Boos for Bay?

Yesterday, during a Red Sox-Mets exhibition game, Jason Bay was given a reception that was, as he said, "lukewarm."

Red Sox Nation, this is unacceptable. Jason Bay played his heart out every time he set foot on that field for us. He came over in a midseason trade, and picked up where Manny left off - something not too many players could do.

Could the negotiations this winter have gone better? Of course, but that's as much Theo's fault as it is Bay's, and Theo sure isn't getting booed.

As David Wright said, “For everything you brought to that city, they should cheer for you.”

Lest you forget, Jason Bay scored the winning fun in the 2008 ALDS against the Angels.

As much as it pains me to agree with a New Yorker (although the Mets are the lesser of two evils), Wright is correct. We owe Jason Bay more respect than that. Was he a Nomar? No. But he wasn't a Johnny Damon, or a Manny, either, and he was always a class act.

I'm embarrassed about the behavior of you so-called fans down in Florida. Jason Bay gave us all he had, and he deserves better than that.

The Bay Breakup

The Globe (online) has a feature on the front page of their sports page this morning describing the "Worst Sox Breakups." The photo gallery includes players like Johnny Damon, Nomar Garciaparra, Wade Boggs, and, for some inexplicable reason, Jason Bay.

Obviously, I would have liked to keep Jason Bay in Boston, but with all the conversation about his suddenly suspect knees lately, I think the front office made the correct choice. You know the whole story by now: the Sox apparently pulled their 4-year, $60 million deal off the table this summer because of concerns about the left fielders knees, and came back with several offers that contained "medical contingencies." Bay refused those offers, as is his right, and signed with the Mets for 4 years and $66 million, with a club option for a fifth year. Maybe everything didn't work out as planned, but I would hardly call the situation a contentious breakup.

According to this story from WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, posted on Thursday, Bay had several independent physicians examine him, and none found any cause for concern:

"Listen, I could understand the club wanting all these medical contingencies if I had spent any recent time on the DL, but I had no history of being a risk for injuries and I wasn't hurt."

Bay has a valid point, but the Sox medical team saw something, and they've seen things other teams have missed in the past (Hello, Pedro Martinez!). However, unlike most of the other players and coaches in the Globe's gallery, Bay fired no parting shots at the Red Sox, which makes his situation vastly different from, say, Manny Ramirez's. Bay also was diplomatic throughout his year and a half in Boston: though he'd admitted he liked the idea of staying in Boston, he had never promised anything to the fans, a la Johnny Damon.

It seems to me that the Globe might be trying to stir up some drama where none exists. Both Bay and the Red Sox seem ready to move on. The Jason Bay era was short and often sweet: this wasn't a franchise face that was snubbing the Sox, it was a difference in medical opinion, and, if you recall, the Sox medical team was right, and the Mets' wrong, about Martinez a few years back. For now, I stand by the decision to let Jason Bay walk... if he rakes for the next four years without injury (though in cavernous CitiField, that's a BIG "if"), that will be another story.

Bye Bye, Bay

So my last post looks rather silly now, eh?

According to the Boston Globe, Jason Bay is going to the Mets for 4 years and $66 million (pending a physical). I for one will miss the Palest of Them All patrolling left field at Fenway, despite his less than impressive defense. I suspect that come July, if the status quo remains intact, we'll all be wailing for him back (some of you, doubtless, will go further into the past and demand a return to the Manny era).

However, if Theo is truly done making moves for this offseason, and we go into Opening Day with a platoon of Jeremy Hermida and Mike Cameron, so be it: if the offense works out, that's great, and if not? Well, some of those prospects might like the nice sunny skies of San Diego. Or maybe he's saving for a push for another big bat - I don't see Joe Mauer leaving Minnesota (I actually hope he doesn't - he'll end up in pinstripes if he's simply looking for the biggest payday), something must be in the works. Theo never stops working, and he'll figure something out.

But back to Bay: he was a class act from the moment he stepped off the plane from Pittsburgh, and somehow made us forget about Manny (or at least somewhat forgive Theo for trading him). He blinded fans across Fenway Park with the pallor of his skin, and made those of us who are particularly SPF-needy feel positively bronzed, all while providing the power that Boston so desperately craved.

He was never a nuisance with the press, or the fans, and, from all accounts, was as classy in the clubhouse as he was on the field. Lest we forget, he scored the winning run of the 2008 ALDS against the Angels, getting spiked in the process:

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."

If the Mets can stay healthy (What? Mets and health in the same sentence?), Bay might have a shot in hell to play in October again. And if not? Well, he performed admirably for us, and that's all I can ask for. I wish you all the best, Mr. Bay. Mets fans are lucky to have you.