Last night marked the much anticipated and much ballyhooed return to New York for former Met shortstop Jose Reyes. I was lucky enough to be one of the 20,192 in attendance for this game, although I seemed to be in the minority of those cheering for Jose. To be honest, the lack of respect for a home grown Met, who was my personal favorite, as well as one of the most exciting players in baseball for nine seasons, was astounding.

Have Met fans become so disheartened and disillusioned that they cannot see when an opportunity arises to pay tribute to a former fan favorite smacks them in the face? An educated baseball fan has no reason to boo Jose Reyes. Baseball is a business. Reyes took the only contract offer that he had on the table, and it happened to be from the rival Marlins. Do I like seeing Jose in a Miami Marlins uniform? Not one bit! It makes a hideous neon jersey even more hideous to see my former favorite player donning it. Do I hope Jose goes hitless against the Mets for the entire six year contract he has in Miami (if he doesn’t get traded in two years)? You betcha’!

But the thing is that I am able to separate those sentiments for the time being and allow myself to delve into the nostalgic past that is Jose Reyes, New York Mets homegrown shortstop. If the booing is an attempt to jeer ownership for their lack of a palatable contract offer made to Reyes, I can understand that reaction, but it is being sent in the wrong direction. It is not fair to place that blame upon Reyes in the form of bombarding him with boos. Perhaps filling the stadium to 42,081 to see Reyes’ return to New York and showering him with adoration and affection would show ownership just what they are missing.