"He's a Marlin now - get over it !"
Oh, and remember how Jose Reyes said he came to the Marlins because“I see the plan that they have, the great young talent that they have there in Miami, and I think it’s a good opportunity to win?” Yeah, no. Samson sort of blew up Reyes’s spot:
“[Reyes] said ‘I really want to play in Miami as long as you pay me $1 more than anyone else… I really want to make the most money I can.’”
from deadspin
There was a lot of outrage from the Mets fan base after Marlins Team President, Dave Samson allegedly uttered the quote that you see above. First off if Samson really did say this ( he has a history of foot in mouth disease), then he should see if Fred is willing to adopt him because that is a quote of Wilponian proportions.
Secondly I feel we Mets fans have to take a collective step back and come to grips that Jose’s loyalty was not to the team in Flushing – but to the all mighty dollar. I personally don’t blame Jose – this is a capitalist society where trying to make as much lucre is paramount and job loyalty is secondary.
I am sure that if the Mets even did send the basic framework of a contract that was close to the one he signed with the Marlins, Jose would still opt to live and play by South Beach. Did Jose feel scorned by the Mets lack of offer ? It is possible, but when you have another team sitting outside your hotel suite at 11:59 ( one minute before Jose is eligible to become a free agent) with every intention to make a hard push to sign you, those feelings of hurt and rejection dissipates rather quickly.
Look I am and will always be a fan of Reyes. He was one of the most dynamic players in Mets history. He was their spark plug and catalyst. But it is time for us to let go.
He is a Marlin now – and it’s time for fans to understand that, and move on. In the long term it is the best way to keep our memories of Jose’s days as a Met as positive as possible.
And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Mets spot starter/middle reliever from ’62-’64, Willard Hunter is 78 (1934).
The New York Mets released outfielder, Gene Woodling on March 8, 1963. In his lone season with the Mets, Woodling played in 81 games and batted .274 with 5 homers and 24 RBIs.
The New York Mets signed free agent reserve first baseman, Brian Daubach on March 8, 2005. Brian appeared in 15 games as a Met, batting .120 with one homer and three RBIs.
Mo Vaughn is all about the Carvel Nutter Butter sundaes !!!
46 comments
trs86
3/8/2012-6:05am at 6:05 am (UTC -4)
Lol of course it was about the money. Can’t blame him for taking it or the Mets for not offering it.
rustyjr
3/8/2012-6:16am at 6:16 am (UTC -4)
Yes I know I am stating the obvious – but the outrage from yesterday was head scratching
darknova306
3/8/2012-6:36am at 6:36 am (UTC -4)
Reyes is a Marlin. End of story. Doesn’t matter how or why, gotta move on. Opening Day can’t come soon enough…
JedSmed
3/8/2012-7:15am at 7:15 am (UTC -4)
Eff Reyes.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
Couldn’t have set it better Jed.
Stickguy
3/8/2012-7:42am at 7:42 am (UTC -4)
of course it was about the money. It is always about the money 1st.
And only the fans are naive enough to think that players are “one of them”. They are more like cats. Sure they seem to love you (when they want something) but if you stop feeding them and the lady down the street puts out some fancy feast, guess what? They are just as happy to love the new owner!
and yes, I know that some players seem to have special bonds but again, they pretty much last until the player fades (and gets boo’d), or a better offer comes in.
I personally think that he wanted to go to Miami (for lifestyle reasons) up front anyway, so the Mets were not in a “meet this” situation but rather a “beat this” one.
I did love the reported comments though. Nice to see another team getting the headlines for off the feet silliness for a change.
and with that, stop talking about him. He is gone, move on people, nothing to see here!
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-8:26am at 8:26 am (UTC -4)
I wanted Reyes resigned as much as any other Met fan but reality is he’s gone. Moving on…..
Had to laugh at this Miami Today article. From what I understand this newspaper has a history of being quite vocal against that stadium deal. Even if some of those comments were taken out of context or spun to a certain degree, I’m sure they’re legit. They paint a picture of an egotistical team president, tooting his own horn on how he got that deal together, despite all the obstacles.
