do it. It was an exciting hit and I don't fault him for celebrating with his team. What really bothers me is the waving of his finger around the bases, taunting the Phillies and their pitcher Ryan Madson. It is completely and unequivocally unacceptable and classless. An arm pump or two is one thing, but to celebrate the entire way around the bases is jive and immature.
Not to mention that Reyes in large part contributed to his team's humiliating collapse from the night before. For those that didn't catch the game, in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's game with the bases loaded, Phillies' catcher Carlos Ruiz grounded to Reyes. Instead of flipping to the second baseman to start the double play, or throwing to first to get the sure out, Reyes tried to beat speedy Shane Victorino to second base and got there late. Everyone safe all around. Instead of having two outs and a man on third, there were no outs and the bases loaded. Pinch hitter So Taguchi then proceeded to hit a double, scoring Victorino and Gregg Dobbs, with Ruiz moving up to third.
Everyone knows that the number of outs how many guys are on base and who those runners are will dictate how the pitcher approaches his batter. It is certainly not a foregone conclusion that Taguchi hits a double with only Ruiz at third. If Reyes doesn't blow the play then it might have been a completely different game. It takes a lot of balls, nerve, and a complete lack of respect, class, and humility to be showboating just the next day after you screwed up so royally the day before.
Just as much to blame are the gutless Phillies. Instead of intentionally walking Reyes the following inning, the Phillies should have put him on notice that that kind of behavior would not be tolerated and beamed him in the ribs, or the back. Instead they allow him to dance and showboat like the immature four year old that he is and respond by not pitching around him.
Thursday's starting pitcher Jamie Moyer, while not known as a hard thrower, has been around for almost 22 years and is from the old school. He should put Reyes on notice that that kind of behavior is not going to be tolerated by those players who are the symbol of class and tradition.
Jose Reyes is an immature, jive, classless tool and he needs to be taught a lesson. If it's not the Phillies, then maybe it will be the Marlins, who have expressed a grave dislike and disgust with Reyes' behavior. Last year the Marlins were open about the fact that Reyes' cocky and immature behavior was the motivation they needed to keep the Mets out of the playoffs by beating them in the final series of the year. Reyes' behavior is going to eventually come back to bite him and the Mets right where it hurts. If not the Phillies or the Marlins, then it will eventually be some other team. Jose Reyes, look out.
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