The re-emergence and electrifying dominance of Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes has energized the otherwise disappointing New York Mets in what may be his final season with the team. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The New York Mets lost this evening to rival Atlanta on a balk in the tenth inning after closer Francisco Rodriguez blew a two-run lead in the ninth. The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for a team trying to get back into the NL East race, but their depression should be temporary. After all, they have won eight of their past 12 games, and boast the hottest hitter in the major leagues.

That would be one Jose Reyes, their 28-year-old shortstop and leadoff hitter. A calf injury shortened his 2009 to just 36 games, and he wasn’t his usual self in 2010, oft-injured and inconsistent. That’s all in the past now. In 2011, during the final year of his contract with the Mets, Reyes has put together by far the best season of his career. He has become the King of New York, the player everyone knew he could be.

In 1960, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Dick Groat was a hitting machine in the opening months, amassing 100 hits in the team’s first 70 games. Reyes just became the second to do so in 51 years. And of course he would be the player to do it. Everything has gone right for the electrifying speedster, doing everything he can to pick up a disheveled team.

In their defeat at the hands of the Braves, the 70th game, he three two hits, his 99th, 100th, and 101st, increasing his MLB-leading batting average to .348. This mark is 45 points better than his previous high, and he is on pace to have a career year across the board statistically. He already has scored 51 runs, good for fourth in the majors, legged out an MLB-best 12 triples, swiped the third-most stolen bases, 23, and is amongst the leaders in OPS (On-Base plus Slugging) at .921, trailing only the game’s top sluggers. And, not to be overlooked, he has only 26 strikeouts in 290 at-bats.

When asked by the New York Daily News’ Mike Lupica if he thought he would ever regain his old form, he said, “I never worried. I knew I was still young and if I could get my legs back I could put it all together. I just wanted to be 100% again. That’s all. My goal was to be 100%. I knew if I was, I could be the same guy that I was.”

He’s been even better than that guy, and the Mets have needed every hit and every stolen base. Relying on him is nothing new, as they have always needed him to be at the top of his game to succeed. From 2005 to 2008, when he scored a run the Mets record was 237-98, a .707 winning percentage. That’s simply incredible.

The team’s success corresponding to his hasn’t carried over to this season, as the Mets are under .500, set back by injuries and the culprit of some underachievement. Yet, that their record is 34-35 is remarkable, considering what has befallen them. Only three regulars who have appeared in 50 or more games are hitting above .234: Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Daniel Murphy. That’s atrocious. And, to make matters worse, their starting rotation is in the middle of the majors statistically, without an intimidating arm on the staff.

Reyes has done his part, filling the seats as the best player in The Big Apple. Trade rumors swirled at the beginning of the season. Signs reading “Don’t trade Reyes” swept and continue to blanket Citi Field. Fans have had reason to protest, and he’s backing them up.

Despite their efforts, this is most likely his last season with the Mets, no matter what. If he isn’t traded, he’s bound to demand a pretty penny on the free-agent market, which the financially hamstrung ownership simply won’t be able to afford. This means fans have to continue to appreciate the talent while he’s within their grasp, and there’s no doubt he will continue to put on a show.