Samson goes further, demonstrating how he’s The great negotiator and tough deal maker by using Reyes as an example and in turn, throwing him right under the bus. Not to mention how he managed to alienate Miami politicians and insult Miami taxpayers while he was patting himself on the back.
If Loria was smart, he’d reel in that little stepson of his….but I’m not sure Loria isn’t any more astute than Samson is.
Reading Rubin’s article on this yesterday, he stated:
‘…the Mets never made him a formal offer. But, according to sources, they made it clear they were willing to guarantee five years — with the deal ultimately rising in value to six years, $100 million if Reyes could stay healthy and a vesting option kicked in.’
So it’s not as if the Mets had absolutely no intention of resigning Reyes. It’s just they had their limit and they weren’t going over it.
Reyes apparently wanted to play in Miami.
He also followed the money. 99% of FAs, given a choice do.
As I said, moving on…..
gategem
3/8/2012-8:41am at 8:41 am (UTC -4)
First and foremost professional athletes play for pay. It’s their career. It’s their livelihood. They’re no different than other performers in other entertainment fields. The academy awards was about millionaires awarding other millionaires gold statues. Hollywood is bottom line oriented and we read about self indulgent millionaire performers all the time. Ballplayers fall into the same category. So I found the arguments and anguish within the fan base over Jose’s leaving via free agency preposterous. No one is to blame and it should no longer be a topic of discussion.
Stick
3/8/2012-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
Like I say, it really is just business. Same thing goes to the people that wail about Sandy being too “cold” or whatnot.
all value decisions.
And glad that MF has support for the side that does believe that the Mets made an “offer” even if it wasn’t on some notorized form. I think the lunatic fringe doesn’t understand how the majority of deal making is done (and it isn’t typing up offer sheets and faxing them back and forth to the league office!)
I also think that Sandy really did want Jose back. Be crazy not to. But, it was up to a certain point. And baseball decisions are made in the context of financial constraints. So yes, saying not to a guaranteed 6/110 deal IS a baseball decision. And one that is largely made by the owners (when they set the budget).
NJstuckinTX
3/8/2012-9:27am at 9:27 am (UTC -4)
Never follow the lunatic fringes, on either side.
The market was small for Reyes, and he got the best deal possible. Good for him.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
One way we can move forward is to stop writing about him
Why is anyone surprised? This is a guy who ran away after his first AB in hopes to get the batting title. He wasn’t trying to get the title because of the achievement he was looking to bolster his resume for the payday. And I have no problem with trying to get the payday, people just need to stop believing that the reason the Mets didn’t get him was because he wasn’t offered a contract.
There will be a collective sigh of relief when he pulls his hammy in May and is out until August again this year.
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
I’m not surprised about Reyes.
I had to laugh though at the entire article and the picture they painted of Samson. On the surface, he sounds like a egotistical tool – and not a smart one at that.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
That article was really bad. If that was Jeff or Sandy, the fanbase would of exploded. Lucky for them most of the Marlins fans probably shrugged it off and went to the beach.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
It’s also probably mostly misquotes and/or fabrication.
Do you really believe Jose said that about ONE DOLLAR?
That’s ridiculous. No way.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
Oh someone had a ax to grind with that piece. I think it’s a mixed bab with that piece. There is a lot of anger towards Samson and the Marlins about how the stadium deal went down, and Samson is known to have a big mouth.
As for Reyes maybe it wasn’t the exact line, but are you surprised that it could be true? If I was him I would say pay up especially to a team like the the Marlins. I would go in there and say, after all the history of me playing against you, you want me, you better be the highest bidder because there is no reason to give you a discount.
As much as I wanted him off the team, I am happy for him and think it will be a great spot for him and his family, especially being only a hour plane ride from the DR.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
I agree Jose wanted the most money, and with most of what you are saying, but the thing about one dollar is just plain kooky.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Can’t get mad at Jose for one second, and also understand the mentality. These guys make more than 99% of the public can even comprehend, and once you make $5 million a year, I imagine it is a hell of a lot easier to understand the difference between getting 8 mil and 10 mil a year.
