Since Jason Bay became a member of the Mets, his career has taken a bizarre turn for the worse on the baseball field. Bay has lived up to nowhere near the 4-year, $64 million contract that he signed prior to the 2010 season. His offensive statistics have been absolutely brutal in his three seasons thus far. In 42 games this season, Bay is batting an abysmal .156 with 5 home runs and 11 RBI. In his 260 games with the Mets, Bay is hitting .220 with 23 home runs and 115 RBI. In 2009 with the Red Sox, Bay hit .267 with 36 home runs and 119 RBI along with 94 walks and a .384 OBP. The guy had incredible numbers with the Red Sox...playing at Fenway Park.
The Mets brought in Bay hoping to see glimpses of what was seen from Bay in five years in Pittsburgh and his season and a half in Boston. What they got was a guy who has completely lost all confidence and lost all the hitting ability that we saw from the former All Star left fielder. It has been to watch Jason Bay struggle mightily at the plate in his time in New York. Bay came to a ballpark that was a pitcher's park before the fences were moved in prior to this season. That might have been a reason for his lack of success early with the Mets. Then several injuries including multiple concussions forced Bay to miss 67 games in 2010, 39 in 2011, and two months this season. The combination of injuries, the big ballpark, and a loss of confidence seem to have brought Jason Bay to an all time low in his career.
It really is tough to see Jason Bay struggle as he has. Terry Collins has demoted him to a platoon player in left field where he will mostly face left handed pitchers. Bay is a guy you really root for. He comes to the ballpark every day wanting to help the team win. He puts in the effort each and every night. He is a solid defensive player, runs every ball out, and is a great guy in the clubhouse. Right now for the Mets, Jason Bay is a nice guy who can't hit. The problem is nice guys don't help teams win baseball games. Bay is not getting paid $16 million a year to put the effort it and be a good guy. He's getting paid to help the Mets win games with his much needed right handed bat. He has done nothing in the middle of the Mets order for them to continue putting him in the lineup every night.
The smart move for the Mets would be to send a message and just release Jason Bay and essentially eat his contract. Sandy Alderson said Bay's contract is not going anywhere. Terry Collins did the right thing in making him more of a platoon player. Collins also did it with class knowing how hard Bay plays and that the effort is there. The results just are nowhere even near mediocre. The skipper sat down with him and had multiple meetings giving him his chances to show him something. The hits just never came. Bay would have a rare single here and there and an occasional walk, but he just could not get it going this year. That would be it for Bay as an everyday player in a Mets uniform.
The Mets will platoon Bay with Mike Baxter and Jordany Valdespin in left field. Bay will most likely just face left handed hitters for the remainder of the season. His future in New York is unknown. Bay has been a major bust in Mets history, but not the worst. Mets fans were haunted with worse memories than what Bay has brought. The contracts of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo forever haunt Mets fans. Those two names bring nightmares to Mets fans highlighted by the dropped ball in the Bronx and home runs flying out of ballparks. Jason Bay had his chance here with the Mets, but don't expect to see him in a Mets uniform next season. Don't be surprised if Jason Bay is dealt soon this month to the Marlins for Heath Bell and John Buck in a deal that brings the Mets a right hand hitting catcher and a reliever that has upside.
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