Photo Credit: slgckgc
Could it be? Is Jason Bay washed up?
In 2009, Jason Bay was regarded as one of the top premier free agents available in the off-season. The two-time All-Star outfielder, prior to signing a four-year contract worth $66 million dollars with the New York Mets, had played for the Boston Red Sox for two years [08-09]. Boston had acquired Bay via a three-team trade that would send the ever so popular, Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bay played 49 games with the Red Sox in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2009 where the power-hitting left fielder made his name. It seemed like balls were flying out of Fenway Park every time Bay made contact. Of course, the Red Sox had a hitter-friendly ballpark, which always helped. Nonetheless, Bay had a great season batting .267 with 36 homeruns and 119 RBIs. With these numbers, many people knew Jason Bay was going to be heavily recruited in the free agency market, it was just a matter of “how much” and “where?”
New York quickly answered those questions. Desperate for a “big bat” in the lineup, the Mets pounced on Jason Bay and locked him up for the next couple of years. Omar Minaya, who was the general manager at the time, considered this move another great idea for the franchise. Minaya is the same GM that was fired by the Mets in 2010. Go figure.
With everything set and done, New York Mets fans were once again excited for the upcoming season. It was the year where the Mets were going to unveil their new stadium, Citi Field to the fans. The same season where Johan Santana was going to pitch the first game. There was tremendous excitement, heck… it felt like Mike Piazza was back in uniform again. For a quick moment, everyone forgot about the 2007 collapse. It felt so good at the time, at least in the beginning.
Photo Credit: slgckgc
Fast forwarding to now, the start of another MLB season. Nearly, three years down the road after the Jason Bay signing, the Mets have not been able to taste the MLB playoffs. It got even worse.
The Mets were pronounced to be involved with the Madoff scandal, which literally almost annihilated the organization. Star shortstop, Jose Reyes left the team and signed with the Miami Marlins. David Wright hasn’t been the hitter that everyone thought he was going to be and last but not least, Jason Bay has not lived up to expectations.
In review of Jason Bay’s output for the past two years with the Mets, the left fielder had managed to only hit .252 with 18 homeruns and 104 RBIs. Statistics that are definitely concerning, especially since Bay had surpassed every hitting category just in 2009 alone with the Red Sox.
According to the NY Post, if Jason Bay continues to struggle, Bay could lose his job in left field. Bay has gotten off to another rough start in this year’s Spring Training and the Mets management have gone as far as considering a platoon type atmosphere in left field. Jason Bay is expected to receive $16 million dollars in his third year, which makes this situation even more important.
Mets officials have already stated that it’s too early to worry about Jason Bay. After two years of being tremendously unproductive, I beg to differ. Jason Bay might be an All-World character baseball player, but that doesn’t help win games and bring runners home from scoring position. The Mets will need to evaluate this matter closely and make a firm decision so that it doesn’t become a distraction early in the season.
If this lackluster performance continues, should the Mets release Jason Bay or move forward with a platoon type situation in left field?
Sources:
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CDR
Ah the woes of the Mets now this is something we can all talk about and have a smile on our faces!
Team President Sandy Alderson has his work cut out for him this season. At best, I can see them competing in the NL East this year!
Ryan Leaf gets busted for the second time in four days by the cops. WTF! His post NFL career has more highlight reels than anything he achieved over the course of his time with the Chargers.
tophatal …………..
Hey there Alan, easy on my Mets now. hehe With Santana back in full effect, I could see the Mets breaking .500 this year, something I am looking forward to, especially with all the hardships the team has had.
In terms of Leaf, what a disappointment. Easily can be deemed as the worst #1 pick in NFL history. If there was one person that never lived up to the bill, it’s Ryan Leaf with JaMarcus Russell tailing right behind him.
Oh, the Mets. We all know about the woes, the Bernie Madoff deal, the late season collapses. However, the acquisition of Jason Bay is something that happens to many teams as they are lucky enough to grab a top FA; they pick a player not as well-suited to their ballpark. Where in a ballpark like Fenway, Bay flourished, in the vast vast outfield of Citi he has become lost.
I don’t know if it will improve for Bay as a member of the Mets.
Thanks for stopping by Mel. From the looks of everything, the Mets seemed to have gotten the short end of the stick when they acquired Jason Bay. Today, just the first game of the 2012 season, the Mets already lost their center fielder, Andrés Torres due to a strained calf. This news throws the whole “Bay Platoon Project” out of the window.
It’s a bad break with the Torres injury for sure. I still think that if you have a healthy Santana, Wright and Davis things will be at least at the .500 mark by July.
Torres is expected to miss at least a month, therefore a backup will be entered in. I initially thought it was Mike Baxter, but it seems the Mets have already activated Nieuwenhuis prior to tomorrow’s game to play center. Santana definitely will boost the team’s morale. You’re exactly right. D. Wright, Davis, Murphy all need to be healthy. If that happens, the Mets could shock a few people in terms of their overall record.
Nice to see the drama in the Mets clubhouse roll on.
It’s New York Chris, what did you expect? Anyhow, hopefully Bay can erase all the talk and play good for once. That’s asking a lot from a guy that seriously just disappeared from the face of the planet.
Well even if Bay loses his job, at least he’s guaranteed another 16 mill for this season. You’ve gotta love MLB contracts…if your a player that is.
You’re right on that one Jed. MLB protects players no other sports leagues can. Imagine Albert Haynesworth a baseball player? My goodness, you wouldn’t see a mint of hard work from the guy. With guaranteed contracts in the MLB, it sure is fun to be a baseball player.
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