Collins says he won't move Bay to 2 hole
Jason Bay #44 of the New York Mets connects on a sacrifice fly in the first inning scoring Jose Reyes against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. (May 18, 2011) Credit: Jim McIsaac
CHICAGO -- After briefly considering it last week, Terry Collins said he has given up on the idea of using Jason Bay in the No. 2 spot of the batting order to help him shake free of his early funk.
Josh Thole batted there Wednesday night after sitting for two games and Bay remained at cleanup, where he has been since David Wright was placed on the disabled list May 16.
"If we really want to analyze it, he's here to drive in runs," Collins said. "We put him at second and all of a sudden he tries to become a second hitter, which means he's going to start taking some pitches, so that the guy ahead of him can run.
"And if that guy is on second base, Bay is a pull hitter, now we're going to ask him to go against his strengths and hit the ball the other way. I'm just not sure how it all fits correctly and so I've been real hesitant."
Of course, it doesn't help that the Mets are missing two of their biggest run-producers in the middle of the lineup -- Wright and Ike Davis -- so Collins doesn't have any room to experiment. He did have a lengthy talk with Bay on Tuesday and sat with him a while in the dugout before Wednesday night's game as well.
"We've got to have him where he is," Collins said, "cause the minute he breaks out, I want him in those spots to drive in runs."
Extra bases
Collins went back to using Thole behind the plate because of his good work in Dillon Gee's previous start, but he still plans to increase Ronny Paulino's playing time . . . Wright is expected to begin physical therapy Thursday in New York after visiting back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins earlier this week in Los Angeles.
