Jose vs. Cleon vs. Oly

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 109 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .353
2011: REYES -- .340
1990: Magadan -- .338 (.338028)
1998: Olerud -- .338 (.337838)

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 110 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .351
1998: Olerud -- .340
2011: REYES -- .339

NOTE: Dave Magadan 0-3 vs. Cubs, falls to .334.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 111 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .351
1998: Olerud -- .342
2011: REYES -- .336

NOTE: Dave Magadan 0-4 vs. Cubs in 1990, falls to .330.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 112 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .351
1998: Olerud -- .343
2011: REYES -- .337

1990: Magdan -- .329

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 113 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .348
1998: Olerud -- .344
2011: REYES -- .336

1990: Magdan -- .329

[ashie62]

Dave Magadan..wow..

[batmagadanleadoff]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY Through 113 NYM Games 1969: Jones -- .348 1998: Olerud -- .344 2011: REYES -- .336 1990: Magdan -- .329

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 113 NYM Games

2000: Piazza -- .351 (In 2000, Piazza was MVP bound until he wore down over the last four or five weeks of the season).
1969: Jones -- .348
1998: Olerud -- .344
2011: REYES -- .336

1990: Magdan -- .329

[G-Fafif]

Dear Jose's Hamstring,

You're making gaining 19 points on John Olerud's final 1998 average very difficult.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 132 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .351
1998: Olerud -- .344
2011: REYES -- .336

Get hot. Stay hot.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 133 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .348
1998: Olerud -- .343
2011: REYES -- .335

[G-Fafif]

After doing the math, it saddens me to announce the dream is essentially over. To edge John Olerud's team record batting average of .354 (.35368), Jose Reyes would need 53 hits in 126 at-bats over the Mets' final 29 games, meaning he'd have to bat .420 the rest of the way to finish at .354 (.35409). That's assuming Terry Collins starts him every day, which he's said he won't, and that he gets about as many ABs per game as he's gotten thus far in 2011.

Then there's the little matter of batting .420 over 29 games. At their hottest down their respective standard-setting stretches, Lance Johnson batted .411 in 29 games in 1996 and John Olerud batted .406 in 27 games in 1998 (while Moises Alou, during his 30-game hitting streak of late 2007, batted .403). It would seem a bit much to ask Jose to top those searing paces from here on out. He certainly has motivation to finish strong (besides the fact that he's a professional and every player should want to finish strong), but it's a lot of ground to make up, even with the healthiest of hamstrings.

Here's hoping he catches Cleon at least -- and tops all 2011 comers from all other teams, of course.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: After doing the math, it saddens me to announce the dream is essentially over. To edge John Olerud's team record batting average of .354 (.35368), Jose Reyes would need 53 hits in 126 at-bats over the Mets' final 29 games, meaning he'd have to bat .420 the rest of the way to finish at .354 (.35409). That's assuming Terry Collins starts him every day, which he's said he won't, and that he gets about as many ABs per game as he's gotten thus far in 2011. Then there's the little matter of batting .420 over 29 games. At their hottest down their respective standard-setting stretches, Lance Johnson batted .411 in 29 games in 1996 and John Olerud batted .406 in 27 games in 1998 (while Moises Alou, during his 30-game hitting streak of late 2007, batted .403). It would seem a bit much to ask Jose to top those searing paces from here on out. He certainly has motivation to finish strong (besides the fact that he's a professional and every player should want to finish strong), but it's a lot of ground to make up, even with the healthiest of hamstrings. Here's hoping he catches Cleon at least -- and tops all 2011 comers from all other teams, of course.

I was resigned to this with the last DL stint. He's still got a shot at the NL title though at least.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, I'm more interested in his battle with Ryan Braun than I am with the Cleon/Olerud thing. Jose winning a batting title would be as big a chunk of Mets history, if not bigger, as his setting a new club record.

[G-Fafif]

I'd go with "as big". Win a batting title and you've beaten an entire league for one season. Set a team record and you've beaten an entire franchise for fifty seasons.

I think I was more turned on by Hundley setting the NYM HR mark in 1996 than I was by Kingman and HoJo leading the league in 1982 and 1991, respectively. Though it was all good.

[Frayed Knot]

I'm more disappointed that the two DL stints ruined his shot at the triples record - or at least a place high up on the list one triples in a season.