Jose Reyes: Mets All Time Stolen Base & Triples Leader (Part One: 2003 - 2006)

Jose Bernabe Reyes was born on June 11, 1983, in the Dominican Republic. 

The six foot, switch hitter was super-fast, very quick & a very agile ball player. He became one of the best base stealers of his era & the best in Mets history. 

Reyes speed & agility made him the perfect leadoff hitter. He was also one of the best triples hitters of his day. 

Reyes will forever be remembered for his headfirst slides into all bases before everyone started doing it. 

Reyes was originally spotted at a tryout in the Dominican Republic. At first, they Mets were afraid of his small, thin frame, but luckily gave signed him anyway. Instead of going to the Dominican Academy, which was the usual case with young Dominican players, Reyes went right to A ball Kingsport, in the rookie league.

By 2002 he went from the St. Lucie Mets to AA Binghamton batting .288 overall. In 2002 he was
named All Star in the MLB Futures games, and the organization was highly promoting Jose as the short stop of the Future. Reyes won the Mets Minor League Player of the Year Award twice. 

After the 2002 season, the Mets had traded short stop Rey Ordonez away, but signed Rey Sanchez as they wanted Reyes to develop more in the minor leagues.

In 2003 Reyes began the year at AAA Norfolk, after 42 games he was batting .269 with 26 stolen bases. 

At the big-league level, the 2003 Mets were terrible, things fell apart for manager Art Howe with little talent. Also, Rey Sanchez got involved in a highly controversial locker room hair cut during a game & his days were numbered. The Mets figured why not give Reyes his chance.

MLB Debut: On June 10, 2003, one day before his 20th birthday, Jose Reyes made his MLB debut in a game at Arlington Texas with the Rangers. Reyes batted ninth & played short stop. In his first career at bat, Reyes collected a hit off John Thompson. He then scored his first career run on Roger Cedeno’s double. 

Reyes went 2-2 that day with a double, as a new Mets era had begun.

Five RBI Game & Grand Slam: On June 15th, Reyes hit his first HR, it was a grand slam off the Angels Jarrrod Washburn in an 8-0 Steve Trachsel one hit shutout in Anaheim. Reyes collected another RBI later in the game giving him a season high five RBI Game.

On June 25th, he collected three RBIs in a 6-3 win over the Marlins at Shea Stadium. On July 1st.
he collected another three RBIs in a 7-6 win over the Expos, highlighted by Tony Clark's Walk off single. Reyes would have two more games during the season where he drove in three runs both coming in Atlanta.

Multi HR Game: On July 28th, Reyes hit HRs off the Braves Mike Hampton & Trey Hodges driving in all three runs in a 3-1 win over the Braves in Atlanta. The HRs came from both sides of the plate, making him the youngest player to do it & the first rookie to do it since 1988. Al Leiter collected his 13th win that evening.

From July 30th to August 18th, he had a 17-game hit streak, which was the best by a rookie all season. It was second best by a Mets rookie, since Mike Vails 23 game hit streak in 1975. Reyes also set a Mets rookie record with 39 hits in the month of August, passing Jay Payton's 37 hits in June 2000.

At short stop he went the final 35 games he played in without making an error. 

On September 4th, he sprained his ankle sliding into second base. He went on the DL missing the rest of the season,

Jose Reyes had Mets fans excited about his career & the future of the team.  The speedster stole 13 bases in 16 attempts playing in 69 games.

He batted .307 with 4 HRs 12 doubles 5 triples 47 runs scored & 32 RBIs. Reyes came in eighth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

2004: In the 2004 off season the Mets signed Japanese infield star Kazuo Matsui & decided to move their "short stop of the future" Reyes, over to second base. It ended up that Reyes suffered a hamstring injury & wouldn’t start his season until mid-June. 

This year the Mets also brought up another top prospect & bright young star David Wright. Wright & Reyes would be the new faces of the Mets for the next few years, moving past the Mike Piazza era, with the two youngsters setting many Mets all-time records.

When Reyes joined the club, he hit safely in five of his first seven games. He also hit two HRs in
his first ten games. In his first inter-league subway series game, he stole his first base of the year & also collected an RBI single off Brad Halsey in the 9-3 win.

In July, Reyes had five games where he stole more than one base. But he was struggling with his new fame. With all the expectations on him, he was only hitting .215 by the All-Star break.

