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Saturday, June 20, 2009

A Bay State of Mind



by Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News

During Friday night’s 8-2 loss to the Braves, Jason Bay went 2-3 with a double, and belted his team leading 18th home run over the Green Monster.

The Rest of the Sox lineup went 0-26 with 10 strikeouts.

Just a small example of exactly what Jason Bay has meant to this Boston team so far this season.

There will never be another Manny Ramirez in Boston. That much is for certain. A .330 average with 40 home runs and 150 RBI are tough to replace.

But two and a half months into the season, Jason Bay continues to put on his best Manny impression, and I’ve got to say, I’m liking it.

Especially because he’s leaving out the part where he drops a fly ball one in every five tries, pushes over a 60-year old man and destroys the clubhouse from the inside out.

Because as great as Manny was, those are certainly things I could have done without.

So who is this Canadian man of mystery anyway? It’s about time we got to know this pasty white left fielder that is single-handedly responsible for the Red Sox 40-27 first place record right now.

There’s a lot we do and don’t know about Mr. Bay – so let’s settle that score right now.

What you do know: Bay was traded to the Red Sox from the Pittsburgh Pirates in last July in exchange for Manny Ramirez (Dodgers), Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss.

What you don’t know: Bay has now played for five Major League organizations including the Sox. He was drafted by the Expos, traded to the Mets, made his Major League debut with the Padres, was sent to Pittsburgh, and now makes his home with the Red Sox. He’s also no stranger to the Boston area, playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Anglers back in 1999. Current Sox third baseman Mike Lowell also played for the Anglers back in ’93, as well as Oriole second baseman Brian Roberts (’98), Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun (’00), Tampa third baseman Evan Longoria (’05), and ex-Houston great Jeff Bagwell (’88).

What you do know: Jason Bay is a severe defensive upgrade over Manny Ramirez no matter what anyone says. Ramirez may have had a quick release and an above average ability to play the Green Monster, but he was a liability in the field, and Bay has been anything but.

What you don’t know: During his entire career, Bay has been an above average fielder. He has a career fielding percentage of .987, and he is currently in the top-five in the MLB in outfield assists with six (leads all left fielders). Bay has only committed 19 errors in left field during his entire Major League career, spanning over 6,850 innings (806 games). In Ramirez’s first 803 games in the Major Leagues, he made 36 errors – nearly twice as many. Bay is still yet to make an error in 2009.

What you do know: Jason isn’t exactly used to the limelight of baseball – Pittsburgh’s not the biggest major market for the sport.

What you don’t know: It is true that Pittsburgh may not have been the biggest arena in the world to play baseball. But Bay is no stranger to the big stage. He actually competed in the 1990 Little League World Series, representing Canada. Despite a Semifinal loss to eventual Champion, Taiwan, it is still unclear whether or not one appearance in the Little League World Series netted Bay more publicity than four and a half seasons with the Pirates.

What you do know: Bay leads the AL in RBI right now (second in Majors), and has been much more than anybody could have expected from the left field position.

What you don’t know: Bay is actually right on pace with everything he’s ever done in his Major League career, with the exception of RBI, taking into consideration the team he used to play for. In every year since 2004, his rookie year, Bay has hit between 20-35 home runs, and has always posted an average above .280 (with the exception of 2007). Though he may post a slight career high in home runs (around 35-40), these numbers are very typical of Mr. Bay. Get used to this type of production folks. This is just Jason being Jason.

What you do know: With that said about his power production so far this year, Jason Bay has lived up to the hype of having a very Fenway-friendly swing.

What you don’t know: True, but Bay has had a very homer-friendly swing his entire career. Bay ranks first All-Time for home runs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh with 61, and is fourth on the All-Time list for home runs hit by a Canadian born athlete with 166 to date.


What you do know: Jason Bay has been a horse for the Sox this season, only sitting out one game of the teams 67 so far in 2009.

What you don’t know: Again, typical Jason Bay ladies and gentlemen. The man has been a gamer his entire career, and barring any lengthy stay on the disabled list this year (knock on wood) it appears Bay will total 155 games in ’09 (of a possible 162). If he does, it will be the fourth time he’s done that in five Major League seasons. Wondering how many times Manny has done it in his 16-year career? None.

And lastly…

What you do know: Jason might be on pace for the Red Sox second MVP Award in as many years.

What you don’t know: It wouldn’t be his first piece of hardware. Bay received the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2004, along with the batting title in Class-A Clinton ('01). I’m sure he wouldn’t mind adding another trophy to the shelf though.


The bottom line is that Jason Bay continues to surprise and please Bostonians left and right, whether it be with his bat, his glove, or his hustle – because lord knows those last two are things we haven’t had in left field for quite some time.

So far in 66 games this season, Bay has posted a solid .283 average accompanied by 18 home runs, and an eye-popping 65 RBI – good for second in all of baseball. That type of production is welcomed by open arms in Boston, especially considering the gargantuan Sasquatch-esque space-shoes he has to fill at the plate.

It would be naïve of us to expect Bay to replace Manny. But he sure has done his absolute best. Number 44 has done everything that the Red Sox have asked for him, including carrying the organization on his back for the months of April and May. And looking back on that Manny trade, it appears the Sox have gotten the better of the deal after all. Manny isn’t exactly helping out the Dodgers at the moment…

Bay was on a tear early in the season. But the recent emergence of Kevin Youkilis in the middle of the order, and the (re)emergence of David Ortiz have allowed Bay to relax a little, and an inevitable cool off (if you could call it that) has taken place. But mark my words, you’ll hear more from Jason Bay before 2009 is over.

And in a big way. I can promise you that.

I’m not a fortune teller, nor do I claim to be. But while it’s raining all hell outside and weathermen are making forecasts left and right, most of which are completely wrong, I might as well throw one of my own out there as well.

Chance of Jason Bay bringing home the 2009 MVP Trophy?

100%. And that’s a money back guarantee.

1 comment:

  1. If he doesn't win the AL MVP, absolutely the Sox MVP for sure. When he hits, we win. Simple as that. Manny who?

    ReplyDelete