Bay's strikeouts, lack of production a concern
Jason Bay had a simple explanation when asked during the weekend about his skyrocketing number of strikeouts. Obviously, slumps happen. But Bay's inability to merely put the ball in play nearly half the time was sort of alarming for a cleanup hitter, right?
Not to him.
"I struck out 162 times last year, so yeah, I strike out," Bay said. "That's just part of my game. When some guys aren't going well, they ground out. When I don't do well, I strike out. That's something that I've just learned to deal with."
Looks as if the Mets will have to as well now that Bay leads the majors with 22 strikeouts, but it's been difficult to stomach. The Wilpons spent everything but the loose change in the Caesars Club's sofas to sign Bay to a four-year, $66-million contract in January and let's just say there hasn't been much bang for the buck so far.
Last night, Bay stretched the longest homerless streak of his career to 108 plate appearances over 26 games dating to Sept. 21. But the Mets could live without the long ball if Bay could at least dent a few more walls. His .314 slugging percentage is far below that of Rod Barajas and Bay is batting .188 (3-for-16) with runners in scoring position, leaving him with fewer RBIs (three) than Luis Castillo (five).
Even Jerry Manuel, who is careful not to poke his All-Stars, shrugged Wednesday when asked about the problems that Bay and David Wright are having at the plate. The manager was a little more forgiving with Wright because of their track record together. As for Bay, Manuel gave off sort of a helpless vibe.
"I haven't figured that one out yet," he said.
Manuel did what he could Sunday by sitting Bay after his 0-for-7, four-strikeout performance in Saturday's 20-inning game. If ever there was a need for a personal day, that was the time, but it would seem the only solution for Bay is to be patient as the downturn passes. With Bay, there doesn't seem to be any shortcuts.
"We kind of knew coming in that he would have some streaks," Manuel said. "He's been doing this for a long time and he's been pretty consistent at it, so you would hope at some point that he hits one of those hot streaks.''
Manuel is dead-on about those streaks. Last year, Bay batted .324 in April with five home runs, 19 RBIs and a .490 on-base percentage for the Red Sox. In May he belted 10 home runs with 30 RBIs in 28 games.
Then, just as suddenly, Bay followed up with an ice-cold July, when he hit .192 (15-for-78) with one home run and five RBIs in 25 games. That's the kind of month Bay is having right now - minus the homer - only his sense of timing is terrible as the premier free-agent pickup trying to resuscitate a Mets team that is desperate for a decent April.
"I've gone through these stretches before," Bay said. "In the very beginning, everything gets magnified, and with a new team, it makes it a little bit tougher. But I'm confident with the guy that I am."
That's expected. But for Manuel, scribbling down Bay's name in the No. 4 spot has become a leap of faith, and one that could end up with the manager falling into the abyss. That's why Manuel is trying to devise alternate lineups, first by suggesting he would move Jose Reyes into the third spot and now Angel Pagan.
Fortunately for Bay, the Citi Field crowd has been as patient with him as Manuel has. Wright was booed more loudly than Bay during last night's 9-3 loss, even after Bay helped sabotage an eighth-inning rally by grounding out with Wright on first.
Maybe the fans were just happy Bay didn't strike out.