The Mets were still in contention but as the season dragged on, injuries & poor play saw them fade far away. Eventually Reyes suffered from back problems &missed over a month of action from mid-August to late September. 

Multi (Three) Stolen Base Game: In the final game of the season, Reyes stole a career high three bases in an 8-1 win over the Expos at Shea Stadium. Reyes stole 16 bases in his final 28 games that season.

By the end of the year, he was back at short stop where he belonged & Kaz Matsui was moved over to second base. On the year Matsui hit better than Reyes, batting .272 while Reyes finished up at .255. The Mets finished fourth at 71-91.

Reyes first full season was nothing like what the fans were hoping for, he played in just 53 games hitting 12 doubles with two triples, two HRs 12 RBIs & 33 runs scored. He walked just five times posting a terrible .271 on base %. He hit well against lefties batting .326 but .258 against righties.  Of course, as expected, when he did get on, he stole bases. He stole 19 bases in 21 attempts. 

At second base he played 43 games (.980 fielding %) & ten games at short (.957%).

2005: By 2005 things were looking up for the Mets, they had a new manager in Willie Randolph & new GM in Omar Minaya.  During the off season they signed Pedro Martinez & Carlos Beltran. There was excitement again at Shea Stadium. 

In the Opening Day loss to the Reds at Cincinnati, Reyes hit two doubles & scored two runs. He would hit safely in nine out of his first ten games, driving in runs in three straight games.

Walk Off Hit: On April 13th, Reyes came to bat in the bottom of the 11th inning, of a scoreless tie with the Astros at Shea. He singled off Dan Wheeler scoring Victor Diaz with the walk off run. 

The next day he tied up the game in the 7th inning with a base hit off former Met John Franco who was ending his career in Astros. 

Multi HR Game: On April 19th, Reyes hit two HR at Citizen’s Bank Park in a 16-4 Mets win
over the Phillies. In the 1st inning, he led off the game with a HR off Vicente Padilla & later hit a solo shot off Gavin Floyd.

In the month of May, Reyes hit an NL best seven triples. He was the first player in 24 years to hit seven triples in a month.

Four Hit- Two Stolen Base Game: On May 2nd, Jose collected four-hits & stole two bases in a 5-4 win over Philadelphia at Shea Stadium.

Multi-Four RBI Game: On May 21st in a 7-1 win at Shea during the subway series games, Reyes collected three hits while driving in a season high four runs against the cross-town rivals. In the 2nd inning he singled off Randy Johnson driving in Kaz Matsui. In the 7th, he sacrificed coring Matsui again. In the 8th inning, Reyes tripled off Buddy Groom driving in David Wright & Eric Valent.

Multi-Triple game: On May 26th, he hit two triples & drove in three runs in a big 12-4 win over the Marlins in South Florida. Jose became the first Mets player to ever have two muti-triples games in the same season. On May 18th he also had hit two triples in a game.

In June as the subway-series moved across town, Reyes drove in a run in each of the three games, with a total of five RBIs in the series as the Mets took two of three. On the season, Jose drove in nine runs in the two subway Series matchups. 

Multi (Three) Stolen Base Games: On June 1st & again on June 23rd, he would collect three stolen bases in a game. He matched that career high again in August.

20 Game Hit Streak: From July 17th to August 7th, Reyes went on a twenty-game hit streak, batting .374 while collecting 34 hits. In that stretch he also stole 11 bases in 13 attempts. From July 17th -23rd he had a least one stolen base in every game. He had ten multi-hit games during the hit streak with a four-hit game against the Dodgers on July 23rd. 

From August 20th-August 24th, Jose hit HRs in three of five games driving in seven runs. On August 24th, he hit a three run HR off the Diamondback's Greg Aquino & drove in four runs in the Mets 18-4 crushing of the d-backs in Arizona. Reyes collected three of the Mets 20 hits in the game, which was highlighted by Rookie Mike Jacobs two HRs.

In the month of September, he hit safely in 19 of 22 games. On October 1st, he became the second Met in team history to steal sixty bases in a season.

Speed- NL Stolen Base& Triples Leader: In September Reyes stole 13 bases in 17 attempts giving him 60 swipes on the season to lead the National League. In a three-game stretch from September 18th-21st, he stole five bases with two steals in two of those games.

In the month he also collected three triples finishing with an NL best 17 triples, four ahead of Florida's Juan Pierre. His 17 triples were second best in a Mets single season behind Lance Johnson's 21 in 1996.

