Jose Jose No Jose!

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

cooby wrote: bmfc1 wrote: Perhaps another reason that they are starting him at Brooklyn is to lessen the chances of him hearing "HEY WIFE BEATER!" They go to State College, PA after that. They have their own issues. No we don't. Sandusky would never be welcomed back here.

Well, to be fair, the guy who covered for him for several decades is pretty revered, yet.

Anyway... JoseJoseJose was cheered in his first game back for your Cyclones. The comments before the game seemed a little more sincere than the PR-firm-crafted-sounding Twitter missives.

“I need to be a better man,’’ Reyes said. “Be a better husband. Be a better dad for my girls. I got three girls, I need to be an example for them. I’m a human being. I made a terrible mistake. I say so sorry to everybody. I say sorry to my wife, my dad, my mom, to everybody. They know I’m a better person than that. “I paid my suspension to MLB. I went to counseling. I’m going to continue to be going again to counseling, whatever it takes. They will see a man who stands up for his mistake.’’

All the right things. And still... again, I'm of several minds about this.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

They got a talented guy who does things the rest of the club cannot, who desperately needs to re-establish himself for his own good. The upside on this could be considerable.

[bmfc1]

Rubin told us last night that the Mets have an option on Jose for 2017 and would only have to pay him the league minimum.

[Lefty Specialist]

bmfc1 wrote: Rubin told us last night that the Mets have an option on Jose for 2017 and would only have to pay him the league minimum.

That's stunning. If Jose can get his act together that could be an awesome bargain.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't think it's that stunning. The Rockies are still on the hook for 2017, so the same rules apply regarding the Mets only being required to pay the minimum salary. Reyes could have insisted on a one-year deal, which would have allowed him to shop his cheap salary around to other teams for next year, but since the Mets are clearly his preference, I'm not surprised that the Mets were able to leverage him into a two-year agreement.

[Ceetar]

I don't begrudge Reyes his second chance. I don't even really begrudge the Mets for signing him(aggressively promoting him might be a different thing), they're not a PR firm and their reputation and profitability isn't based on good deeds, almost exclusively it's based on winning and Reyes helps them do that a lot more than Eric Campbell, or De Aza has so far or even likely Wilmer Flores or Kelly Johnson.

But ultimately we're profiting because a woman got put in the hospital by her husband. Reyes, despite losing some money, is going from wallowing on the Rockies to a contending team which might even mean he makes MORE money in the end if he has late season or postseason success this year or next.

His wife's likely the only one that loses in this scenario, and that's a problem.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I'm not disappointed in the Mets for signing Jose. Truth is, a guy like Jose will probably have a slightly better chance of being a decent human being going forward if he has the support and the resources of an organization that is invested him, assuming neither the Mets nor Jose mail in those platitudes about remorse and counseling, etc.

But it's not about Jose or the Mets. What I'd like to see is the organization be a very outspoken and generous advocate for domestic violence victims. Not just a leader in baseball, but all of sports, and even beyond. Employing Jose wouldn't look hypocritical if they really went out and backed organizations that provide assistance to victims, and used their own employment practices as a platform to highlight public education and counseling/rehabilitation for abusers.

Sandy sez (bold is mine): "I think we fully understand that there will be differences of opinion about this, that some people will feel strongly and differently," Alderson said. "I think we accept that. We respect that. And all I can say is that both Jose and the organization will be held to a standard going forward that recognizes the seriousness of domestic abuse and a commitment to stand against it."

I don't know what that means exactly, but I hope they go big. Teams do sexual harassment training. They should add an awareness training on domestic violence and anger. Teams give away tacos and Subway sandwiches for home runs. Maybe give sacks of money to organizations that provide domestic violence outreach and support, as well. Have an awareness weekend where the team uses purple-colored bats, or wears a ribbon or a patch, whatever. Just make noise about it and give money to people fighting it. Don't just say words at the press conference.

[Lefty Specialist]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't think it's that stunning. The Rockies are still on the hook for 2017, so the same rules apply regarding the Mets only being required to pay the minimum salary. Reyes could have insisted on a one-year deal, which would have allowed him to shop his cheap salary around to other teams for next year, but since the Mets are clearly his preference, I'm not surprised that the Mets were able to leverage him into a two-year agreement.

Even so, if Reyes can show flashes of the ballplayer he used to be that's a bargain. I'm under no illusions that 2006-era Jose will show up. But even a diminished Jose in this lineup could jump-start things.

[RealityChuck]

I hope by the end of the season, he can stop being the leader on this list.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

But it's not about Jose or the Mets. What I'd like to see is the organization be a very outspoken and generous advocate for domestic violence victims. Not just a leader in baseball, but all of sports, and even beyond. Employing Jose wouldn't look hypocritical if they really went out and backed organizations that provide assistance to victims, and used their own employment practices as a platform to highlight public education and counseling/rehabilitation for abusers.

On one hand, I think this all would be good. On the other, I'm not sure if this is a proper role for a baseball team. Maybe it should focus on playing baseball. It's not always a good thing when groups go outside their lanes. Here are so many important causes. I'm torn.

