This Is Un-Third Of!

I'M APPALLED! I cannot even finish reading the article that is prominently displayed on Mets.com. The words begin "Manager wants Reyes at third." Are you kidding me? It almost makes me want Willie Randolph back! (I said almost). Who in their right mind would put Reyes at third!? He is perfectly fine right where he is! This is insanity. Ludicrous. Appalling!

First of all, it doesn't take a genius to know that Reyes is comfortable playing shortstop so the fact that he is going to have to learn a whole new position in a very short amount of time is mind boggling. Didn't the Mets choose not to have Daniel Murphy play second base because "it wasn't the position he grew up playing"? Why would this strategy not be applied to Jose Reyes? Furthermore, Reyes, in the 6 years he has been with the Mets, has turned dozens beyond dozens of double plays. No other player in the game can snag shots up the middle the way Jose Reyes can. A third baseman is protected by the fact that he has the foul line to his right. Reyes does NOT need that protection. You can leave him at shortstop where he is "vulnerable" on both sides (especially with Castillo on one of them) and he will still make the play. He is known to be, not only a great offensive shortstop, but one of the better defensive shortstops in the league.

There are so many more reasons that this has got to be the dumbest thing that I have ever seen contemplated by a big league manager. Thank the L-rd I did not finish that article or I would've blown another casket just reading about the absolute nonsense that Jerry Manuel spews from day to day. Who would replace Reyes at short? Alex Cora? Anderson Hernandez? They don't come close to the production that the speedy Reyes produces. Will David Wright move over? Will he be content in doing so? Wright received his second gold glove at third base in 2008 so that just adds to the insanity. To be frank, the only time I ever want to see Reyes at third is when he is sliding head first into it as he finishes off one of his oh-so-common triples. If he is wearing any sort of glove (other than a batting glove) then he better be about 25 feet to the left of third base if the Mets don't want another short stop to their post season hopes in 2010.

Posted by Eli @ 2:27 pm

Updated @ 2:33 pm: Aha. Just finished the article on Mets.com. I see. Aha.

Updated @ 2:34 pm: WHAT THE HECK?!? JOSE REYES TO BAT THIRD??? What is Jerry Manuel on!? Reyes is one of the most productive lead off hitters of all time and he wants to give Luis Castillo more opportunities? No! Bat Castillo tenth! I will not have this. When Reyes does go ahead and hit that triple, will it be a mere double because some overweight lead off hitter got held up at third? Will Reyes get 50 less at bats a season because he is now in the number three hole? Apparently, not only did Wilpon lose his money, Manuel, undoubtedly, has lost his mind.

...to follow Eli on Twitter, click here lightly. To receive a comical email from this site every so often, click there, okay, here, and enter your email address...