May
31
2011

Rant: Did Jason Bay Really Need A Scheduled Day Off Yesterday?

An article by Dan Valis

I understand that Jason Bay had a scheduled day off yesterday. But with Reyes having to leave for a family emergency how does that not change the plans??? Can someone please explain this to me because I feel like that was a Jerry Manuel move yesterday! That kind of stuff is a huge pet peeve of mine, and here’s why it upsets me.

Reason 1: We are struggling as a team right now to score runs, and due to a family emergency our best player Jose Reyes has to leave the team. Jason Bay had a planned day off scheduled for yesterday, but can someone please explain to me why that was more important then him being out there when we needed him? Jason Bay is probably the last player on this team who needs a day off, since he has been off virtually a full season missing the second half of last year and the beginning of this year. He has also taken a full season off with his bat.

Reason 2: Jason was in the midst of a five game hitting streak. He hit the ball hard twice on Sunday in the win over the Phillies. How does Terry Collins not say to himself, “I know I told Jason he could have a schedule day off, but since he is swinging a hot bat maybe I should play him to hopefully get him going”. That makes sense right? He has been so bad for us; anything that is remotely positive for him does not need to be interrupted for a day off. With all the time off he’s had he should play everyday for the rest of the season.

Reason 3: We have a depleted lineup! How on earth does Jason Bay get a scheduled day off with Wright and Davis on the shelf? If you really need to give him breather, he can have one when they return. He is a presence in the middle of the lineup and he needs to be out there everyday until the reinforcements arrive. Even though we still won, Murphy should not be batting clean up, even though he is hot right now.

I just don’t understand managers sometimes. We won the game without him, but he still should have been out there. Also, once he realized that Reyes had to leave the team, he should have went to Collins and demanded to be in the lineup. Managers just make me so crazy sometimes! Just like why was Willie Harris playing 3rd yesterday? Was it because he bats left, and they were facing a right handed pitcher? Evans should have been at first, Murphy at second, Tejada at short and Turner at 3rd. Harris should not see the starting lineup again for this team.

We are floundering as a team right now, at the crossroads of the season. With so many players out, and going into yesterdays game 4 games under, we need fight back quickly or we could be headed towards 10 under. You don’t get many games against last place teams at home; you need to make up ground when you do. Managers don’t manage by the gut like they used to, everything is so stat driven.

I just had to get that off my chest. Does anyone else agree with me on the Jason Bay day off?

You can follow me on Twitter here, or check out my blog here

About the Author: Dan Valis

I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.

15 Comments + Add Comment

Vinny May 31, 2011 at 4:04 pm

i dont think one should ever complain about a move that didnt matter because the team still won. What if Jason Bay went 0-4 and we potentially lose then people would complain that the manager shouldve gave him a day off.
- vinnie papandrea June 1, 2011 at 10:09 am
  
  GET OVER IT
MetsMan86 May 31, 2011 at 4:05 pm

Just shows you the “difference” Jason Bay makes to this team. Although he is starting to show signs of hitting better, but that can be an effect of “it can’t get any worse.” With this guy locked in for years past this one, he needs to get it going yesterday.
Seligman May 31, 2011 at 4:16 pm

For all of the idiot Mets fans who have been calling Beltran soft for years, I give you Jason Bay aka Mr. Softy.
- t agee May 31, 2011 at 4:44 pm
  
  Ridiculous calling Beltran soft. Bay’s not really soft either, he just isn’t worth his deal. For 5 years we could have had four different guys making minimum and spent the 80 M on pitching. LF is the easiest defensive position, requiring nothing more than average defensive skills. Somewhere their had to be a couple of guys who could 10 HR’s each and hit .275 for you.
  
  These big money deals just constantly kill us.
  - happy little mets fans May 31, 2011 at 6:21 pm
    
    ZZZZZZZ!!! age you are the most boring metsie in the world. everybody with a brain (that means all the people in the world who aren’t metsie fans know it was a bad deal.. ypou arte a pathetic broken and boring record.
- jdon May 31, 2011 at 7:07 pm
  
  Omar’s swan—I mean ugly duckling–song signing for the metsies.
sarge May 31, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Bay’s missing just shortened the lineup, no way Murph should bat 4th plus Harris maybe saw 10 pitches in his at bats cause he did not wk the count as a lead off hitter should at start of game.

Yes I wonder about this move by Terry and also having Gee come out of BP when he had never done that.
Squidoo May 31, 2011 at 5:45 pm

I was willing to give Bay the benefit of the doubt last season because of the concussion, even though he was having a terrible season before it even happened. But now this is bordering on insanity, and asking for a day off is tough to understand. Like you said what was the urgency? Why couldnt it wait until Wright or Reyes came back?
- Dennis Ribant May 31, 2011 at 6:22 pm
  
  Hey bay asked to play and jerry i mean terry sid i gave you the day off you are off. so stop hating on bay when you are clueless.
  - Even Flow May 31, 2011 at 6:39 pm
    
    You’re the only clueless one here.
jdon May 31, 2011 at 7:05 pm

one of the reasons we are struggling as a team is because of Jason Bay. He takes days off whille he is playing, production-wise. Let’s not go looking for something to complain about.
Metsie June 1, 2011 at 1:25 am

Bay didn’t need the day off…WE DID!
lol
- t agee June 1, 2011 at 8:50 am
  
  That is the truth.
gregga June 1, 2011 at 11:58 am

Jason Bay is a bust! You are 100% correct. There’s no way he should have been given a day off, none!

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	42	28	.600	-
Nationals	34	35	.493	7.5
Phillies	34	37	.479	8.5
Mets	25	40	.385	14.5
Marlins	22	47	.319	19.5

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