[Edgy MD]

There are so many important causes, and the Mets have there hands in dozens of them, but when one of them is directly involved in the sins your players have committed, there's something of a greater moral imperative to make that your mission of choice. Because let's face it, there's a lot of red ink when it comes to athletes asserting their alpha man prowess and committing acts of sexual and domestic aggression.

It was an administration or two ago when the hiring took place, but I guess it can be said that the Mets have walked this road before when they brought Wally Backman back into the fold. I certainly can't say to what extent they took the gravity of past accusations against him, or what measures they took to use his employment as an opportunity for advancement, but there's that.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: But it's not about Jose or the Mets. What I'd like to see is the organization be a very outspoken and generous advocate for domestic violence victims. Not just a leader in baseball, but all of sports, and even beyond. Employing Jose wouldn't look hypocritical if they really went out and backed organizations that provide assistance to victims, and used their own employment practices as a platform to highlight public education and counseling/rehabilitation for abusers. On one hand, I think this all would be good. On the other, I'm not sure if this is a proper role for a baseball team. Maybe it should focus on playing baseball. It's not always a good thing when groups go outside their lanes. Here are so many important causes. I'm torn.

The Mets already do outreach for all kinds of shit. I think they could add to that and still manage to focus on baseball playing.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I was just raising the question. A lot of those charities aren't along the lines of making amends for the transgressions of an employee, or to balance hiring those employees. I just don't know how far you go with that.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, there's the Katz Institute for Women's Health, which gets a contribution to Uncle Saul's favorite charity with every Met win. Wonder if he ever transgressed.

[Edgy MD]

My mother is currently a patient and beneficiary of the Katz Womens Hospital at LIJ. All hail Uncle Saul.

[Guest themetfairy]

Best of luck to her!

[Lefty Specialist]

No harm intended, and best of luck with your mom. It just always seemed very self-serving when your name is over the door and you own an entity that donates to you. I'm sure they do good work, it just always struck me as odd.

At least they're not donating to the Wilpon Center for Financial Management.

[Frayed Knot]

And then there's the final question concerning Reyes's return ... whether or not he gets to reclaim his #7
Personally I wouldn't mind Travis giving it up for Jose but only if he, as a catcher with promise, gets to wear #8 thereby taking that number out of its current semi-mothballed state. Honor the former player by giving his number to a worthy successor, not by putting the jersey in cold storage for several decades.

[G-Fafif]

Binghamton, or wherever they're playing, is Jose's next stop after tonight.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Im at the Cyclones game NOW!!! Jose leading off, Gabriel Llanes pitching, Jay Horwitz in the Cyclones dugout. I asked him if he could find Gabe for me. no dice.

[Edgy MD]

Reyes 0-1 with a walk.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

yeah he looked close to terrible tonight. Missed an infield popup in the wind, not fast enough to gather in a hot shot to the hot corner. shallow fly to left, 4 putch walk rhen caught looking. Jay Jabs replaced him at 3rd later and smashed a RBI double.

Cyclones charged with 4 errors but really had 7 if you count Jose's 2 and a grounder to first which should have been an easy force at home but turned into desperate tag out at first after a bobble. There was also a dropped fly to CF that shpuld gave been a DP as the guy at first was running.

Gabe Llanes was a victim of all this shit fielding. He d
pitched better than a guy who gave up 5 runs on 4 singles. Other team ran on him with ease. he is raw like they say.

Other observations: Catcher Dan Rizzie tripled but immediately got caught off the base on a grounder to third. Gene Cone is a taut, wiry LH hitter who hustles a lot. Singled and scored. Freezing cold in the ocean wind and then it started raining. We left in 8th, Clones down 6-2.

[G-Fafif]

To be activated Tuesday, corresponding move TBA. Td'A is graciously handing over 7.

[Edgy MD]

Travis is awful young and important to be on his third enumerator.

Curious to see if José cracks the lineup against the lefty. I might have elected to debut him on the road.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Travis is Filipino. Whether it's Spanish, Americans, or, hell, anyone, really... to a fault, we tend to accommodate.

I'd like to see continued, unforced contrition along with the postgame celebrations. People give thanks to God apropos of nothing all the time... why not thank the people around you for forgiving/supporting you in spite of your acts? It's no less of a non sequitur, really.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mom's basement tastemaker advocates Mets solve the d'Arnaud-Reyes conundrum dramatically.

[Lefty Specialist]

I'd be OK with giving him 8. Carter really only had a few good years with the Mets, and he went into the hall as an Expo (which he should have). It's not like they'd be giving him 31. Ron and Keith might grumble a bit.

They're holding out the number but they haven't really retired it. It's like 24 (except for Kelvin Torve and Rickey Henderson). I mean, Willie Mays was an awesome player, but he wasn't an awesome player for the Mets.

[Frayed Knot]

I'm all for Travis in #8, I said so last week and I'm pretty sure I also said as much back when he first came up.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd like to see Travis in number 8, but a return to 15 would also be nice.

I don't know what the deal is with 8 and the Mets. They didn't retire it when Carter went into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame or the Mets Hall of Fame. They didn't retire it when he got sick. And they didn't retire it when he died. There's really nothing else that could happen that would trigger a retirement of the number, so they might as well take it out of limbo.

[Ceetar]

Since i'm on the retire 15 bandwagon, I'd prefer Travis stay at 7 and Reyes gets like, 79 or something.