(Image Source: New York Mets)
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BY BRAD GALBREATH
ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
One and done. Usually fast and painless. This time, there’s controversy.
The New York Mets’ Jose Reyes pulled himself from Wednesday’s game after he bunt singled in the first inning, ensuring he would win the NL batting title. He’s the first Met to win it. (Video source: MLB.com)
Immediately, baseball purists blew up Twitter. Go figure.
Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson said, “Bush league!!"
Jim Rome said, "Laying down a bunt single and call it a day is weak.”
WITI’s Ted Perry said, “You're the Floyd Mayweather of baseball. #legalbutcheap”
If it's cheap, then other players in baseball history certaily deserve the adjective. SB Nation's Rob Neyer writes:
“As long as the statisticians have been keeping track of batting titles, players have been backing into them. I expected more from my hero, but in the end he behaved exactly as the great majority of his peers have always behaved, and will behave.”
So was Reyes’ move fair or foul? The guys on Around the Horn debate.
“On the 70th anniversary of Ted Williams playing both ends of a double header to hit .406 when he could have sat and stayed at .400, Reyes bunts his way on to try to win a title that we don’t think is a relevant stat at this point, that’s what this is. No, it’s fair, after 161 games, this is all you have to play for, it’s fair." (Video source: ESPN)
But WNYW asks, what if that 162nd game means more than just the last game of the season?
“This could be his last game, you know he’s a free agent next year, so they booed him coming off the field.”
The one guy truly affected by this: Brewers’ Ryan Braun. He said he didn’t mind the Reyes hit. ESPN has that video.
“I think Jose Reyes is one of the best players in the game, one of the most exciting players in the game, and I respect whatever decision he made. I appreciate the fact that left the window open for me.” (Video source: ESPN)
A window that stayed shut. Braun went 0-4 on Wednesday, finishing 5 points behind Reyes. Braun would’ve needed to go 3 for 4 to win the title.
Transcript by Newsy.
