Feb 25 2007 02:22 PM
If we're going to be putting that goal on anybody, it seems we should put it on Beltran:
Mets: Sky's the limit for Reyes
Sunday, February 25, 2007
By STEVE POPPER
STAFF WRITER
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- It was the first days of camp, before the position players were even due to report, and Willie Randolph had already put the pressure on Jose Reyes, claiming that he believed Reyes could be the best player in baseball.
That notion was seconded by more than one player in the Mets' clubhouse. But if you expected pressure to settle onto the subject of the debate, Jose Reyes came bouncing through the Mets' clubhouse, carrying a dish piled high with salad, animatedly saying, "Healthy food, healthy food," and then singing a reggaeton song.
The expectations, just like the contract he signed last year and the chants of, "Jose, Jose," that follow him even through the Tradition Field complex, don't seem to have any effect on Reyes.
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"I feel good," Reyes said. "I appreciate that. But that doesn't go to my head. I have to worry so much about playing the game, doing my job, giving 100 percent every day. I can't worry about that kind of stuff. Whatever happens, happens."
What has happened already for Reyes is that he has grown in leaps and bounds in his Mets career. Since he signed as a 155-pound 17-year-old, he has endured the early expectations and early struggles. He battled injuries that caused some to wonder if the Mets should cut ties with him. But in 2005 he played 161 games, erasing the doubts about his durability. He followed that with a 153-game campaign last year, and his performance rose to a new level, too.
Now a sturdy 196 pounds, he has added power to his speed, and experience to his raw ability. He finished seventh in the most valuable player balloting, hitting .300 with 122 runs scored, 30 doubles, 17 triples, 19 home runs, 81 RBI and 64 stolen bases. And some of his teammates believe, like Randolph, that Reyes is going to get better.
"I would say that his ability is here," Julio Franco said, putting his hand above his head. Then putting his other hand at chest height, he added, "The man is here. When the man catches up to his abilities, watch. I don't think, I know he is going to be."
"He's got the ability to hit for power, hit for a lot of power," David Wright said. "He's a five-tool player in every sense of the word. I expect him to be an MVP candidate on a yearly basis. I expect him to win numerous gold gloves because he's got that kind of ability. He's got that kind of ability you dream about."
That is coming from a player who was anointed as the Mets' next big thing. Reyes might have gained more MVP consideration if he wasn't splitting votes with Wright and Carlos Beltran, as Wright pointed to an intangible that Reyes has that the others don't possess.
"He's dynamic," Wright said. "We're two pretty different players. He's dynamic in all aspects of the game. He does everything exceptionally well in all aspects of the game. You can't look around baseball and find many more well-versed, five-tool players than Jose. He can absolutely do it all. The scary thing is he gets better and better."
Reyes signed a four-year, $23.25 million contract last year, just days before Wright followed with a six-year, $55 million deal. He drew some criticism for settling, but Reyes was content to gain some security for his family. And he will be 27 when this deal is done, ready for a new deal.
"I'm just 23 years old and when that contract is up I can make a lot more money," he said with a smile. "Now I can concentrate on playing baseball and nothing else. I don't worry about that kind of stuff. A lot of people said to me, 'Why'd you sign that contract?' I'm still young. That's some security for me and my family. And the next one's going to be big."
E-mail: popper@northjersey.com