The Mets finished up 83-79 their best record since their 2000 pennant season. Reyes set a Mets record in at bats (696) that year as well as triples. Jose led the team in hits (190) runs scored (99) & games played (161). He hit 24 doubles while posting a .687 OPS. Reyes had 50 multi hit games on the season (10th best in the NL).

His biggest problem was lack of walks, he only drew 27 walks in 696 at bats, while posting a poor .300 on base percentage. Imagine how many steals he could have had if he was on base more.

Defensively he led all short stops in games played (161) was fourth in assists (428) & put outs (236). He turned a career high 105 double plays, posting a .974 fielding %, while making 18 errors (most in the NL).

In the 2005-2006 off season the Mets made some big moves. They scooped up slugger Carlos Delgado, catcher Paul LoDuca & reliever Billy Wagner. There was the most excitement around the club than there had been since the pennant year of 2000. 

2006 NL Eastern Champs Season: At spring training, the club brought in Rickey Henderson to help coach Reyes with his base running skills. 

Reyes began the 2006 season with a bang, just like the rest of the team. In his first eight games, he had four multi-hit games, three muti-RBI games & was batting .333 with three stolen bases. In April he would steal 11 bases in 14 attempts.

Five Hit Game: On May 5th Reyes reached base in his first five plate appearances in a win over the Braves at Shea Stadium. He collected four straight singles, a triple, then an intentional walk the 14-inning win highlighted by David Wright's Walk off double.

NL Player of the Week Awards: In June Reyes had a big month batting .373 with a .420 on base % & 1.038 OPS. He won two straight NL Player of the week awards, from June 12th to June 19th, becoming the first Mets Player to accomplish that feat, since Jesse Orosco in 1983. Reyes bashed out 30 hits in those two weeks, with ten multi-hit games, batting well over .500 raising his season average almost 50 points.

Hitting For the Cycle: On June 21st in a game with the Reds at Shea Stadium, Reyes became the ninth Mets player to hit for the cycle. He led off the bottom of the 1st, with a HR off Joe Mays. In the 3rd he doubled & in the 5th he tripled off Mays as well. In the 8th inning, he completed the cycle with a base hit off Jason Standridge. Unfortunately, the Mets lost the game 6-5.

Professor Reyes:  That season, in between innings at Shea Stadium, a segment called Professor Reyes appeared on the large scoreboard with Jose teaching fans how to speak Spanish. 

Jose-Jose-Jose-Jose: At this point, Jose became one the most popular Mets players, with his enthusiasm, energy & elaborate handshakes. Especially on a first-place winning ball club.

At Shea Stadium, the chants of “Jose-Jose-Jose Jose” could be heard to the tune of “ole-ole-ole- ole”. The chant usually occurred when he came to bat or stole a base. As the Mets were rolling over the National League teams, Reyes smiling face was one of the symbols of the organization.

2006 All Star: That year Reyes was selected to his first All Star Game but did not play due to a slight injury. 

Over the summer he also signed a four-year contract extension locking him in with the Mets through 2011.

In August Reyes had another huge month. He batted .336 hitting seven HRs, with  four triples driving in 26 runs, scoring 41 runs while stealing 12 bases & only getting caught once.

He started out the month driving in runs in six of his first nine games. He would hit safely in 20 of 23 games that month. 

Grand Slam HR: On August 6th, he his second career grand slam HR, coming in the Mets seven run 4th inning, in an 8-1 romp over the Phillies. Reyes grand slam came off Philadelphia's Scott Mathieson & was his 11th HR of the season & he surpassed the 50 RBI mark as well.

Multi HR Game: On August 15th, Reyes had a career best three HR day in Philadelphia driving in all four of the Mets runs in an 11-4 loss. He led off the game with the first of two HRs off Randy Wolf then hit his third in the 8th inning off Brian Sanches. It was the fifth time that season he had hit lead off HRs & the eighth time in his career he had done so, tying him with Tommie Agee & Lenny Dykstra in Mets history.

In September as the Mets prepared for the post season, as they had run away with the division. 

Fastest Man In MLB: That month Jose was officially timed as the fastest man in baseball, running around the bases making it in 14.8 seconds.

On September 6th, Reyes hit the first of two HRs in back-to-back games. This one wet over the fence, leading off the 1st inning off Atlanta's Kyle Davis. The Mets beat the Braves 8-0 at Shea, behind an Oliver Perez five hit shutout.

