Thomas Godoj Thread » ercentage for the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodg

NEW YORK -- Jose Reyes trotted over to third base at the beginning of batting practice, ready to take his grounders during infield drills with the New York Mets.All at once, the four-time All-Star shortstop was in a brand new spot and yet right at home.Reyes rejoined his original team on Tuesday and received a warm welcome back from fans at Citi Field in his first major league game since serving a 59-day domestic violence suspension. Batting leadoff against the Miami Marlins, he quickly doffed his helmet to a cheering crowd -- some fans stood and applauded -- when he stepped to the plate in the first inning.Just called up from the minors, Reyes faked a bunt and whiffed on three pitches against left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, tipping a high fastball into the mitt of catcher Jeff Mathis for strike three.But for the 33-year-old switch-hitter, simply slipping on a Mets uniform felt great.I still dont believe that Im here again. Im happy, Reyes said before the game. Like I said, coming back here, it feels like Im home. I feel comfortable. When I feel comfortable, Im going to perform. Nothing for me now to worry about. I sleep in my own bed. Feels like Im with a family here in New York.Reyes, who still resides nearby on Long Island, acknowledged he wasnt sure what sort of reception he would get in the wake of his domestic violence penalty, though New York fans were very supportive when he began his minor league assignment with Class A Brooklyn on June 26.A fan favorite in Queens for years, he publicly apologized again Tuesday and said people deserve a second chance in life.I know theres going to be some people that are going to hate me, Reyes said. I understand that. I put myself in that situation, like I said before. But (anyone) who knows me from the bottom of their heart, they know that Im not that kind of person.The speedy Reyes played for the Mets from 2003-11 and holds franchise records for stolen bases (370) and triples (99). He has said he always wanted to stay, but New York didnt make much of a push to retain him when he became a free agent.Reyes left after winning the 2011 NL batting crown and signed a $106 million, six-year contract with Miami. He was traded in November 2012 to Toronto and then last July to Colorado, which released him after he completed his domestic violence suspension this year.Major League Baseball imposed the punishment after Reyes got involved in an altercation with his wife in Hawaii last October that initially resulted in a criminal charge, which was later dropped.Many at Citi Field seemed ready to give Reyes his second chance. Even MLB embraced the homecoming narrative by tweeting that Reyes is BACK in Queens with a smiley face emoji and photos of fans with signs supporting the infielder.He was a part of this franchise for so long that the chances of him getting a second chance here are better because of his history here and how much we loved him, said Erica Kastel, 22, from Commack. We are more willing to accept him. Its like hes coming home.Not all fans in the crowd of 29,477 were as forgiving, though.I dont think its appropriate, said Katie Conners, a mother from Islip who attended the game with her young son. I think if somebodys been charged with a domestic violence crime, they should not be rewarded with however much money to play a professional sport.After he was cut by the Rockies, Reyes signed a minor league contract with the Mets to play his way into big league shape and batted a combined .176 (6 for 34) in two games with Brooklyn and nine for Double-A Binghamton.How much he will hit after going so long without facing major league pitching remains to be seen, but Reyes certainly gives the Mets an element of speed theyve been sorely lacking.He started at third base Tuesday night, his first big league appearance anywhere other than the middle infield. Reyes shifted to the hot corner in the minors while preparing to fill in for Mets captain and longtime teammate David Wright, likely out for the season following neck surgery.New York manager Terry Collins said Reyes also will be used to spell shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera occasionally and could even see time in center field soon, an idea that was agreeable to Reyes.Wilmer Flores, productive for the past month while subbing for Wright at third, will move back into the utility infield role New York envisioned for him before the season. He batted cleanup and started at second base Tuesday to give Neil Walker a rest and is expected to spell James Loney at first on Wednesday.Flores will remain a big factor against left-handed pitching, Collins said.To make roster room for Reyes, the Mets optioned infielder Matt Reynolds to Triple-A Las Vegas and transferred Wright to the 60-day disabled list.Back with the Mets for the first time in five years, Reyes wore his familiar No. 7 after Travis dArnaud agreed to give it up. The catcher, an Indianapolis Colts fan who switched to No. 18 in honor of Peyton Manning, said he thought it was the right thing to do because Reyes has much more big league service time and it was important to him.Reyes said he has a surprise gift in store for dArnaud as a thank you, but both players chose to keep the details private for now.Wholesale NFL Jerseys China .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Authentic Jerseys Cheap . 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There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season.PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies got the veteran hitter they wanted.Howie Kendrick was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday for first baseman Darin Ruf and utilityman Darnell Sweeney.Howie Kendrick brings a proven, veteran presence to our young lineup, general manager Matt Klentak said. He is a hard worker, a great teammate and a true professional hitter. In addition, Howies defensive versatility provides significant flexibility to our roster, which should prove to be valuable to our club in 2017.A 2011 AL All-Star, Kendrick hit .255 with 26 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBI, a team-leading 10 stolen bases and a .326 on-base percentage for the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33-year-old Kendrick made 123 starts -- 79 in left field, 23 at second base, 14 at third base and seven at first base -- and made only five errors.Kendrick is a career .289 hitter with 95 homers, 595 RBI, 111 stolen bbases and a .dddddddddddd32 on-base percentage. He is signed to a deal that pays him $10 million next year in the final season of his contract.Kendrick will likely begin the season as the starting left fielder.Ruf hit .205 with three home runs and nine RBI last season. The 30-year-old has a .240 batting average with 35 homers in his career. Ruf never played to his potential after hitting 38 homers at Double-A Reading in 2012 and three more for the Phillies in a brief September call-up that season.Sweeney spent the entire season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He hit .233 with six homers, 35 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Sweeney played second base, third base, shortstop and center field for the Iron Pigs.The Phillies got Sweeney from the Dodgers in a trade for Chase Utley in August 2015. ' ' '