The Top 25: Jason Bay

It's really sad that I have to go to Bay as the 4th player in my most likely 25 player list. He's too expensive to drop and too bad to trade and he's GOING to start the year in left field for the Mets no matter what. That does NOT mean he's going to END the year in Flushing or... at least STARTING in Flushing.

What's To Like:

How He Handles The Press - If a baseball player's worth was decided by how well he talked to the media, Jason Bay would be worth a ton. He's good at saying the "right" thing when he's asked questions that, left to some players, might trap might trap a player into saying something negative about the team, coaching staff or his fellow players. Maybe he should coach the Wilpons.

What's Not To Like:

His Resume in New York - Since coming to New York he's not exactly done... ANYTHING. He's nowhere NEAR that 30 HR hitter he was in Pittsburgh and Boston. He's nowhere near 80+ RBIs that Omar Minaya wrongfully assumed he'd be guaranteed.

Mentality - I hate to say it, but I think Jason Bay has even given up on Jason Bay. When I look at him I don't see a player who expects to be the player he once was ever again. I remember seeing Luis Castillo give me glimmers of what he once was. Is Jason Bay going to make me yearn for Luis Castillo?

Random And Awesome:

Those Who Hail From Trail - Jason Bay hails from Trail in British Columbia. The following people ALSO hail from there: Shawn Horcoff, current NHL player and captain of the Edmonton Oilers. Thomas d'Aquino, Chief executive and president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives CCCE, and one of the private-sector architects of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Lauren Bay, Canadian National Softball Team and National Pro Fastpitch pitcher (Jason's sister ). Adam Deadmarsh, former NHL player, won Stanley cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas Drake, former NHL player, won Stanley Cup in 2008 with the Red Wings. Ray Ferraro, former NHL player for the Islanders, Rangers, Whalers, Thrashers, Kings, Blues. Bruno Freschi, architect for Expo 86. Ken Georgetti, current President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Robert Hampton Gray, one of the last Canadians to die in WWII and the last Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Tom Harrison, former MLB pitcher for the Kansas City A's, now the Oakland Athletics. Barret Jackman, current NHL player for the St. Louis Blues. Mike Kobluk, of The Chad Mitchell Trio. Richard Kromm, former NHL player. Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Canadian Olympic Women's Ski Team, Downhill Olympic Gold Medal 1992. Cesare Maniago, former NHL player for the Leafs, Canadiens, Rangers, North Stars, Canucks. Mike Matteucci, former NHL player for the Wild. Steve McCarthy, current NHL player for the Blackhawks, Canucks, Thrashers. Bill McEwan, President and CEO of Sobeys. Faron Moller, President of the BCTCS. Martin Popoff, heavy metal music journalist. Steve Tambellini, former NHL player & current GM of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Top 25:

1. Ike Davis, 1B
2. Jon Niese, SP
3. Tim Byrdak, RP
4. Jason Bay, LF
   

The Top 25: Tim Byrdak

With corner-stones like Reyes, Wright and Santana in doubt I again need to go with a SAFE choice for someone who will DEFINITELY be in the starting 25 for the 3rd player I choose. Tim Byrdak is that guy. Met's extended him through 2012 and AT LEAST until the trade deadline.

What's To Like:

LOOGY - His overall numbers are good but against lefties he's GREAT. He's actually sorta bad against righties and gets saved by the fact he faces few of them. Let's just keep from talk about him closing or setting up as that would be awful.

What's Not To Like:

AGE - Tim Byrdak will be 38 next year and old arms break down. The key will be that the Mets NEED to have multiple lefties in the bullpen. That SHOULD be solved by Daniel Herrera.

Random And Awesome:

Minnie Me - He played for the Gary SouthShore RailCats in 2003. While playing for the Rail Cats,he faced 77-year-old Minnie Minoso leading off the game at St. Paul on July 16, 2003 and got a walk. The plate appearance marks Minoso’s seventh decade of professional baseball, and Byrdak is quoted in the “Scorecard” section of Sports Illustrated on his impressions on facing the former White Sox star.

The Top 25:

1. Ike Davis, 1B
2. Jon Niese, SP
3. Tim Byrdak, RP
   

The Top 25: Jon Niese

When going through the "Top 25" it might seem odd to start with Ike Davis and Jon Niese. Here's the fact: Davis and Niese WILL DEFINITELY be on the 2012 Mets. David Wright, Jose Reyes, Johan Santana... they are more in the maybe camp than you might think (check tomorrow's post for more on this). Niese has established himself in two seasons as a middle of the rotation lefty with front-end potential. Plus, I truly believe that 2012 will be a breakout year for Jon.

What's To Like:

PROGRESS - While his ERA went up a bit in 2012, I like to look a little deeper. His walks went down, his strikeouts went up and his WHIP went down. It isn't leaps and bounds, but we need to expect a pitcher like Niese to not be growing by staggering amounts.

What's Not To Like:

FADING - Niese hasn't been around long enough to show a "trend" but in 2010 he faded towards the season's end and in 2011 he got hurt. One more... and it IS a trend.

NORMAL - Look at his stuff and Niese isn't exactly Nolan Ryan. He throws a 90 MPH fastball and a couple pretty slick breaking pitches. He'd be classified as a "Gamer" if he were a prospect. The silver lining (and reason I have not given up on Mark Cohoon) is that he's a lefty. Which elevates his "Normal" stuff into something "Abbie Normal".

Random And Awesome:

THE NOSE - Were this an opera, Niese might have a situation like Shostakovich's protagonist. The story by Nikolai Gogol centers around a man whose nose is removed whilst shaving. The nose goes on to rise in rank and fame, exceeding that of its former owner. Last night whilst watching Axford pitch, I wondered if part of HIS success was due to his... extravagant facial hair. This made me wonder if a batter might be distracted by a pitchers facial quirk. If that is true, then batters must have issues when faced with the gravitational force of Niese's shnoz.

The Top 25:

1. Ike Davis, 1B
2. Jon Niese, SP
   

The Top 25: Ike Davis

We all like Ike, It's hard not to like a guy who plays hard and gets results. My dreams of a post-season in 2011 died long before the season was decided. When Ike Davis got hurt, and we KNEW it was bad. I knew that the Mets no longer had enough in the team for a post-season ANYTHING (Beltran or no).

What's To Like?:

POWER - Do you know what Ike Davis was slugging through all of April? (.600) THAT IS INSANE! Now... even in a smaller Citi Field this guy is going to hit a few homers. More importantly he's going to hit a LOT of doubles (Not triples... I've seen him run). Homers and doubles lead to RBIs and that is EXACTLY what I want from a #4 hitter and a first baseman.

DEFENSE - Robbed of a Gold Glove in 2010 (Check the UZR), Davis is among the premier talents field his position. Famous for his tumbling catches into the dugout, Davis' glove would have likely earned the Mets a few extra wins by itself in 2011.

What's Not To Like?:

SPEED - He has none.

INJURY - I don't fault Davis for getting hurt but I fault the Mets for the indecisive nature of dealing with it. The Mets NEED to be more sure about how they deal with players who get hurt. When you don't act decisively... players stay hurt LONGER.

Random and Awesome:

PITCHING - Davis was a pitcher in his past and has said that he would be capable and willing to come in during an extra-inning game. I'm told he can bring some heat (perhaps not as much as Desi Relaford).

The Top 25:

1. Ike Davis, 1B