Make no mistake. Keith Hernandez cares deeply about this club. Maybe more than he should as a broadcaster. I imagine he may know this, but comfortable in his own skin, Hernandez sunderstand his identity is as a New York Met. This alone distinguishes him from Jose Reyes. Not that Reyes doesn’t care, he’s not yet matured to the point he has the personal investment that has Hernandez.

Hernandez has won in New York and is at the center of the clubs greatests legacies. Reyes, whom along with David Wright, will likely go down as among the Mets greatest everyday players. But, like Wright, has not yet experienced a championship as a Met. If this ever happens, it will cement Reyes’ pride and assure him his place in history. Something that Hernandez has.

In many ways Hernandez is the conscience of the Mets. His abrupt, biting criticisms are not new. Calling out Darryl Strawberry during spring training in the late 80′s and challenging Bobby Valentine’s club in 2002 weren’t about any selfish want on his part. They were about the ballclub, something that Hernandez knows is larger than himself.

Now it is Reyes turn to absorb the critical gaze of Keith Hernandez. It was Reyes’ history of selfishness that prompted Hernandez to say something. Reyes’ constant pouting and temper tantrums have been a ball and chain on what is larger than him – the ballclub. He’s not been effectively been held accountable. Its certain that Willie Randolph probably attempted to but was undermined by enablers outside the clubhouse.

Hernandez is more than a broadcaster. He’s a club icon. When criticism comes from a club icon – like a Cal Ripken or Brooks Robinson for the Orioles – its peer pressure at its greatest. Its understandable that Reyes would reject the criticism, but a public rebuke like this will leave him with a lasting memory. Men who played the game before him are watching.

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