August 8, 2012, Miami Marlins-New York Mets game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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Jason Bay is becoming an increasingly bigger liability for the Mets.
The Mets lost the game. Jason Bay lost his job.
It was not the way either wanted to start the six-game, and possibly career-defining homestand.
“Jason Bay is a professional and he understands,” Terry Collins said
before a meeting with the leftfielder where the manager announced he
will now become a platoon player for the foreseeable future following
the Mets’ somnambulant 4-2 loss to the Marlins at Citi Field Tuesday
night. “All he wants to do is help the club. We had a conversation on
the road. He’s aware what we’re thinking about.”
Bay has struggled since signing a four-year contract worth $66 million
on Dec. 29, 2009. Brought in to bolster the middle of the Mets’ lineup,
Bay has only hit .238 with 23 home runs in 258 games over three seasons.
This year, he has missed time due to a fractured rib and concussion and
is hitting just .157 with five home runs. Bay went 1-for-4 with a
single and two flyouts last night.
“It’s not like it’s coming out of nowhere; I feel like they gave me a
lot of opportunities,” Bay told reporters of the post-game meeting with
Collins. “Time missed, injuries aside, it’s irrelevant in my eyes. I
should be doing better.
“If I had a better leg to stand on, I could say something. As of right
now, I don’t,” Bay said. “If I was playing better and time was taken
from me unjustly, then yeah I think I would [be affected personally].
But I try to be a realist and with all that’s happened, I’m not the best
option right now even though I still feel like it’s there. But how many
times are you going to hear that?
“This didn’t blindside me or anyone else, I would imagine,” Bay said.
Bay repeatedly stated he did not want to be a “distraction” for a Mets
team that fell to 53-57 with the loss and are 13 1/2 games behind NL
East-leading Washington and 9 1/2 games behind NL wild card co-leaders
Pittsburgh and Atlanta. St. Louis, Los Angeles and Arizona are all ahead
of the Mets in the race for the second wild card with 52 games
remaining in the season.
For a team that fancies itself a playoff contender despite all evidence
to the contrary, it is imperative that it receives strong pitching every
night to get back into the race. That was not the case as Jonathan
Niese (8-6) was not especially effective against a mostly anonymous
Marlins lineup. The left-hander allowed four runs on eight hits in six
innings.
“That’s been my Achilles’ heel this year, giving up those big innings,” Niese said. “That’s something I have to work on.”
The Marlins took control with a four-run fourth inning. Carlos Lee
ripped a RBI single that plated Justin Ruggiano with the game’s first
run. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a sac fly that scored Jose Reyes
(who reached on a bunt single to increase his hitting streak to 25
games). Three batters later, John Buck’s two-RBI double pushed Miami’s
lead to 4-0.
“Again, we just didn’t make the pitches when we had to,” Collins said.
The Mets’ best chance to get back in the game occurred in the bottom of
the fourth when they loaded the bases with two outs for Ruben Tejada.
But the shortstop popped out to Marlins’ second baseman Donovan Solano
to end the threat.
Daniel Murphy slammed a 2-0 pitch from LeBlanc off the second deck of
the Pepsi Porch to lead off the fifth inning. Andres Torres added a RBI
single later in the frame that plated Bay with the Mets’ second and
final run of the game.
Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1149518--bay-to-hit-bench-after-loss-by-mets
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:34 AM
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