The $1 thing? Probably exaggeration or nonsense. Come on–Jose was going to make his mind up based on ONE DOLLAR? Nonsense drivel. Either a bad/false translation, simply untrue, a misquote, or just plain nonsense.
Why would he not go to FLA? Despite what the “optimistic” fans say, the Mets never made an offer. NO ONE else made an offer. Hence, ANYTHING the Marlins offered was the most he was going to make, and a deal like they offered for an injury-prone, speed-based player with bad legs was huge. Of course he grabbed it.
Disloyalty? To a broke and desperate team with zero money? Should he have stayed here for 50% market value? IOUs from Fred?
I loved Jose despite his injury issues and his utter collapses down the stretch every time it mattered.
And you know what? If the Mets in fact suck this year, I will be rooting for Jose or Davey or both to make the postseason. Let the Nats and Marlins finish 1st and 2nd.
Jose always hustled, worked hard to come back from injuries, and his only real flaws were inability to produce in the playoff races and also an inherent softness physically. But those 2006–2008 years were wonderful.
Overall, a great Met, and I expect him to thrive with so many others to draw the attention in FLA, from Guillen to Hanley (has Hanley made the FIRST comment about not wanting to play 3rd yet??) to Johnson to Bell.
Jose’s a good person who did what almost every player does. Especially one whose injury history certainly could foreshadow his not having a particularly long career.
It’s high time to move on, and those who say “Eff Reyes” show grow up and get a badly-needed life.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Oh cmon, you didn’t say Eff Reyes when he was dancing?
kingman 26
3/8/2012-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
I absolutely said that it was stupid and I still feel 100% that it gave the out-of-the-race Marlins more desire to beat the Mets’ asses those years; without a doubt.
Yes, I should have included lack of maturity and awareness in his flaws.
But I would have preferred he remain a Met, warts and all.
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
You know, I never did. I didn’t really give it much thought until his dancing and/or handshakes started getting play in the media and comments from the other teams.
I’ll be honest…probably never dawned on me b/c he was a Met. When I thought about it after it was brought to everyone’s attention, I can see how not reserving that ‘little celebration’ to once you were in the dugout could really tick off the other teams.
I still don’t think Jose did any of that to show up the other teams though. Think it’s just part of his personality. Like I said though, I can see how that could be taken the other way.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
Well MF4D, come next fall, if the Marlins are in the WC hunt and we are in last place, and Jose does a dugout dance for a 2nd inning HR, the reality of those dances may finally come home to roost!
Stick
3/8/2012-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
The reality better be Terry telling the pitcher to drill him next Ab too!
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-6:25pm at 6:25 pm (UTC -4)
LOL…. don’t think I’ll care much if it’s done in the dugout. Depends though….if it’s him and Hanley making the fools, I’ll just laugh. But if it’s a whole team type thing done especially when they play the Mets, then yes…..I’ll be looking for a little retribution.
Stick
3/8/2012-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
I thought Jose had soem issues with dogging it at times though?
I do agree that of course they should go where they get the best offer, and frankly, once they hit FA the fans are irrelevant. Just the way the business works.
And I would be fine with your playoff scenario. because to me, if the Mets are making the playoffs, I am rooting for my 2nd favorite team, “anyone but the Phils”.
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
OT:
TRS….I see Bay-boy attacking this blog. What a tool. This is one of the last places left as a Met fan you can actually have a debate about all things baseball w/o being called a moron or insulted with ‘yo Mama’.
He has no clue…..
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
Ya know TRS has been on such a crusade over there, he is bringing it on himself at this point. There is no way to get them to reason, there minds are made up as long as it is opposite to what most believe. It was a lot of fun poking the bear but at this point even when you have them cornered they still refuse to change their minds out of plain stubbornness.
It’s just a waste of time now that the season is gearing up again.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
You sir, are right on the money.
People like Bayonne/Alex/Metsie/etc. are about as likely to change as a dog or a rhino.
TRS lowers himself every day with his participation there.
It’s not just a waste of time, it is giving attention to people who are truly losers. Bayonne is a loser of the highest magnitude.
It is one thing to be very knowledgeable but also be a misogynistic fool; it is one thing to be socially very cool but to be pretty ignorant of the game.
