Jason Bay will learn what the Mets are like soon enough

BY AARON YORKE
STACHE WRITER

During the will-they-won’t-they Bay drama that was this winter, a lot of pessimistic Mets fans were worried that the Mets couldn’t land the all-star left fielder because of the miserable state of the organization. After signing on for four years and $66 million, we’re finally getting a hint as to why Bay chose the Mets. Either he didn’t have any other offers, or he just didn’t know what he was getting himself into.

Bay told the New York Post about his perception of the Mets. “I obviously knew their performance record-wise last year wasn’t what people wanted, and I also understood there was a lot of injuries,” he said, “But I couldn’t really understand where all the animosity was coming from given the fact you look at the team … that’s a pretty good team.”

Ah, how adorable. In stating why he thinks there shouldn’t be any animosity towards the Mets, poor Jason Bay ironically hits the nail on the head as to why people are so miserable about the team. I guess Bay never thought that the fact the Mets are talented is what gets their fans so riled up.
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Any Guy that Joe Stone likes has already accomplished quite alot

BY JOSEPH STONE
STACHE WRITER

2010. Welcome to the new year. I’m not positive, though, if its the same old Mets. I’m sure by now you have heard that Jason “Bayrut” Bay has joined the Metropolitans for the forseeable future. Unless, you are in a coma, you have seen this on every website from here to Texts from Last Night. (Some may argue that all Met fans are comatose, but f*ck them.) Anyhoo, Omar finally got the man’s John Hancock on the contract, and all is well. Whether you like this signing or not, it has made the news, bringing the Met brand back into the public conciousness.

Jason Bay started his career with the organization, so it is fitting that he returns. I personally feel good about the signing. For the amount of years and money laid out, the team signed a type A free agent, only lost a second round pick, and will turn a tidy profit on jersey sales alone, what with Bay’s clean cut demeanor and “Aw shucks” quotes (read: lily whitness). Four years may seem long for the blog father over at Metsblog, but I look at it like this.

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The Mets finally got their man. (PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The Mets have finally done something of significance. Mike Francesa of WFAN reports that the Mets and free agent outfielder Jason Bay have come to an agreement on a four-year deal with a fifth year option.

It’s about time.

The deal is reportedly worth $66 million over four years and can be worth more than $80 million for five years if the vesting option kicks in. The Mets needed to pick up a player who improved their lineup, and they certainly did not disappoint. They got an RBI machine who certainly makes the Mets better.
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Time for the Mets to wake up

By Zachary Schulman
Stache Writer

Last year, the Mets bid against themselves for Oliver Perez and consensus shows that signing royally sucked. I am trying to reason with myself that the Mets are being patient with Jason Bay and Bengie Molina in order to try and avoid Ollie 2.0. But let’s be real here, the Mets need to improve this club and change the personnel.

Yes Reyes, Beltran, and Santana will be coming to Spring Training healthy. Wright should improve his offensive numbers after a year in Citi Canyon. But what exactly has this core won? Since the Minaya regime took over in the winter of 2004, they have exactly 1 division title to show for it. I don’t want to hear about being 1 win away twice from being in the playoffs because they didn’t get in. Bascially what I’m trying to say is the Mets core is very good, but have not won anything.

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Would calling Citi Field home be Jason Bay's worst nightmare? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY ANDREW CAVAGNARO
STACHE WRITER

Regardless of my feelings of whether Jason Bay should be a member of the Mets, I believe he in no way wants to land here.

Bay has had the privilege the last two seasons of hitting in a righty hitter’s dream ballpark, Fenway. Bay knows as well as everyone else that Citi Field is going to dramatically hurt his power numbers. With outfield walls as high as the Empire State Building and dimensions of 379 in left-center and a monstrous 391 in right-center, this place is any power hitters worst nightmare.

Also coming from a team where winning is typical and a great supporting cast currently in place, causes the Mets to look even less appealing. We all know that the Red Sox are out of the running for Bay, but wouldn’t you think he would jump at a more competitive team before the Mets? What if the Cardinals and Mets offered the same money, where would he go? I’m pretty sure he would pick a team like St. Louis, where a plan is in place and the organization is stable.
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Remember when the Mets let Jason Bay get away?

