Mike's Mets

I thought I'd do something a little different before the games start again tomorrow. I'm going to knock off some short takes on some different topics.

In yesterday's post I linked to a really egregious example of the sort of intellectually lazy, over-the-top provocative sportswriting that we're starting to see way too much of over the past few years. In this case, CBS SportsLine's Scott Miller accused Jose Reyes of underachieving because "he won't put out to get there."

I got some interesting feedback on what I wrote. In the comments, KVD wrote:

I should let you know that CBS Sportsline's MO is to get a lot of people riled up enough to get posts in the comments section below the article. There isn't a well thought out article on the entire site because of this. You shouldn't take anything they write seriously.

He's right, of course. I usually don't link to this sort of stuff for exactly that reason. Like some of our local talk radio heroes, they're more than happy to be flamed over the drivel they produce as long as you notice them. It's why I don't talk about Wallace Matthews' stuff on this site. I don't even read it anymore, and I seldom read anything by Scott Miller.

For a man of my age, it's somewhat of a tragedy that CBS Sports, which I have associated with class and top-notch coverage my whole life, lends its brand to the garbage that's published on this site. Even more heart-breaking is what's happened to the Sporting News.

Anyway, I guess this article just rubbed me the wrong way enough to link to it and talk about it, which only helps propagate this sort of thing. I'll try to avoid doing that in the future.

I really do get tired, though, of idiots who can accuse a 25-year-old of not living up to his talents when said young man plays one of the most demanding positions on the field while producing offensive numbers that would do a corner OF proud.

Case in point -- in 93 games Reyes has scored 68 runs and drove in 43 from the leadoff spot. He has 23 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs. He is batting .302/.367/.487. To put that in perspective, his slugging percentage is better than all his teammates except for Ryan Church (.512) and David Wright (.499). It's a point less than Prince Fielder's and higher than Mark Teixeira's, Garrett Atkins', and David Ortiz' -- despite the fact that these noted sluggers play their home games in much more favorable hitter's parks.

As a fan, I consider myself lucky to be rooting for a team with two young players in Reyes and David Wright of the sort that don't come down the pike very often -- extraordinary talents still developing before our eyes, each with unique strengths and faults. I guess I'm just tired of douchebags like Miller who can't even be bothered to really know what they're talking about.

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