Let The Reyes-Jeter Comparisons Stop Now
From the Post -
But when Jose Reyes stood near home plate as his dribbler up the third-base line was fielded in fair territory, the 4-0 loss to Houston became known for something more depressing and worrisome.
It was the game in which Reyes loafed, and the night manager Willie Randolph had enough.
Randolph yanked Reyes immediately after the top of the eighth, admitting he pulled his All-Star shortstop for a lack of hustle.
“Yeah, that was pretty obvious,” Randolph said. “If you can’t get out of the box and run down the line or whatever, you’re gonna sit down. That’s all. It’s unacceptable.”
The incident happened with two outs in the eighth and the Mets (47-38) in the midst of a four-hit, complete-game shutout by mediocre Houston lefty Wandy Rodriguez. Reyes failed to run out a dribbler down the third-base line that Mike Lamb fielded in fair territory, seemingly just before it was about to go foul.
Lamb then exacerbated Reyes’ lack of hustle by jogging slowly to first and then tossing the ball.
Maybe Reyes can dust Jeter in a foot-race. And, we know that Reyes can range further than Jeter in the field. But, never, ever, has Jeter dogged it on the field. And, because of that, Reyes has a long way to go before he should be compared to Derek Jeter.
It seems the situation is well in hand…
Yeah, I should have added: “Two thumbs up for Willow for having a pair.”
Between Willie, the coaches & the vets on the team, they’ll take care of it. I’m sure Franco will pull his coat and tell him a thing or three.
I’ve noticed this in the past with some of the Mets players. They just don’t hoof it out. I forgot who I was noticing one day, but every time he hit a ball that he seemed to think would be a fly out, he just kind of trotted down the line. I mean, how many times have we seen someone drop a ball like that? Why not give it a shot?
I hope this doesn’t become chronic with Reyes because he can be so exciting to watch. Willie also pulled him out Tuesday night for dogging it on a groundball he hit, that’s twice in 3 nights.
I mean, how many times have we seen someone drop a ball like that?
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Not many. An overwhelming majority of the time a routine out is just that, a routine out.
Rich: Willie said himself that he pulled Reyes to give him a rest in a blowout. He’s got no reason to say otherwise.
Raf, I heard Willie say he took him out to give him a rest but I thought then he said it to not make a “thing” out of it. I’ll take him at his word.