Old School vs New School

[xdrx]

In the Mets finale this afternoon Jose Reyes (battling Ryan Braun for a batting title) took himself out of the game after leading off with a bunt single.

From espn.com:

Reyes, in the lead for the National League batting crown, delivered a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the first inning of the Mets' 3-0 win over the Reds. He then was pulled as New York Mets manager Terry Collins adhered to the shortstop's request to be removed if he singled.

I immediately thought of what The Splendid Splinter did when he was pursuing .400 so many years ago. So did espn:

The decision to pull Reyes comes on the 70th anniversary of Ted Williams deciding to play in a doubleheader on the final day of the regular season in 1941 even though his .39955 average would have been rounded up to .400.

"If I'm going to be a .400 hitter, I'm going to be a .400 hitter all the way," Williams was quoted as saying at the time.

Williams went 6-for-8 in the twin bill to up his average to .406.

I know there are two sides to this, but I find it completely lame when a big leaguer pulls crap like this. Play the damn game. I really hope Braun kills it tonight and wins the crown anyway. Not much chance that Reyes picks up the nickname "Jose Ballgame" any time soon...

[barrysloate]

I wasn't happy with it either, but the Mets have had a simply awful season, and I think it would mean a lot for Reyes to win the franchise's first batting crown. That said, he should have had at least three at bats.

[Leon]

I guess we would have to be in his shoes to know, for sure, what we would do....but I can't imagine, without being in that position, coming out of a game like that. Since I don't really care about very many of today's major league sports, including baseball, it's not a big deal to me..

[barrysloate]

Well Reyes won the batting title. Good for him!

[David W]

Didn't Ted Williams hit a homerun in his final at bat by not playing after his homerun, even though there was a game or 2 left in the Red Sox season?

[xdrx]

Didn't Ted Williams hit a homerun in his final at bat by not playing after his homerun, even though there was a game or 2 left in the Red Sox season?

I had to Google that one.

There is some controversy around it, but per Williams's bio he told his manager before the final game at Fenway (in which he homered in the 8th innning) that it would be his last. He skipped the final three games at NY. Others seem to refute that, saying he decided after the HR to not play again.

Either way, I don't think it compares to what Reyes just did. If Williams chose to leave on a high note it's hard to blame him. 42 years old; last at-bat at Fenway; nothing to play for.

[David W]

Having a little fun with google, it appears Wade Boggs did not play the last 4 games with a questionably pulled muscle to edge Mattingly for the batting title in 86.

Ty Cobb may have sat out a few games to protect batting title leads 100 years or so ago. From this website, I have no idea how credible.

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/bbjcobb.htm

I suspect this has happened more than just this year.

In the NBA, I think David Thompson one year had to score 70 points to win the scoring championship, so teammates were instructed to not shoot.

Pro sports is a stat driven business, and achievements like this pay off with millions.

[howard38]

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[daves_resale_shop]

Coach Collins talked all season long about his players respecting the game, and playing it the right way... I full understand that he has worked hard to earn the trust of his men... but in my opinion, allowing your player to leave early, or leaving a game early (if you are a player) for the sake of padding stats is a shameful act... Win or lose, title or no title... If you set out on the field to play a game, barring injury or illness you should be prepared to finish it...

BTW he probably would have went 4 for 4 and hit the .340 mark...

This won't fly when he is playing for Ozzie Guillen in Florida next season!