Fansided

Mets: 5 best offensive WAR seasons since 2000

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets connects in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres on August 6, 2008 at Shea Stadium in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: David Wright #5 of the New York Mets connects in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres on August 6, 2008 at Shea Stadium in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 28: Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets connects on a first inning bunt single in his only at bat against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field on September 28, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 28: Jose Reyes #7 of the New York Mets connects on a first inning bunt single in his only at bat against the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field on September 28, 2011 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Jose Reyes, 2011, 6.1 WAR

Reyes was a good, not great, player. But his speed was dominant — he led baseball in stolen bases twice, and the National League three times. The 2011 season was the fourth time he led all of baseball in triples. In all, he was in the top-five in the National League eight times.

In a full season, Reyes had accumulated just one .300 season, back in 2006. Up until the 2011 season, 2006 was his best year.

But this was a contract year for Reyes.

There were signs throughout Citi Field that read “Don’t Trade Reyes.” Looking back, they probably should have gotten whatever they could have. They were 13.5 games behind first place in the division at that trade deadline, and 7.5 games back of the lone Wild Card spot at the time.

But they held onto him.

And in the final game of the 2011 season, Reyes had a chance to win the batting title — it would have been the first time a Met ever won the batting title, despite John Olreud hitting .354 in 1998 and Cleon Jones hitting .340 in 1969 with the Miracle Mets.

And he bunted for a base hit and was taken out.

Everyone knew he was bunting, too. He showed bunt on the first pitch.

He started the at bat to a standing ovation and left with boos. Keith Hernandez openly hated the move.

But hey, he won the batting title to cap off a phenomenal season — the best of his career.

dark. Next. Remembering some of baseball’s most infamous one-year wonders

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