Sitting Here On Top Of The Bay

The Jason Bay experiment in queens is an ongoing research assignment to discover if Canadians wither in New York. This will come in handy should the Mets or Yankees ever target Joey Votto. The good news for the Mets and the researchers at the Institute for Canadian Adaptation (The ICA) is that Jason is returning to Flushing to resume the study.

Thus far, the warning reads: May cause extreme loss of power and contact with occasional bouts of running into walls and seeing small yellow birds.

Let us look at Mr. Bay's brief Met career:

Bay only managed 95 games with the Mets in 2010 because of his slug-fest with the left field fence. His OPS was .749 a whopping 140 points below his career average and it showed. This is evident by his unseemly drop in power (only 6 HRs) and production (47 RBIs). Surely part of this can be blamed on the Mets not surrounding him with ideal talent, right?

Let us look at Mr. Bay's time surrounded by ideal talent:

Right... Boston wasn't too shabby in 2008 and 2009. Well he wasn't a flat-out God, but he did hit a few homers for Boston. Clearly a result of playing along-side David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and others. Although... it MAY have had something to do with the short/high porch in left. I won't stress over it too much but I'd wager that Bay's production was boosted by being surrounded by a pretty solid lineup, with Pedroia and Ellsbury getting on base ahead of him.

So... all the Mets need are better players. Bay needs help to be the useful star he was in Boston.

Unless you look back to Pittsburgh:

The Pirates surrounded Bay with the total package... by which I mean, not very much. He arrived after a trade with San Diego (also brought Pittsburgh Mr. Ollie Perez I believe) and he caught on fast. In 2004 he won the Rookie of the Year, in 2005 and 2006 he was an all-star and landed his name on MVP ballots. Sure, in 2007 he has a rough go, but he pretty much powered the team as the lone bright shining beacon of hope in an otherwise dark and depressing horizon.

Bay has been in the spot-light, out of the spot-light, surrounded by talent and surrounded by scrubs and found ways of succeeding. I can't believe he'd come to New York and that would suddenly be his Kryptonite. Maybe I'm wrong but I still have hopes and dreams of Bay proving to be halfway useful to the Mets in 2011 and 2012 and... 2013... alright so even in my hopes and dreams I can't be a TOTAL optimist. Welcome to the life of a Met fan.
I wonder what would have happened if he was allowed to actually play in his home country?

Where In The World Is Jose Reyes?

Jose Reyes is in the final year of his Team friendly contract and heading towards free agency. This is the kind of situation we constantly see the Padres faced with... wait... the Mets aren't the Padres... That doesn't change the fact that the Mets have invited a bidding war for their speedy SS after the 2011 season. Now... The Mets will have $4o Million coming off the books which is more than enough for Jose and leaves room for more. HOWEVER this is the new fiscally conservative New York franchise. God I hope the Wilpons sell soon.

The Mets Keep Reyes Long-Term:
Sandy Alderson can talk about not giving out long contracts but players in this day and age want them and the Mets can actually afford to give them. So if Reyes performs well and helps the Mets have a rebound year, Alderson will potentially pony up and Reyes will stay in Blue and Orange.

The Mid-Season Farewell:
Jose Reyes plays well but the Mets don't. The Mets cut their losses and trade Jose for some prospects and hope to form a new plan. This won't preclude the Mets from getting him back after the season but I highly doubt Jose would be begging to come back to the Mets were this the case.

Compensation Picks:
Mets hold Jose Reyes through the season and after the season Alderson balks at the price. The Mets offer Jose Arbitration and he declines and signs elsewhere... at least he's likely to be a type A.

Worst Case:
Jose is hurt, has no value and sinks to a type B or worse. If this happens the Mets might be kissing Jose goodbye for absolutely NOTHING.

Where?:

Philadelphia - Rollins is in a contract year but Jose is younger and the Phillies would love to sting the Mets yet again.

New York - Jeter just signed a contract but the Yankees need to think pragmatically about his ability to play short long-term.

Boston - Scutaro isn't an answer and Lowrie has yet to prove much. Could Boston call on Jose to fill that position? (Imagine this: Ellsbury, Reyes, Crawford as a 1,2,3... JESUS!)

Los Angeles - Furcal has been fine but the Dodgers might be looking for a new solution to an old problem.

Atlanta - Alex Gonzalez is not a long-term solution and if their prospect fizzles they might inquire.

St. Louis - Let us say that the Cards lose Pujols... might they ease the pain by acquiring Jose?

Seattle - They may try to be the Big Splash again and nab Jose to join Figgins and Ichiro for their own 1,2,3 nightmare.

This is Phlavio Phega and, if it relates to the Mets, I have an opinion.