Jose Reyes Batting Title

[maverick14]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/stor...yes-pulled-hit

I don't know about you guys but I didn't like this much. I understand winning the game wouldn't matter as far as wild card standings go but I'm of the belief that the "W" is more important than personal stats. I hope Braun goes out there and goes 3-4, at least, and takes the title tonight.

Any opinions out there on a guy pulling himself out of a game to get a batting title?

[bdeol4]

thats sad

[freddiefreeman5]

Ted Williams didn't even set out his last game in 1941 even though a bad game would have cost him the shot at hitting .400.
Don't you wish Ted Williams was still alive and hear his opinion of this ball player?

[ifirocked]

Being a Mets fan i was a bit disappointed myself. Though i am happy to see a batting title finally come to the Mets.

[gingi79]

The batting title only raises his asking price. Considering how hard it will be to re-sign him anyway you have to wonder what kind of sense this makes?

Fans seem really scorned by this move and find it akin to manipulating the rules. Nothing wrong with it of course just leaves a sour taste.

Perfect example of a contract year season though. He's suddenly the player his potential says he was. Excuse my cynicism if I see a bloated overpayed contract and .240 10 hr 55 rbi injury plagued next 2 seasons......

[OaklandAsFan]

The batting title only raises his asking price. Considering how hard it will be to re-sign him anyway you have to wonder what kind of sense this makes?

Fans seem really scorned by this move and find it akin to manipulating the rules. Nothing wrong with it of course just leaves a sour taste.

Perfect example of a contract year season though. He's suddenly the player his potential says he was. Excuse my cynicism if I see a bloated overpayed contract and .240 10 hr 55 rbi injury plagued next 2 seasons......

Nothing that doesn't happen year in and year out with these guys. Majority of them dog it until their contract year and then blow up.

[Manram]

Ted Williams didn't even set out his last game in 1941 even though a bad game would have cost him the shot at hitting .400.
Don't you wish Ted Williams was still alive and hear his opinion of this ball player?

Were my exact thoughts!!!

[gnishiyama]

I'm sure this has happened plenty times before but this doesn't sit well with me.

I'm sure it will never happen but there should be some sort of requirement by
MLB for a player to play the full game of the final game of the seaon if he's
competing for the batting title, unless

1. he's injured or injures himself during the course of the game
2. gets replaced for strategic purposes that comply with some sort
of rules MLB sets. (i.e. pinch runner, pinch hitter allowed if game is within 3 runs)

Even being a Yankee fan, as a baseball fan I was paying particular
attention because of Kemp's potential Triple Crown run and to me,
Reyes title came "cheap" and sort of takes away from his otherwise
spectacular, albeit injury-shortened season.

As someone else said I would love to of heard what Ted Williams
would say about this.

[coxfan]

The question of going for individual titles, versus helping your team win games, is much larger than just sitting out games for batting titles. I'm old enough to remember the race between Maris and Mantle to break Ruth's HR record in 1961. Near the end of the season, Manager Ralph Houk was asked if he would consider moving Mantle or Maris up in the batting order to give them more chances to hit HR's. He replied that he was sure they'd rather break the record the legitimate way, by batting in their usual spots to help the team, or not break it at all. Of course, the Yankees were actually in a real pennant race with the Tigers.

How many times has a Manager left a pitcher in though he sees he's tiring, just to keep his shot at a no-hitter? Only when the guy nearly blows the game by giving up a big hit, does the reliever come in.

I prefer the idea that individual records should come only as a natural part of helping the team win that game. But I went through many losing Braves' seasons in the "BC" ( before Cox) era. And I recall that Braves' fans focused on individual achievments as a relief from the team's failures to win.

When I saw the Mets' Manager get choked up after the game, I think I sensed what was really going on: The Mets had had a disappointing year, and to get the club's first-ever batting title was emotional compensation.

[gnishiyama]

When I saw the Mets' Manager get choked up after the game, I think I sensed what was really going on: The Mets had had a disappointing year, and to get the club's first-ever batting title was emotional compensation.

That's deep. My heart is heavy for Terry Collins and the Mets.