Jose Reyes Does NOT Win Silver Slugger

So let’s see, you lead the league in hitting, so of course you will win the Silver Slugger. Not so for Jose Reyes. Troy Tulowitzki is your 2011 Silver Slugger winner at shortstop in the National League.

While it is disappointing for Mets fans and for Reyes, I think it is the proper choice. Reyes did hit .337, but Tulowitzki hit .302 with 30 home runs and 105 RBIs. Those are great stats for any player, let alone a shortstop. Had Reyes played a full season and hit .350 with 230 hits he might have won, but the time he missed because of injury cost him.

Reyes has company. Miguel Cabrera won the AL batting title and he lost the first base Silver Slugger to Adrian Gonzalez. Cabrera, though, was robbed. Gonzalez had a great year, batting .338 with 27 homers and 117 RBIs. But Cabrera was arguably better — .344, 30 home runs, 105 RBIs. And for those who care about these things, Cabrera’s OPS was better than Gonzalez’s — 1.033 to .957. Gonzalez did tie for league lead in hits with 213, but Cabrera had 197, which is not too shabby.

Anyway, the Mets are shut out in post-season awards, as usual.