Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com wrote a lengthy Jose Reyes article about how the Blue Jays shortstop plans to be healthier and more productive and more active on the bases this season. Pretty standard “spring training optimism” stuff, but it includes Reyes’ thoughts about playing on Toronto’s turf and they were pretty interesting:
Reyes missed 69 games, attempted just 21 steals, and perhaps most tellingly hit zero triples after topping double-digit triples in seven of the past eight seasons, including leading his league four times. However, it should also be noted that he essentially matched his career numbers offensively when healthy enough to be in the Blue Jays’ lineup. His bat wasn’t the issue.
The 30-year-old said “it wasn’t good” when asked to describe his experience with the turf, but then also quickly pointed out that despite all of the preseason concerns, his hamstrings never became an issue and the ankle injury happened away from Rogers Centre. ...
“People know that playing on the turf every day is tough,” Reyes said. “But as a player, it is what it is. We have to play in there, so you have to find a way ... so you can stay on the field and adjust to the turf. It’s not in anybody’s mind. Playing on the turf every day is going to beat up your body.”
Reyes missed 69 games, attempted just 21 steals, and perhaps most tellingly hit zero triples after topping double-digit triples in seven of the past eight seasons, including leading his league four times. However, it should also be noted that he essentially matched his career numbers offensively when healthy enough to be in the Blue Jays’ lineup. His bat wasn’t the issue.
