When the Red Sox elected not to retain Jason Bay this past offseason, few believed the newly signed Adrian Beltre would have a better year than the departing left fielder.
Even fewer predicted that Darnell McDonald would, too.
It’s been a dismal season for Bay, the former Red Sox slugger who signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Mets this offseason. Bay’s six home runs, 47 RBIs, and .402 slugging percentage are all the worst marks he has produced in any full season.
Bay has added injury to insult as well, and hasn’t played since July 25 due to a concussion. He’s just recently been cleared to begin physical activities, but it remains unclear whether Bay will be able to return in 2010.
The fact that Bay hasn’t produced the same numbers he put up in Boston is unsurprising. The Red Sox boasted one of baseball’s best offenses during Bay’s stint with the club, and the former Rookie of the Year has a career .402 on-base percentage at Fenway Park.
There’s evidence to suggest that Citi Field , the Mets’ cavernous new stadium, is partially to blame for Bay’s struggles as well. According to ESPN’s Park Factors, Citi Field has produced the third-fewest home runs this year and rates as the fifth-worst offensive park in the majors. It proves to be an especially daunting obstacle for right-handed hitters as well, as the fence in left-center field resides almost 380 feet away from home plate.
One can draw an eerie parallel between David Wright’s disappointing 2009 campaign and the year Bay is having now. Like Bay, Wright found much of his right-handed power sapped by Citi Field. And like Bay, Wright suffered a serious concussion that caused him to miss significant playing time.
It’s possible that Wright’s tale can be used as one of cautionary optimism for Mets fans. Wright has rebounded in a big way this season, and while his power numbers are still down from his 2007-08 totals, he’s once again become very valuable.
Bay is a different and older player from Wright though, and 32-year-old corner outfielders with declining skill sets are not often viewed as prime rebound candidates. He’s nearly certain to be more valuable over the rest of his contract than he’s been in 2010, but Bay’s days as one of baseball’s most underrated run-producers are most likely over.
Many fans were disappointed when Bay left for New York, but if early returns are any indication, the Red Sox were wise to look in another direction.
