As expected…
Looks like it’s Jason Bay to the Mets. Big Mike Francesa gets the scoop. Gritty, Gutty day for the king of New York sports talk radio.
I like Bay, he’s vanilla as Richie Cunningham but appealing enough. Nice player, too. Not exactly Olerud-level great, but who knows? I haven’t seen him play that much. This could work out great or it could be a disaster–Bay is a lousy fielder now playing in a huge ballpark that depresses home runs. You never know with the Mets. George Foster/Keith Hernandez? Which one of these? Either way, the Mets are better for having him–I hope it works out.
S-A-TUR-DAY NIGHT!
(The Bay Citi Rollers ...)
Dave Cameron talking sense to that subset of Yankee fans who think an All-Star at every position is necessary to sleep well at night.
He also leaves out that signing Holliday would mean giving another first round pick away. And overpriced, past-prime players with little coming from the farm is exactly what got them side-tracked in the middle part of this decade. Why ever would anyone want to repeat THAT? And for the easiest position on the diamond to fill?
And overpriced, past-prime players with little coming from the farm is exactly what got them side-tracked in the middle part of this decade.
I wouldn't exactly call their run in the middle of the decade "sidetracked." Not winning a world series doesn't take away from what they accomplished.
OK move for the Mets, but his D will really be exposed in CitiField. Bay actually had pretty equal Home/Away stats last year, and hit MORE HRs AWAY from Fenway. Almost all of his HRs were to LF, and most traveled at least 350'.... so he looks to still be a HR threat for the Mets. His career URZ/150 (for LF) is -8, but over the last 3 years has been close to -14.
Well, he'll be better than Kevin McReynolds I suppose..ah, the Mets. Always there for comic relief.
You don't hear 'He's no John Olerud' everyday. I think Olerud had the greatest regular seson of any player I can remember that's been benched in the World Series. He hit .363/.473/.599 and still grabbed the pine in the NL ballpark for Paul Molitor in '93.
If the Red Sox don't sign Holliday or trade for Adrian Gonzalez, they are in a lot of trouble offensively. Mike Cameron is a huge falloff from Jason Bay, leaving Youkilis and Pedroia to carry an inordinate amount of the load. Oritz and Lowell are also a year older, that is if Lowell is even able to play.
An outfield of Cameron--Ellsbury--Drew is nothing special offensively, and a far cry from the days of Ramirez-Damon-Nixon.
Haven't heard it mentioned much, but the best thing about the Mets signing Bay is it prevents Boston from getting a high first rounder because the Mets have a protected pick. Instead, they wind up with a sandwich round selection.
[2] There are lots of flaws in Cameron's argument that are detailed in the comments section. As for getting side tracked in the middle of the decade...I'll sign up for those very same regular seasons and then take my chances with this roster in the post season.