You Stay Classy, Rob Parker!

Today was supposed to be a day where Mets history was made. Today was the day Jose Reyes would win the batting title, becoming the first Met in the team’s history to win a batting title. Today was a day for celebration after a season of uncertainty, roster overhaul, and personnel changes.

Well, Rob Parker of ESPN had another idea of what today might have actually meant. Parker, who writes more Yankees-based articles than anything, decided to lay a dead horse called “Reyes is no Jeter” and beat it with a blunt object, repeatedly. Basically, Rob believes that by leaving the game after getting a hit in his first at-bat of today’s game, cushioning his lead in the batting race, Reyes cheated Mets fans. Rob, I’ll tell you this… I, a lifelong Mets fan, don’t feel cheated in any way. But lets focus on the real isue at hand, your hypocrisy. Lets go over a few key points in your mash-up of scrabble words:

– “For sure, it was a selfish move. Forget about helping the Mets win a game — it was about Reyes trying to win a batting crown. Fair or not, it was a move his crosstown rival, Derek Jeter, never would have pulled. ”

Really? I seem to remember Jeter pulling out of this season’s All-Star Game (an event that fans vote on) because he was making sure he was good to go after the All-Star Game to… wait for it… make history? Want more fun facts on your ‘boy’, Derek? Deadspin’s got you covered.

– “Instead of competing all the way through, Reyes took the safe, selfish way out. It’s hard to root for guys who do that — even Reyes, who has had a tremendous bounce-back season.”

I guess its safe to say you never been a fan of players like Bernie Williams, who pulled the same “shenanigans” in his pursuit of the 1998 AL batting title (/fabricated, like your past work, Rob). How about Wade Boggs? Remember him? How about Willie Wilson?

– “Instead, at the finish line, Reyes turned on his teammates, and the paying customers. Worse, he turned himself into a chicken.”

You’re joking, right? (see above). First off, the Mets had nothing to player for, unless you consider locking up 4th place in the division something to play for. Second, the Mets had never had a batting champion before Reyes. Now that he’s got a batting title, the chances of him returning to Flushing are slim-to-none. I can only wish that he takes a ‘hometown discount’ and returns, but if the price is too steep, I’m perfectly fine with him taking his talents (and injuries) elsewhere.

I know you’ve been pushing for a Reyes trade all season, and now that he’s a free agent, you must be going through pairs of pants like an Ex-Lax addict. Reyes has nothing to do with Jeter, and Jeter has nothing to do with Reyes. All your ‘headline’ says to me is “My team is better than yours!”. No… really!? I get it. Your ‘team’ wins. Mine doesn’t. Why is that important? Why is that always part of the equation? Different leagues, different ownerships, different systems, different everything. Do us all a favor and stick to basketball, the Yankees, and keep your biased opinions on Reyes out of your articles (if I can even call them articles). Considering you’re a Queens native who grew up super close to the orange and blue, I’m a little curious to know where this “blah blah blah Mets blah blah blah” tone came from…

Oh yeah… and Stay Classy!