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Today, on pretty much a whim, I decided to email John Heyman. I wanted to have some interesting feedback from the guy that I did not read on Twitter, the newspaper or see on SNY. Fortunately, he likes to answer me, and today, he provided a brief comment when asked whether or not he thinks Bay is going to end up in Queens.

“I think there’s a good chance of it (of course u never know in these things – who thought damon would be leaving the yankees?).”

I think as time goes by, more and more people believe this mystery team is just as real as the imaginary friend that I had when I was little. Andrew Marchand of ESPN Radio said today that if Bay says he has a six year deal on the table from this “Mystery” team, then he should take it. Put the ball in his court. It doesn’t look like he’s going to take that route.
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Jason Bay should stay away from Queens.

BY ANDREW CAVAGNARO
STACHE WRITER

After careful thought, I feel Jason Bay and a several other available free agents will be more detrimental to the Mets than good.

Of course it is plausible to expect 25 plus homers, 100 RBIs, and a .280 batting average with Bay. However, is this the major piece of the puzzle the Mets have been missing the past few season? I think not. The Mets struggles begin in the starting rotation and unless I’ve missed it, no signing or trade has directed them toward that need.

John Lackey is gone. So is Roy Halladay. Joel Pineiro and Jason Marquis are unattractive solutions to an ugly problem. There is only so much tape you can slap over a big hole, and it finally seems that the Mets’ roster has reached that critical point. It is essential for them to address the needs of the pitching staff because it is fairly obvious that the batting order will be better this year. David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and Jose Reyes are sure to have more production than last year.
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Jason Bay has not yet answered the Mets' contract offer. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY WENDY ADAIR
STACHE WRITER

Last Thursday before Omar Minaya left Indianapolis, he extended contracts to Jason Bay and Bengie Molina, and they have yet to accept or reject the offers made to them.

While this is not necessarily a red flag, as these things sometimes take days or even weeks to pan out, it is a bit alarming to know that Free Agents, non tendered or otherwise, are not anxious to come to the Mets.

It is no secret how disappointing the last three seasons have been, and that the market in New York is unlike any in the United States, with Boston and Philadelphia coming in fairly close, but the payrolls typically are unrivaled.
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Tim Redding represents everything that was wrong with the Mets of 2009. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY JOSEPH STONE
STACHE WRITER

Apologies to my many (read: 4) fans out here on the interwebs for the long delay between posts to the Stache. I have been on the sidelines for sometime now, or in a more sport appropriate metaphor, I’ve been riding the pine due to my crappy bat and post-concussion syndrome from 2009.

After bearing witness to that abortion of a World Series, I needed time for self-assessment. I had to figure out what the hell made sense in the world of baseball and why I continue to be a fan of a team that gives me nothing but agita. I hid all the sharp objects from myself, and then looked back over the season that was. Good God, did that really all happen?

I won’t recount the bloody details. If you are on this site, then you remember it all too well. It was THE worst mess of a sports team I have ever had to be party to. It took me a long time to even begin to visit Mets websites, let alone think I could write a coherent article that wasn’t just a pic of my ass telling Omar to “Kiss here, dick.” I finally came to the conclusion of why I will reprise my role as a fellow writer with Mr. Ganci’s staff. I like all of you, the die hard fans of this team, and wish to continue commiserating and possibly (maybe?) celebrating our shared passion, all things Met.
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The arrival of Roy Halladay in Philly makes the chances of a Mets' successful season decline dramatically. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Well, as I write this, I am still a bit shell-shocked from today’s developments, so let me back up a bit and confirm what I think should be processing in my head.

The Red Sox are close to signing John Lackey to a five year deal worth around $85 million. I have no problem with that. Anything that puts a frown on Yankee fans’ faces puts a smile on mine. I think that is a secret to nobody.

Then, the real drama as it pertains to the Mets happened. The Phillies approached Cliff Lee about a contract extension, and he effectively told them that he was going to become a free agent, whether they liked it or not. The Phillies decided that they need to prepare for the long haul, so what do they do? They feel around for offers, and they bring the Mariners and Blue Jays together, and boom! The Phillies have agreed to deal.

Not just any deal, they are nearing completion of a deal that would get them Roy Halladay.

Yes, you heard that right. ROY HALLADAY.
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