Six Things the Mets Will Miss About Jose Reyes

Mets fans saw it coming.

They knew Jose Reyes was not going to be a Met in 2012. No way. With the dire financial situation that face owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon, Reyes had as much chance of coming back to New York as Ron Paul does in becoming our next President (sorry, congressman Paul, I actually do like you).

It's time to move on. Reyes is a Miami Marlin now and Mets fans have to accept it. It doesn't make them happy, but they have to accept it. It's going to take a while to get used to it, though.

Why did he have to sign with a team within the division, though? Six years, $106 million. I know money talks, but that adds a little salt to the wound.

Why couldn't he have inked a free agent deal with the Angels or Cardinals, for example? They could use an upgrade at shortstop, can't they? It figures that he remains in the NL East.

With spring training just around the corner, let's stop and reflect one last time on the six things that fans of the not-so-Amazins' will miss the most about the 28-year old Dominican Republic dandy....

No. 6: Having a Batting Champion in the Lineup

Keith Hernandez. Cleon Jones. Rusty Staub.

What do these former Mets stars all have in common? They never won a batting title as a member of the Mets.

Reyes did last year, batting .337 to become the first Met to win a batting crown in the team's 50-year history. Think about that.

It's a shame that during Opening Day at Citi Field this season that the Mets can't introduce their first-ever batting champion to the home crowd. It's never happened before and who knows when (if) it will happen again.

No. 5: That Cannon for an Arm

I've been following major league baseball closely for over 40 years now (yes, that means I'm getting old) and Reyes has the best shortstop arm I've seen since Shawon Dunston of the Cubs in the 1980's and '90's.

Dunston had an absolute rocket for an arm, and so does Reyes. I've always wondered what Reyes would register on the radar gun with his fastball if he were ever to take the mound to face a batter or two.

Anyway, how many times have Mets fans seen Reyes glide deep in the hole, turn and fire an absolute bullet to first base and get the runner with something to spare? I'm going to miss seeing that.

Reyes made it look easy; those long throws from deep in the hole or behind second base as he pivoted and turned to first were some of the best defensive gems the Mets have had in recent years.

It was a pure joy to watch.

No. 4: Charisma

Doc Gooden had it. As a player, you either have charisma or you don't, and Jose Reyes had a ton of it in a Mets uniform.

From that wonderful smile to the youthful exuberance he plays the game with, Reyes was a fan favorite almost from the beginning of his Mets career in 2003.

The crowd at Citi Field would get all pumped up when the familiar strains of "Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose" would blare over the loudspeakers when he stepped into the box.

Fans would sing along in joyful bliss. I've seen it in person many times; kids and adults alike really got into it.

Mets fans would sit on the edge of their seats each time Reyes came to bat because there was always the chance of something exciting happening. Quite often, it did. 

No. 3: Triples Galore

The triple. It's one of the most exciting plays in baseball and Reyes was a master at producing them.

Reyes paced the major leagues in triples four times as a Met, including 16 last season despite missing 36 games with a hamstring injury. Those 16 three-baggers tied him with the flyin' Hawaiian, Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies for the major-league lead.

I've seen it several times in person: Reyes smacking a line drive into the right-center field gap and your first thought is "that looks like a triple!"

All the fans rise to their feet as he flies around first base and the outfielder rushes to the ball against the outfield wall. He sprints around second as the relay throw comes in and he dives head-first into third and hugs the bag like he would a baby.

Great stuff. Moments like that will be sorely missed at Citi Field.

No. 2: Speed Demon

Speed. It's an innate ability that Reyes has in abundance. When his hamstrings aren't barking, he's one of the fastest players in the sport.

Reyes is New York's all-time leader in steals with 370, including 39 last season in 126 games. No one on the Mets roster can make up for that dimension (new Met Andres Torres has good speed, but he's not nearly in Reyes' class).

He led the majors in stolen bases twice, including three times in the National League. The Mets will miss that threat on the base paths because of the way he used to disrupt pitchers. He had to be accounted for at all times.

Although hamstring injuries were always an issue, Reyes is still considered to be one of the elite base thieves in all of baseball. Too bad he won't be showcasing those skills in a Mets uniform any more.

No. 1: Leadoff Dynamo

When healthy, I think it's safe to say that Reyes is the best all-around leadoff hitter in baseball. He's no Rickey Henderson, but he's as exciting and dynamic a leadoff hitter as there has been in some time.

The key is staying healthy. Hamstring injuries have forced Reyes to miss 65 games combined over the last two seasons alone. There will always be concern about whether he can stay injury-free over the course of a 162-game campaign.

However, when healthy...wow, what a weapon. Reyes had the best OBP of his career in 2011 (.384) and added 101 runs scored (tied with Joey Votto for fifth in the NL) despite playing in just 126 contests. Add 39 stolen bases, and the Miami Marlins have quite a player as their new table setter.

"He is what we need, " stated second baseman Omar Infante to yahoosports.com. "He's fast and he's a great fielder and he can hit."