But to be totally ignorant of baseball AND be anti-women AND be a social outcast AND to be that aggressive in pushing everything?
I find it one of the great mysteries on life that you all spend time there.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL nice comment there Kingman. Only the second time i’ve over been there in a couple weeks and went there at the right time i guess.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-2:46pm at 2:46 pm (UTC -4)
HAHA!
Yes, just as one looks at a vile wreck on the highway, I had to go see today’s spewing geyser of moronic drivel!
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-4:26pm at 4:26 pm (UTC -4)
I saw that comment too – LOL.
I also noticed they didn’t address it.
NJstuckinTX
3/8/2012-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
Tried Karbach Hopadillo yesterday. Local Houston microbrewery. Wasn’t too shabby. The IPA wasn’t as bitter as I like (had a subtle sweetness to it). They have a bourbon barrel porter and an IIPA as well I’ll be tryng soon enough.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
Hopadillo is a great name. I’ve tried a couple new things over the last month and most haven’t been all that good.
Grabbed a bottle off Ommegang’s “Adoration” and cracked it open at lunchtime on President’s Day day off. Way too early to drink something like that, it just had way too much going on. So I was a little bummed. Would of been way better later in the day while I was slaving in the kitchen cooking up a stew or something.
darknova306
3/8/2012-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
In all honesty, Adoration is probably better off being aged for a year. With all the spices in it, they come off kinda sharp this young.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
I agree and it was definitely sharp at noon time!
I just don’t have good storage areas. My house is 200 years old, so the basement has a stacked rock foundation and with a dirt floor so after 2 centuries, it’s a little musty down there. I could probably just throw some stuff in a cooler and place it down there. The rest of the house fluctuates in temp too much.Being in NH, there is no need for central AC.
darknova306
3/8/2012-2:49pm at 2:49 pm (UTC -4)
Ah, just get a cheap set of workshop shelves for the basement and you can age all sorts of beer
Aging beers like that is SO worth it. I highly recommend finding a way to make it happen.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
Perfect example I had this summer was Stone’s “Arrogant Bastard Ale – Oaked”. Cracked one open and it tasted like wet wood chips, it was really bad. Left it in the fridge for 3 months and the next one I tried was balanced perfectly.
trs86
3/8/2012-3:34pm at 3:34 pm (UTC -4)
Eh once the season starts I won’t be on there much. if we get more stuff going here because of it then so be it.
SaltyGary
3/8/2012-3:13pm at 3:13 pm (UTC -4)
Paplebon just made this comment: “Phillies fans “tend to know the game a little better” than fans in Boston, who he said were “a little bit more hysterical when it comes to the game of baseball.”
Someone will be changing his tune once he blows a couple saves.
darknova306
3/8/2012-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, talk about burning your bridges. Can’t wait till his first couple of blown saves. Philly fans aren’t going to like his KRod-like tight rope saves in the first place. This could be fun to watch.
Stick
3/8/2012-3:31pm at 3:31 pm (UTC -4)
At this point, Philly (FO, players, and for sure the fans) are so full of themselves it is sickening. They make everything Yankee seem down right humble.
I want them to blow up so bad.
MetsFan4Decades
3/8/2012-4:28pm at 4:28 pm (UTC -4)
Right there with ya, Stick.
And Paps will fit right in with that crew.
I can’t believe these players actually thing one fan base is so basically different than another. All want to win. All will turn on them like a dog if they’re not playing well.
kingman 26
3/8/2012-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I remember how humble all of us Met fans were in the second half of the 1980s…
gategem
3/8/2012-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
Met fans are always properly behaved. ‘-)
gategem
3/8/2012-5:57pm at 5:57 pm (UTC -4)
“They make everything Yankee seem down right humble.”
If you lived in the greater NYC area you wouldn’t make that comment.
stick
3/8/2012-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
Well, I can make it to CBP in a little over 20 minutes, so the Yankees have no impact on me!
Hazmet
3/8/2012-10:37pm at 10:37 pm (UTC -4)
Jose who?
#7 belongs to Kranepool anyway ;p