Reyes Thoughts - Sorry In Advance

i started this as a comment in the hot stove diary but when it started to get over two paragraphs i decided to just make it a diary.  i don't want this to be a 4-seam/2-seam diary or a reyes has lost his stuff thread.

i want to take a look at reyes perception and see if the that is close or far from the truth.

First off, reyes value to the organization. a lot of people seem to think that the cardinals are under the impression that reyes can't help this team.  in particular tony. i think people are confusing tony's dislike of reyes/ryan/drew/etc because of their abilities.  as smart as tony is you cannot tell me he thinks that those kids can't play.  i have always interpreted tony's  actions toward the youngin's as a general dislike for young cocky kids.  he feels that they should have to earn a place at the table.  you can't tell me that in your profession if a young cocky kid came into your office you would greet him with open arms and give him every advantage you could.  no, you would make them earn a spot in the office.  that is the same way Tony thinks right or wrong as it may be.  i bet tony loved that reyes got knocked down a peg or two and now wants to build him back up.

going from memory, in the interviews with Tony after Reyes starts he was pretty defensive of Reyes most of the time.  he would say things like "reyes deserved better than that" when speaking of the run support.  he would say things about reyes pitching well.  he was more critical of the offense then he was reyes.

i would say that the number one reason for reyes' horrible year was the offense!  if he gets 4.68 runs a game in support (as wainer did) he is 5-2 at the end of may.  that is astronomically better than 0-8.  then for the year he is 13-7.  before that last game at phillie he had a 5.69 era.  a pitcher that's 13-6 with a 5.69 era...  that's our bread and butter.  we lived off those kinds of pitchers.  suppan, marqus, mulder...  looper was 12-12 last year with a 4.94 era getting over 5 runs of support a game.  he is guaranteed a spot and thought to have had a decent yeat around here.  if reyes gets those same 5 runs he is 17-1.  now obviously that's a little far fetched.  when was the last time you saw a pitcher with a 6.04 ear go 17-1.  but i think it shows how much the offense hurt reyes last year (he got 3.1 runs in support btw - last for pitchers with over 100 innings).

we all talk about the biggest problem he has is giving up the one big inning.  can't that be fixed?  can't you gameplan with him better so he has more success in those situations?  wouldn't 13-7 be a phenomenal year for his first year?  there is a good pitcher there to build on i believe.

PS - llboros, if you feel this diary is redudant feel free to hide it.