EWB Best Season: (9) 2012-13 John Tavares vs. (24) 2011 Jose Reyes

The next matchup in the Empire Writes back best season of the 2010’s tournament features the 9th seeded 2012-13 season of John Tavares vs. the 24th seeded 2011 season of Jose Reyes.

We’ve arrived at the last matchup in the first round the Empire Writes Back best season of the 2010’s season, as (9) 2012-13 John Tavares takes on (24) 2011 Jose Reyes.

We’ll kick off this matchup with the season Reyes had with the New York Mets in 2011.

Reyes had a phenomenal season for the Mets, hitting 7 round-trippers and driving 44 runs with a slash line of .337/.384/.493 in 126 games for the team. That .337 batting average led the National League, infamously bunting for a single on his first at-bat in the final game of the season to beat out Ryan Braun and win the NL batting title.

He also led all of baseball with 16 triples, while amassing 39 stolen bases and recording more walks (43) than strikeouts (41). He would finish with a 6.1 WAR, which would be the best of his career.

Reyes was named to the NL all-star team that year, which would end up being the last of his 4 selections to the mid-summer classic. He also ended up finishing 11th in the NL MVP voting at the end of the season.

That last at-bat of the season is what most people will be reminded of when Reyes’s 2011 season comes to mind, but he had a fantastic year that never should be forgotten.

Speaking of unforgettable seasons, that’s exactly what John Tavares had for the New York Islanders in the 2012-13 season.

Tavares played in all 48 games of the lockout-shortened season that year, putting up 28 goals and 19 assists to total 47 points for the Isles that season. He also averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game (20:46), and 19 of those 28 goals were even strength goals, which led the league.

Tavares was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy at season’s end, but ultimately finished third behind Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. One impressive feat for Tavares this season was that he averaged nearly a point per game, which is typically the mark that forwards strive for as an indication of a great season.

Despite the fact the Tavares was a Hart Trophy finalist, I have to give the win in this matchup to Jose Reyes.

One reason for this is the fact that Tavares played in every game for the Islanders that season, while Reyes only played 126 out of a potential 162 for the Mets. Despite this, Reyes still had an incredible season, and that’s what does it for me here.

Do you agree with me that Reyes should win? Or do you think Tavares should be moving on? Either way, be sure to vote on our Twitter, @empirewritesbck, to decide who advances to the next round.

Be sure to be on the lookout for future matchups in the tournament as well, which are released every morning for the duration of the tournament.

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