Reyes moves on to new life with Marlins

JUPITER, Fla.

This is the new Jose Reyes -- so new, in fact, that even his youngest daughter struggled to recognize the suddenly short-haired shortstop.

"He's my daddy?" 3-year-old Joselyn Valentina Reyes asked, according to her father.

Once you work your way past the absent dreadlocks, though, it's the same Jose Reyes who won over the tough Mets fan base with his smile and energy, looking plenty comfortable as he reported for his first day of Marlins camp Thursday. At least, once he found the clubhouse.

Just as important, Reyes insisted that he has moved past the hurt feelings he shared back in December at the winter meetings, when he wondered why the Mets -- his first and only team -- didn't make more of an effort to retain him.

"I can't worry about what happened there," Reyes said. "I need to focus on this team. Whatever happened with the Mets, that's in the past."

The Mets seem to feel the same way. In a crass move, they didn't even allow Reyes' No. 7 to take the spring off, instead giving it to new bench coach Bob Geren.

"I'm not there," Reyes said, grinning. "They can do whatever they want to with number 7."

We know that Reyes can be sensitive, whether you want to point to his free agency, his private anger over Fred Wilpon's critical comments last year or the way he withdrew after a tongue-lashing from Willie Randolph in 2007.

We know this, too, however:

Reyes can't afford to hold on to his anti-Mets sentiment. He has too many other items on his agenda.

The most expensive addition of the Marlins' shopaholic winter, Reyes -- kicking off a six-year, $106-million agreement -- will be counted on as the Marlins' leadoff hitter, emotional leader, Hanley Ramirez appeaser and, naturally, shortstop as they open their new ballpark with considerably heightened expectations.

Oh, and he'll also have to find a way to stay on the field.

"Obviously, any time he's on the bench, he'll be making like $2 million just sitting next to me," first-year Miami manager Ozzie Guillen joked.

Reyes said he "did some things to get my legs stronger" over the offseason, but nothing dramatically different.

Setting the clubhouse tone won't be a problem for Reyes. "The same energy that I had in New York, that's the same energy I'm going to bring here," he said. "I have a lot of energy. I have a lot of passion for the game. I enjoy the game. That's one thing I'm going to bring to this team."

Agreed Guillen: "When you play the game the way he plays it, then it's contagious. He brings a lot of nice things to the ballclub, not just on the field. I think off the field, those guys can see somebody enjoy the game."

Managing Ramirez should prove a time-consuming task for both Guillen and Reyes, as Ramirez's defiance of former manager Fredi Gonzalez resulted in Gonzalez's dismissal. Ramirez tried to project happiness about being shifted from shortstop to third base, but he was no risk to be nominated for an Academy Award.

"It's not bad," Ramirez said. "I feel comfortable. Let's see how I play in the games."

According to Guillen, Reyes told Ramirez, "Just make sure you guard the line. I've got the rest."

Reyes will not be facing his new challenges under the radar. Staying in the National League East ensures constant contact with the Mets, including nine games in Flushing.

"I can't wait to go to Citi Field," Reyes said. "I think it's going to be exciting."

Baseball life with Reyes is rarely boring. It's going to take a lot more than a dramatic haircut to halt our interest in him.