Jason Bay is on the board.
It took 14 games in Citi Field, but the Mets’ $66 million man launched his first home run to propel the Mets to a 4-0 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The Mets carried a five-game winning streak into Game 2, which ended too late for this edition.
“He’s a type of guy that when he gets hot, which I think is about to happen, he can carry a team for two weeks. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing that,” Jeff Francoeur said before the game. “I think Jason’s swing is something that comes natural. You see when he gets that carry and gets comfortable; he’s going to go off soon.”
The Mets sure hope so. Bay entered last night with just six RBIs. He had gone a career-high108 at-bats without a home run before yesterday’s solo shot in the fourth to put the Mets up 3–0. Not exactly what you’d expect from your $66 million man.
“[When you don’t] get off to the start you want to, there are some people who begin to panic and start to change things. We’re confident in who we are and what we have,” Bay said. “I think it’s a lot easier to come out of something like this when you have that attitude, [instead] of when you’re struggling and all of a sudden there’s dissension and it’s not positive. You’re already in a hole and you’re going to make that hole ten times bigger with that kind of attitude.”
While Bay recognizes the Mets’ professional outlook, the organization points to him as one of the root causes for the atmospheric trans-formation in the clubhouse. The boosted morale has led to seven wins in eight games.
“He’s brought a quiet confidence and a great personality,” David Wright said. “He’s kind of quiet and keeps to himself, but at the same time, he’s got a very dry sense of humor. A great guy to have.”
