Lose-Lose

[Edgy MD]

A week from now, the Marlins arrive in New York, displaying for the first time Jos� Reyes as a member of the opposition. The News reports that the Mets plan to present a video tribute to Reyes' Mets career, perhaps not unlike that they offered when Mike Piazza returned to Shea as a Padre.

The problem of course will be that such a gesture will underscore the meekness with which they pursued re-signing their all-star shortstop, and get them ripped. "If you cared so much, why did you let him leave?" Yet not to do it would be classless, and they would be ripped.

They're going to get ripped either way. And I guess I'm glad they're doing more-or-less the right thing.

No Jos�-Jos�-Jos�s by the second at-bat, though. All bets are off then.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Can we pronounce this thread los�-los�?

[MFS62]

If they were going to show him how much they loved him, a video tribute costs less than a new contract.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm not sure how he'll be received. I'd give him polite applause, but I bet there are a lot of fans who feel they owe him a boo for his first-inning exit in his last game as a Met.

[TransMonk]

It will be interesting to see if they do the same for Beltran when the Cardinals visit on June 1st...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Give him a hand and pity that he can't be a part of this thing anymore. Thanks for all the fish.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm not sure how he'll be received. I'd give him polite applause, but I bet there are a lot of fans who feel they owe him a boo for his first-inning exit in his last game as a Met.

I'm sure for each of those, there'll be many more who feel they have to cheer him as a way of sticking it to the organization.

[Ceetar]

TransMonk wrote: It will be interesting to see if they do the same for Beltran when the Cardinals visit on June 1st...

I think they will. I mean, they better. There is a case to be made for retiring his number even, so to not honor him..



Plenty of people are going to the game because Reyes is returning, clearly Reyes is one of the best Mets ever, and clearly he meant a lot to the fans and the team. It has nothing to do with how he left or why he left or how seriously the Mets did or did not persue him.

I'm torn on going. I wasn't going to, then I was.

I kinda think they/we should clap/cheer/Jose until he gets on base for the first time. That's sorta how it went with Piazza, he was cheered until his AB actually mattered (big lead for the first two homers)

[Edgy MD]

It would be pretty funny --- in theory, anyhow --- if a team welcomed back a player by playing a montage of his most embarrassing, disappointing, and disgraceful moments while wearing the uniform.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: It would be pretty funny --- in theory, anyhow --- if a team welcomed back a player by playing a montage of his most embarrassing, disappointing, and disgraceful moments while wearing the uniform.

Falls to close to the 'lolmets' meme for me. But if they want to play a video montage of Chipper Jones errors or striking out in key spots (and yes, there are plenty of those too) that'd be cool. I don't want a Wainwright clip when Beltran returns, but I'd welcome a bases loaded walk clip for Rick Ankiel.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I wouldn't want the Mets to do it.

[Ceetar]

Maybe if Oliver Perez returns?

[ashie62]

BOO GO HOME MOFO!

Slacker Marlin..cant stand Jose

[ashie62]

Show videos of hammy pulls.

Celebrate Beltran too?..you folks are soft.

[nymr83]

The "blooper real" would be extremely classless to do to an ex-met. Would be very funny for chipper though. I wouldn't boo Reyes at all, the fucking team didn't even make an offer so why is it his fault he isn't here?

For Chipper, part of me thinks he deserves polite applause, but I think I'd rather give him some loud boos to remember us by, and some chants of LAAAARRRYYY

[metirish]

I bet if the Mets are still playing good ball Jose gets a good hand, otherwise plenty of boos mixed in....

[ashie62]

Nymr83 wrote: The "blooper real" would be extremely classless to do to an ex-met. Would be very funny for chipper though. I wouldn't boo Reyes at all, the fucking team didn't even make an offer so why is it his fault he isn't here? For Chipper, part of me thinks he deserves polite applause, but I think I'd rather give him some loud boos to remember us by, and some chants of LAAAARRRYYY

Jose was a lazy slacking fuck that stuck it up the fans ass on the last day..

[Ceetar]

Nymr83 wrote: For Chipper, part of me thinks he deserves polite applause, but I think I'd rather give him some loud boos to remember us by, and some chants of LAAAARRRYYY

depends if you're honoring him as a baseball player, or as the thorn in the Mets side and the rivalry (and rivalries make baseball fun)

[ashie62]

Chipper has earned applause.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Nymr83 wrote: ...the fucking team didn't even make an offer so why is it his fault he isn't here?

