11
2011
Why Is Bay In Todays Lineup?
Minus the large contract, what reason does Jason Bay have to be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Pirates. From a platoon standpoint, Bay should be on the bench for Lucas Duda who mashes righties and has been crushing in Triple A. From a production standpoint, Bay hasn’t manufactured much in terms of extra base hits, or solid contact for that matter. So why?
Terry Collins said he was going to give Jason Bay a few days off, but why not bring him in against a lefty starter? James McDonald is a hard-throwing right hander with a fairly good breaking ball. Lucas Duda was called up for a reason, and that reason seems to be to hit at the big league level and provide some power, which Jason Bay hasn’t done.
Now, should Bay be benched for the better part of the next week? No, but unless an obvious change in his approach is seen, it doesn’t seem smart to trot him out there. The Mets have been floating without any Bay production and sinking when he tops a ball to third or strikes out on a breaking ball away
About the Author: Sean Kenny
Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny
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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 |
Last updated: 06/18/2013
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it’s gonna be like ollie and luis,having him in the lineup prevents us from having our best chance to win.it’s too bad cause i like bay,but he has shown nothing as a met.i’m for putting the best lineup forward, this will be a problem all year.
Especially when they bench Murphy, our hottest hitter, so that Bay can get his useless ass in the line-up.
I would agree that this is not the guy he is likely to break out against. Not sure though who else the Pirates will be starting this series, but if a lefty is on tap tomorrow, that would make more sense.
but the short answer, the only reason he is starting again (hell, the only reason he is even on the team) is they owe him a ton more money, for 2 seasons after this one, and they are hoping like hell he can find something (even just enough to get traded).
quite possible though if he still looks like crap the next couple of days, another step will be taken. My guess, on the DL with the balky calf issue he has been playing through! At this point, he seems to need that 2 week vacation to clear his head and work on the problems in private.
If Bay is in the lineup, it wasn’t because Terry Collins put winning first. If Collins really wanted to win today, Bay would still have his ass on the bench where it belongs!!!
This guys has a much better history as a player then Perez and Castillo combined so that’s not an accurate analogy.
This guy plays the field well, runs the bases well and frankly knows the game. I think, as a professional, he has earned the right to be given another chance.
I trust Collins and know he’ll pull him if it doesn’t work.
yes the analogy isn’t entirely accurate. i was saying they are similar in that he is taking up a spot that someone else could be filling,just because he’s making an assload of money. i like bay,but he certainly is NOT giving us our best chance to win right now.how long do you continue to use an unproductive hitter, when someone else could probably doing a lot more right now. it’s all really unfortunate cause bay is a good guy,not like ollie and luis ,but the results are still the same.i hope he can somehow pull it together, but he just looks lost out there.
What do expect Collins to do just let him rot on the bench? We have $60 million invested in him? Hell if your 2011 Escalade breaks down on the road do you just leave it there and pick up a new car, or do you take it to the repair shop and get if fixed? Send him to the minors for a week, let him play everyday and get 20-30 at-bats.
It’s unfortunate to see a player’s skills deteriorate as quickly and as drastically as they have for Jason Bay. I can’t think of another instance where a Met player declined so quickly before. Foster and Bonilla never gave us what we expected, but they were still productive and gave the team at least some value, but what Bay has done since becoming a Met as been detrimental to the team. Unfortunately, this phase Bay is going through goes far beyond a glitch in his swing, bat speed, pitch recognition, and overall approach. In fact it’s all those things put together and more. This snit something that will correct itself by sitting out a couple of games. The Mets need to go to a Plan C whatever that plan may be.
Because its hard to start hitting again while sitting on ass. I don’t like having him in the lineup and like most would like to see him try and find it in the minors where he can’t do damage to this team, but that won’t happen.
Paul O’Niel said Howard Johnson disagreed with sitting Bay in Pittsburgh because he had some good seasons there and he agreed. I agree with that type of thinking in this case too, it’s Pitt so put him in the linuep
Jason Bay is gonna play so I don’t understand this post at all.
Am I right or wrong in thinking that Bay had a concussion last year. If he did there’s your answer to the situation of his playing or not.
Jason Bay is a mystery. The combination of increased expectations, injuries and apparent skills deterioration seem to point out that the Mets made a huge mistake in signing him.
With all that said, he may be a head case as well, even beyond last year’s concussion.
Given what he is being paid, the team may have to play him and hope for the best. That said, the comment above by “any” suggesting that Bay go on the DL due to a calf injury might be a good idea at this point. Out of sight, out of mind. Of course, the Bay situation points out the risks in free agent signings for large contracts. If the Mets financial situation improves, fans have to hope that Alderson and Co. will do a better job of free agent signings than their predecessors.