Inside the Park HR: On September 7th, Reyes hit his first career inside the park HR. It came at Shea Stadium, in a 7-0 Tom Glavine win over the Dodgers. In the bottom of the 6th inning, with two men on Reyes lifted a Brad Penny pitch into left field scoring Sean Green & Jose Valentin with Reyes not far behind.

Mets Clinch NL East: On September 18th, after three straight losses the anticipation was over. The Mets clinched their first NL East title in 18 years with a combined 3-0 shutout over Florida, from Steve Trachsel (6.1) innings, Guillermo Mota, Aaron Heilman & Billy Wagner. Jose Valentin hit two HRs & drove in all three Mets runs. Reyes collected two hits in the game & was batting .299.

On September 24th, he stole his 60th base of the season, becoming the first Mets player to steal 60 or more bases in back-to-back seasons. That week he stole seven bases in a seven-game span.

League Leader: Jose finished the year leading the league in stolen bases (64) & triples (17) for
the second straight season. 

He had career highs in Runs scored (122)- fourth most in the NL- HRs (19) RBIs (81) & batting average (.300). His patience at the plate improved as he doubled his walks from the previous year to 53 & increased his on base percentage to .354%. He also improved to a .841 OPS.

At short he posted a .971% making 17 errors in 583 chances, playing in 149 games there. Reyes came in 7th in the MVP voting, while also winning a Silver Slugger Award.

2006 Post Season NLDS: In his first postseason Series, Reyes struggled in the NLDS Mets sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reyes batted just .167 (2-12) with three hits, three walks, two RBIs & a stolen base. 

In the Mets Game #1 win at Shea Stadium, Jose went 0-4 drawing a walk un the 7th inning. He stole second & scored on Carlos Delgado's base hit breaking the 4-4 tie. 

In Game #2 he brought in the game's
first run, when he grounded out, scoring Endy Chavez. 

In the 6th inning, his single scored Jose Valentin putting the Mets up 4-0, in the 4-1 victory. 

In the final Game #3 of the Mets three game sweep, Reyes came to bat in the 6th inning, with the Mets down 5-4. He singled off Jonathan Broxton, scoring Sean Green to tie up the game. Paul LoDuca & Carlos Beltran followed with hits, with Reyes scoring putting the Mets ahead for good.

2006 NLCS: In the NLCS loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Reyes went 9 for 32 (.281). His nine hits tied a Mets NLCS record (Darryl Strawberry & Lenny Dykstra both had 12 hits in the 1988 NLCS).

In Game #1 at Shea Stadium, he went hitless in four at bats, as the Mets went on to a 2-0 win behind Tom Glavine.

In the Game #2 loss, Reyes had a three-hit game. He led off for the Mets with a double & scored on Carlos Delgado's three run HR.  In the bottom of the 2nd, he singled off Chris Carpenter scoring Endy Chavez, putting the Mets up 4-2. He later walked & collected another single in the 8th inning.

In the Game #3 loss in St. Louis, Jose collected one of the three measly hits off Jeff Suppan with a triple in the 5-0 loss. 

In Game #4 the Mets rebounded for a 12-5 win. In the top of the 6th, Reyes had a lead off base hit & then scored on Carlos Delgado's ground rule double as he went 1-6.

The Mets lost the crucial Game #5 in St. Louis, to fall behind three games to two in the series. Reyes had one hit in the game & struck out twice, including a game ending strikeout to Adam Wainwright.

It was do or die for the Mets, back in New York at Shea Stadium for Game #6. Reyes set the tone leading off the Mets 1st inning with a HR, off Cardinal ace, Chris Carpenter. The HR excited the Mets fans (in which centerfieldmaz was in attendance) to a high energy level they would keep throughout the whole game.

Trivia: Reyes became the third Mets played to lead off a post season game with a HR. (tommie Agee 1969- Wayne Garrett 1973- Len Dykstra 1986).

In the 5th inning, Reyes singled off Carpenter for his second hit. In the bottom of the 7th, he
collected his third hit of the game with a base hit off former Met, Braden Looper. He then then scored on Paul LoDuca's RBI single.

Although the Mets forced a Game Seven, they lost it 3-1 & went home shocked & disappointed. Jose went hitless 0-5 in the game.

2006 Japan Tour: In the off season he joined teammates, David Wright & John Maine in going to Japan to play in the MLB Japan All Star series. In Game #% of that series, he hit a walk off series winning HR.