Jason Bay's NOT Playing Is the Reason the Mets Defeat Pirates: Game 63

Game No. 63: The NY Mets vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates.

And so this is how the game played out. With the score tied at one after three innings, the Mets scored five runs in the top of the fourth. Six of the first seven batters reached base, including RBI singles by Jason Thole and Lucus Duda and a two-run single by Justin Turner.

Dillon Gee continued his extraordinarily good rookie season as he pitched eight innings allowing eights hits, striking out five and walking no one.

In re-reading the first paragraph, all of the clutch hits and great pitching were turned in by first- or second-year players. Please don’t misunderstand what I’m going to write next because I’m thrilled that the Mets have some nice young position and pitching players.

However, when I read a column by a “professional” sports writer that begins in the following manner, I become a very pissed off sports fan.

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“Jason Bay’s return to PNC Park for the first time since getting traded from the Pirates in 2008 worked out just nicely for the Mets last night. For a second straight game, Bay didn't make an out. Maybe not so coincidentally, the Mets battered a pretty good starting pitcher again. With Bay on the bench for a second straight game…”

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Yes. So far, Jason Bay has been $24 million headache, but is it necessary to drive and twist a sharp object deeper into his heart like the New York Post’s Mike Puma seems compelled to do?

Bay has not lived up to the expectations Mets ownership had when they signed him to a four-year, $64 million contract. Fans have the right to give him the "Flushing Cheer" when he takes the field or strides to the batter’s box.

They’re the people who spend their hard earned money to bring family and friends to CitiField to watch the game.

But a sports columnist, summarizing the game should save his insults for the column the in which s/he analyzes the Mets as a team.

The Mets did NOT win the last two games because Jason Bay warmed the dugout bench. They won because Jon Niece and Dillon Gee pitched phenomenally well. They won because the kids hit in the clutch and played well in the field.

Let’s not forget that David Wright, albeit out for quite some time, didn't play in the previous two games either. The same is true for Ike Davis.

The player’s who have replaced Wright and Davis, while not performing as well in their respective positions on the playing field, have been playing lights out. Does anyone believe Justin Turner can replace David Wright, or Dan Murphy can play an entire season at first base?

Dan Murphy can play exceptionally well at second or first in one inning, then will turn an ordinary ground ball into the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. He is, in my opinion, a great utility player and should be kept around for such a role.

Turner may have the ability to become a starting second baseman in the major leagues; but 38 games and 133 at-bats, tells us little about Justin Turner’s future career.

While Jason Bay has been a disappointment, neither his playing time nor his lack of it has contributed in a major way to the Mets winning the last two games. Thank the starting and relief pitching for allowing two earned runs and 13 hits, while walking four and striking out 16 in the last 18 innings.