3
2012
Jason Bay’s Grand Slam – The Shot Heard ‘Round SNY
An article by 
Jason Bay’s Grand Slam – The Shot Heard ‘Round SNY
It was great to see the Mets complete the sweep of the Miami Marlins after their 5-1 victory on Saturday, but what was with that over-the-top, public display of affection for Jason Bay on SNY afterward?
Did any of you happen to catch that or are you among those that change the channel immediately after the last out of a Mets game is recorded?
Seriously, I thought one of them was going move in on him and give him a big sloppy kiss. I’m glad Bay hit the homer, but for Gary Cohen to call it one of the feel good moments of the season was a bit much…
Even on MetsBlog, I believe I saw four of their last six posts were about Jason Bay this morning – I mean his face is being plastered everywhere… EVERYWHERE…
Are we supposed to forget Jason Bay’s three years of failure all because he hit a home run in an un-meaningful game in September?
I wonder if they will be selling souvenir photos of that Jason Bay Grand Slam in the Mets Club Shop for $149.99 or a replica ticket for that road game for only $79.99.
I guess everyone within the Wilpon realm are all in on it… Jason Bay will be definitely be coming back in 2013 as Sandy Alderson professed in his interview with Mike Francesa last week. Don’t forget I’ve been telling you Bay will be back next season all along… “He still has great value to the team”.
Speaking of SNY, I have a little problem with these post game interviews with Terry Collins or with any of the players in the clubhouse after each game. I remember during the first few years of SNY, the beat writers were the ones who asked the questions, with the great Jay Horwitz being on hand to manage the tempo, point to each writer, and eliminate any confusion or prevent a feeding frenzy.
Gradually this all started to change and Kevin Burkhardt started playing a more expanded role – always asking the first two questions before punting to the beat writers. Eventually, KB began asking most of the questions with maybe one or two at the end for any beat writers who were still around, but usually they would cut right back to the post game show after Kevin is done.
Now don’t get me wrong, I know SNY is Fred Wilpons’ property and if he wants only the people on his payroll directing the conversation, there’s not much anyone can do about it. And I also want to point out that I don’t have a problem with Kevin Burkhardt. It’s just strange how the communication is being so tightly controlled, especially in these last two seasons.
Most of the writers who appear to be shutout are full-fledged members of the BBWAA and have been covering the game at an intimate level for most of their working lives.
They have more insights and are better equipped and experienced and for years have done their jobs well. They also yield great power in the voting process for baseball related awards and the Hall of Fame voting at the end of each season. Why silence them?
Are the Wilpon’s so afraid that their front office, manager or players might be asked the wrong question, that they are now ensuring there will be no silver bullets fired during these interviews by controlling the line of questioning? It seems a bit odd to me and I thought I’d see what you fine folks thought about it.
Another thing…
Does every single play in the game have to be sponsored by someone?
- “That sacrifice bunt was was sponsored by State Farm, the good hands people.”
- “That stolen base was sponsored by Fedex, when it absolutely has to get there.”
- “That home run was sponsored by Con Edison, providing power for all of New York.”
- “The in-game boxscore is sponsored by Xerox, the document company.”
- “That play at the hot corner was brought to you by Cholulah Hot Sauce.”
There are literally dozens more, but you get the picture err I mean the promo… Listening to a Mets game has become like listening to a three hour commercial… God love GKR, but they never shut up for even a second…
I guess I just miss the real sounds of the game… Remember how it used to be in the seventies? Those wonderful sounds of the game…
Sell the team…
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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LOL Joe….
For perspective watch a game on Yes and you will wonder why SNY is leaving all that extra money on the table!
As for Jason Bay, I was one of those…I do feel bad for him AND bad for us for signing him.
I wish the guy well just wish him well someplace else.
ut you may have hit on something here with the SNY heralding of one HR by Bay…
Bay is likely to still be here next year where Wright and Dickey may not (If Joel Sherman gets his way!)
So I’m sure there is some attempt to sell whatever Bay manages to do as see he might be on the way back.
Great article Joe. You’re pointing out issues about the crass over-commercialization and political correctness that have concerned Mets fans. MLB.com inter-inning adverts are relentlessly overdone too. But in regard to your last point, I don’t think the Wilpon-Katz group will ever, ever voluntarily sell the team.
Meh, It’s not like the beat guys are not asking their questions it’s just that that it’s not being televised on SNY. As far as advertising when MLB started having starting lineups and call to the bullpens sponsored nothing surprises me anymore.
Remember they are on the road and most of the reporters get thier stuff in the lockeroom.
It appeared like they caught Terry in the hallway and not in a formal Post game press room which is why there were no other reporters there.
The last time I remember a beat writer ask a question on SNY was when the Mets traded Beltran and someone asked R.A. Dickey about it. I don’t remember the exact quotes, but let’s just say his words were very disparaging and he took a shot at the front office. I haven’t seen a beat reporter make the cut on SNY ever since. So that might have something to do with it.
It was Steve Popper who asked the question. I think he retired or something this year.
Leave them alone Joe. They have a right to squeeze as much revenue as they can out of their network especially with attendance at Citi still falling.
As for the Jason Bay stuff, it’s definitely an affirmation that he will be back. They are trying to rebrand him as a sympathetic figure who we should all rally around regardless of his production. The truth is if Bay was getting paid like Hairston instead of like Bay, they would have cut him months ago which only shows how phony this front of theirs really is.
It’s all about squeezing as much money as you can out of a broadcast.
I remember the days when the outfield walls were just that, an outfield wall, blue, gray, etc but in the last 10 years ownership of all teams will try and squeeze every penny they can out of advertisers and make the captive fan have to listen to it.
I don’t think changing ownership will change that for Mets but your point JoeD about the restriction of after game questions has turned into managing and controlling answers instead of allowing the free exchange of communications, wow, I’m surprised that players Twitter/E Mail accounts are not monitored!
“I wonder if they will be selling souvenir photos of that Jason Bay Grand Slam in the Mets Club Shop for $149.99 or a replica ticket for that road game for only $79.99.”
So true. That is one ridiculous way to make money and they may just try it is the scary part.
Like the article, but the bashing of Bay was a bit much. I mean, how could you not feel glad for him, and the way Cohen reacted was definitely what Mets fans were feeling.. Bay getting a big time hit is definitely a feel good moment even though it’s really the first one of his Mets career, where he should have had many more
What I would like to know is if everyone who got excited did so because of the importance of the hit or the fact it was the last thing they expected to happen and they were just mistaking Shock for Excitement?
Can’t say I agree on the post game questions.
I listen to just about every post game. While KB might sometimes ask the first question, but I hear several of the beat writers still ask questions Often hear Rubin.
That being said, the Wilpons trying to squeeze every dime out of these broadcasts don’t surprise me in the least.
Yes but is that the normal thing you see on the road?
At the end of a series in Miami where most of the beat guys have to catch a flight to StL for the next game?
Most of the beat guys had left for the Airport and filed thier report by the time that interview took place.
Can’t say that I distinguished between road games and home games but I’ll pay a bit more attention from now on.
If that is true for road games then it’s on the beat writers and not ownership, right?
And you all know that’s a stretch for me to say, since I love this ownership so much.
Just pointing out that they were on the road, Probably could have done it in the Marlins Press room (as it’s done in ours at Home) But for the most part it was getaway day and no reason to have a press conference when you had a game to get to the next day.