Reyes batting third

From The Met Wiki

Jerry Manuel first floated the idea of Jose Reyes batting third in Spring Training 2009. At the time it seemed mostly to try to get into Reyes' head that he needed to think more like a number 3 hitter.

"I love the energy that Jose Reyes brings, but I don't always like the anxiety that comes with it. I want to calm that down. He needs to play at jazz time. And he's playing at a hip-hop level. I want him to the best jazz player he can be."

Manuel didn't carry through with the idea in 2009, but in 2010 things changed somewhat, as the Mets found themselves without anybody worthy of the three spot, and with Angel Pagan looking like a decent lead off hitter. Manuel also hoped that Jason Bay would start seeing fastballs with Reyes hitting in front of him.

On April 23, Manuel tried it out. The Mets won that game, and the next six in a row, and Manuel was a genius. And then everything went sour and Manuel was called an idiot.

On May 14, Reyes returned to the leadoff spot. Pagan moved to the three spot, which just showed that the Mets really don't have a number 3 hitter until either Wright stops striking out all the time or Carlos Beltran returns to the team.

Previously written on this page:

Well, it happened, the idea first discussed in Spring Training 2009 was finally implemented on Friday April 23, 2010. Only by this point, it made some sense:

• Angel Pagan looks better for the leadoff spot than David Wright, Jason Bay, or anybody else looks for the 3 spot.
• Manuel thinks Reyes hitting in front of Bay will get Bay more fastballs, or at least mess with pitcher's heads. Ralph Kiner ridiculed this thinking, as did Ron Darling. But maybe it messed with Bay's head, as he had his best days at the plate immediately following the move.

So far everything is wonderful in Metsville following the switch, so Reyes may remain in that spot for a while, perhaps even until Carlos Beltran's return.

Written during Spring Training 2010

(The section below was written in 2009 Spring Training. When Manuel suggested it in 2010, with Beltran out, it made a lot more sense. Then Reyes went down, ending the idea again).

Written during Spring Training 2009

OK, it's cute and all. But I can't figure out any way that it makes sense. You want Castillo leading off, fine, actually makes sense. Castillo is a classic leadoff guy -- takes pitches, gets on base, no power whatsoever. He should hit either first or eighth.

So then you want fit Reyes, Wright, Beltran, and Delgado into the next four slots. Figure Delgado fourth so he's surrounded by guys who hit better righty. So we're slotting the other 3 into slots 2, 3, and 5. Now Reyes, Wright, and Beltran are quite a trio. They all take a decent number of pitches, get on base, are excellent baserunners, and have decent power. (They're also all excellent defensively, but that's irrelevant to this discussion -- I only mention it because I love thinking how great this trio is). Of the three, Reyes has by far the least power. Actually, Wright and Beltran are better hitters according to all criteria. Reyes plays the more difficult defensive position, but that's irrelevant to placement within the lineup. I can see Reyes hitting before Wright & Beltran or after. I can't see any logic whereby you'd put Reyes in the 3 spot, between them.

But I think Jerry Manuel is a clever guy. So the only explanation that makes sense to me is that he's playing motivational games. Talking up Reyes as a number three hitter, trying to get him in that mindset, and downplay the significance of his stolen bases. But I'd be surprised if he actually hits there during the regular season.

Update: Jerry Manuel explained:

"I love the energy that Jose Reyes brings, but I don't always like the anxiety that comes with it. I want to calm that down. He needs to play at jazz time. And he's playing at a hip-hop level. I want him to the best jazz player he can be."

So that supports the idea that Manuel is playing mind games, and trying to get Reyes to play with more discipline. With Reyes IMO the base stealing and hyperactivity is in some ways a distraction from his true value. This is a great defensive shortstop who is also a very good hitter. I talk about how mature David Wright and Daniel Murphy always seemed from day one. Reyes, for better and for worse, still plays the game with the excitement of a little kid. It's a lot of fun to watch and in many ways I'd hate to see that go away. And he made tremendous progress in plate discipline starting in 2006. But maybe batting third during some spring training games will help him grow into the player he needs to become.