Note: Beltran tells Reyes to be Reyes
Last night, Jose Reyes hit a solo home run.
Following the game, Reyes explained to reporters that Carlos Beltran took him aside before Tuesday’s game and told him to 
be himself, do the hand shakes, have fun, and be Jose Reyes.
Beltran, on his talk with Reyes, as quoted by the New York Post:
“As a teammate, I know, I see when somebody’s not happy and I didn’t think he was happy. I tell him, ‘I want you to be the Reyes that you always have been.’
Since then, Reyes is 6 for 9 with three extra base hits and two runs scored in two games.
Reyes, on his talk with Beltran:
“We talked a lot yesterday. He called me out to the ball park and said, ‘You have to do it the same way it was before, you have to enjoy the game, do your handshakes, because we like you the way you are. So, don’t change it. When you change it, you’re fake. It’s not the real Jose Reyes.’ And I realize that, and I said I’m going to be the old Jose Reyes. So, there’s nothing to worry about and I’m gonna enjoy my game, do the handshakes with every body, and keep everybody smiling in the dugout.”
…thank you, Carlos Beltran…fact is, he’s right…the main reason jose toned it down was so that if he struggles, people cannot blame the dancing…which is a stupid reason…it’s a loser’s mentality…fail…give me a break…instead, it should be: you’re Jose Reyes…win, smile, laugh, etc…don’t even think about failure…and i’m glad jose may once again see the light…he’s unique and should not shy away from that…plus, his success and excitement motivates the team and it motivates the fans and, while some may have been alarmed by the dancing last season, i think we now all realize how important jose’s spirit is to this team…
Following the game, Willie Randolph went in to depth as to why he recently switched up his batting order, hitting Ryan Church second and Luis Castillo eighth, adding:
“I think the key to this whole thing is really Jose. I mean, when he’s on base and swinging the bat, that just fuels everything. So, it’s not so much the moves that I make, it’s basically having a catalyst like Jose getting things started.”
…early in 2006, Julio Franco had a talk with beltran in the dugout encouraging carlos to accept a curtain call, during a time when fans had been booing him…it altered the dynamic between beltran and the fans in a way that can never be overlooked…on Tuesday, beltran talked to reyes, and hopefully it revitalizes reyes in a way that also will not be overlooked…
For more on Reyes and Beltran, read Newsday, the Daily News, Bergen Record and Star-Ledger.