Well, they did make an overture to him during the 2011 season and he rebuffed them, saying he wanted to try free agency. I don't blame him for that, nor would I boo him for that, but if Jose really wanted to stay, he'd still be here.

[ashie62]

I go on a rant and become Bobby Bonilla..perfect.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Nymr83 wrote: ...the fucking team didn't even make an offer so why is it his fault he isn't here? Well, they did make an overture to him during the 2011 season and he rebuffed them, saying he wanted to try free agency. I don't blame him for that, nor would I boo him for that, but if Jose really wanted to stay, he'd still be here.

It's not like they were dark. Sandy talked to him the day before. It didn't work out, it's business. Pujols didn't stay with the Cardinals either, despite being the most popular person in the entire city and helping them make the playoffs (And make enough money by doing so to basically pay his salary for a year or two)

But I'm not going to cheer for Jose based on his business negotiations. I don't root for the Mets because or in spite of the Wilpons.

[Lefty Specialist]

Jose should get a nice round of applause when he first comes up. If the Mets weren't financial morons he'd probably still be here, regardless of all the ins and outs. One at-bat at the end of the season doesn't wipe out 8 years of excitement.

Now, after that first at-bat, he gets booed like anyone else.

[Edgy MD]

Ashie62 wrote: Nymr83 wrote: The "blooper real" would be extremely classless to do to an ex-met. Would be very funny for chipper though. I wouldn't boo Reyes at all, the fucking team didn't even make an offer so why is it his fault he isn't here? For Chipper, part of me thinks he deserves polite applause, but I think I'd rather give him some loud boos to remember us by, and some chants of LAAAARRRYYY Jose was a lazy slacking fuck that stuck it up the fans ass on the last day..

Ashie on Reyes would make a great compilation book.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jose, by the way, is currently hitting .238 for the Marlins after ten games. 10 hits (3 doubles, 1 triple) in 42 at bats. 4 runs scored, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 3 stolen bases in 5 attempts. His OBP is .289 and his SLG is .357.

[Edgy MD]

And while that may be the illusion of a small sample size, the Marlins have 6-7 years to find out.

[metsmarathon]

Ceetar wrote: There is a case to be made for retiring his number even, so to not honor him..

and... go!

...

i got no problem with giving reyes and beltran a video montage. they were both important parts of the team while htey were here. and while their shared tenure didn't end up the way it was supposed to, they were both key ingredients to a resurgence of metly pride. their own battled with injuries diminished that resurgence, but the greater sins of the era fall on omar and the winpons. when healthy, they each did their part. and i'm certainly not one to fault a player for finding himself injured.

neither left entirely of their own volition. sure, each could have elected to stay here, but would have had to volunteer to do so at a significantly below-market value. and while baseball money is funny munny, its still a lot to ask of a guy to turn down many tens of millions of dollars, especially since they would be asked to stay with a team with a shaky financial base, and no solid promise of a better future.

were the wilpons in better financial straits, they could've made a push to retain each player, surely, and whatever love each player might (or perhaps might not) have for the blue and orange and all its faithful might then have bridged the gap between what a prudent offer was and what they could expect to see on the free market. but the 'pons were in no shape to make that gaping chasm anything less than would cause the daringest of daredevils to reconsider his leap.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

I don't boo opposing players, ever. I cheer for my own.

[seawolf17]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Jose should get a nice round of applause when he first comes up. If the Mets weren't financial morons he'd probably still be here, regardless of all the ins and outs. One at-bat at the end of the season doesn't wipe out 8 years of excitement. Now, after that first at-bat, he gets booed like anyone else.

This.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I have no problem with it. In fact, I think it's classy.

I think the Mets have sort of a tradition of doing this to former players for their first game back in New York -- I seem to remember one using Natalie Merchant's "Kind and Generous" as the highlights played.

Jose and Beltran were big parts of our teams, All-Stars, MVP candidates. They deserve a thank you, and a moment to tip the cap to the applause -- especially Beltran. (Jose had a chance to tip his cap after that last at-bat. I don't think he did, but I'm not sure.)

I'm not saying they get the Piazza treatment, but warm thanks are in order for both. Especially while we are winning.