Jason Bay and # 44 a Mets history

Thanks to Mets by the Numbers we can take a look back at the roster of a number that really has not distinguished itself in Mets lore. Of course this if Bay wants that number and the Mets don't resign Tim Redding and then Bay has to pay ... Yeah ok I know not likely. Or maybe go back to his Pirate days and wear #38 . We will stick with chatting about #44 is more interesting. Of course Hank Aaron wore it for most of his career but he never played for the Mets.

Anyway the First Mets to wear the infamous # 44 was a player named Harry Chiti. The catchers claim to fame was he was traded to the Mets from the Cubbies for a player to be named later . The irony of this is the player to be named later was actually Chiti himself.

The number layed dormant until 1967 when pitcher Bill Denehy wore it briefly. The number has a number of pitchers. Of course being a child of the hapless Mets 70's my first encounter with the infamous# 44 was relief pitcher Bob Myrick who wore # 44 on his back for 3 years .

In the 80's the number saw its most use by mostly pitchers. Including Jeff Reardon for a brief time in 1981. Another infamous Met Ray Searage wore it for the second half of the 81 season. When Mets broadcaster Ron Darling made it to the big club he wore in 1983. Of course he later moved on to #12.

After the Mets stole David Cone from the Royals for catcher Ed Hearn he donned the #44 and wore it for the next 4 and a half years which makes him the longest tenured Met to have worn #44 .

The 90's saw players that really didnt lite up the Mets landscape like Tim Burke,Tom Filer and of course Ryan Thompson. Jason Isringhausen wore the number briefly over 3 different seasons until he was traded away and became a closer.

Of course we cant forget Jay Payton who had the 44 on his back while the Mets played in 2000 and the World Series that year.

As we close out another decade of Mets play that included Jay Bell, Mike Cameron and Lasting Milledge as the highlights of the # 44 it wont be long before Jason Bay is know as the Mets must proflic power hitter with the ## 44 on his back. Sorry Brady Clark.

Reaction from the Red Sox regarding Jason Bay signing with the Mets.

Of course no one is going to blast the guy. The fan base in Boston enjoyed having Bay in left field and he seem to make them forget about Manny’s antics. Of course the Red Sox had there shot of signing Bay but they held steady on the original offer. They moved on . Below is a snippet from the Boston Globe fron Youk.

It’s definitely going to be tough for all of us,’’ Kevin Youkilis said. “Jason was a close friend. A joy to play with him. Great ballplayer.

“But it’s a business, things happen. It’s one of those business moves on each side. It just didn’t work out right. I wish him the best in New York. Hopefully we get to see him in the World Series.’’

Well it would be nice to have a little rematch of the long ago '86 World Series but the Mets still have a lot of work to do this off season.

What is next for the Mets?

Well I am sure with the Mets just about putting a bow on the signing of Jason Bay there will be a lot of chatter regarding the deal. I mean up to this point everybody wanted the Mets to do something and now that they did fans are wondering ok what’s next?

No one thinks Bay is the saving grace for this team. He is a piece that can pay off. For the first time the Mets have a legitimate thumper in left field really for the first time besides of course Dave Kingman (Kong). We know the Mets are playing the waiting game with Molina but there are other parts to fill.

The Mets still need a pitcher. Of course Lackey went to the Red Sox and Wolf and Marquis are with the Brewers and the Nationals. The Mets might be interested in ground ball pitcher Pinerio or a guy like Ben Sheets. Or maybe the Yankees almost Cy Young – Wong. John Garland is also still available. The Mets I am sure realize that a pitcher is needed especially when you have Maine coming off surgery , Pelf coming off a year that was just awful and Perez who is working in Arizona this off season trying to come off injury as well as being basically clueless.

The Mets also should think of adding a right handed bat that can play first base. The Mets need someone off the bench that can hit a bomb. They now have Pagan as the 4th outfielder with Bay being signed but they really need someone that can hit the long ball.

Once Jason Bay passes his physicals and he is announced as the newest Met to wear Jay Payton’s number 44, Omar better have another announcement that signals another move in the right direction for this team and signing Molina to more then 2 years is not the right answer.

Sittin' On The Dock Of The BAY Wastin' Time

Look like nothing's gonna change

Everything still remains the same

I can't do what ten people tell me to do

So I guess I'll remain the same, yes

~ Otis Redding – Dock Of The Bay ~

If you look at the lyrics to Otis Redding's 1968 hit, Dock Of The Bay, you can see the irony. While it seemed that everything remained the same, and Omar feeling like he can't do what not only ten, but millions of Mets fans want him to do, what seemed like a month ago, the inevitable happened.

As noted by us previously, Here , the Mets have agreed to terms with LF Jason Bay. All this is pending the completion and passing of a physical.

What a joke. Remember Victor Zambrano? He of the Scott Kazmir trade... it was widely known he had a bad shoulder, yet the trade went through, and Zambrano amounted to nothing more than a pencil without an eraser.

Then there was last season's acquisition of JJ Putz...I like Putz, but again, it was widely speculated that he had elbow problems. The trade went through, and unfortunately due to his poor elbow, which required surgery, Mets fans never got to see the real JJ.

After more than a decade of poor conditioning and diagnosis', why should we expect this signing not to happen. The Red Sox were concerned about Bay's shoulder. The Mets will get past this "physical", and so will Bay. Hopefully it will be for the best.

Other than Yorvit Torrealba, who was the last player rejected a contract due to injury? Don't feel bad, I can't think of one either.

I really hope this Bay situation works out. I really wanted Bay in '08, and again this off season. My biggest concern and complaint is whether he wants to be a Met.

While waiting on the results of his physical, I, along with all Mets fan will be

...sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wa'tching the tide roll away

Ooo, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay

Wastin' time

As per Wfan the Mets have signed Jason Bay pending a physical

Mike Francessa has just said that the Mets will announce after the weekend after the physicals come back that the Mets will have signed Jason Bay.

Unless there is some issue with his physical he will join the Mets early next week. This offical annoucnement will be made early next week.

No word on length of contract. **** update As per Joel Sherman of the Post deal is for 4 years and 66M with a vesting option for the 5th year. There had been word that the Redsox's were concerned about Bay's shoulders so the physical might be a deal breaker. ****

Jon Heyman confirms the Mets and Bay have reached a deal. The Mets might have bumped up the per year amount .

Now at least there will be some interesting banter on Hot Stove on Mlb tonight.

Jays Hire Former Met

The Toronto Blue Jays have hired former Mets starting pitcher Ed Lynch .

After retiring from baseball after the 1987 season, Lynch went on to earn his law degree. He played for the Mets from 1980 - 1986. In '86 he only pitched in one game before being traded to the Cubs for Dave Liddell & Dave Lenderman on June 30, 1986.

After retiring, Lynch became the GM of the Cubs from 1994 until July 2000. Since then he has been scouting for the Cubs in Arizona until this past November.

For the Jays, Lynch will be a scout.

Sources: BOB ELLIOTT - Toronto Sun & Ultimate Mets Database