Hey... remember Pittsburgh? I'm glad baseball writers did, too. From the Pirates site and mailing list:
Pirates left fielder Jason Bay was named the winner of the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award today by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Bay becomes the first Pirate and first Canadian-born player to win the NL rookie honor.
Despite missing the first month of the season, the 26-year-old batted .282 and led all Major League rookies in homers (26) and RBIs (82).
Good. As a baseball fan firmly living in Pirates country, I saw him play a whole lot, and I was really impressed with him. I was worried that he'd get the shaft from the voters because of the invisibility of the Pirates, but that wasn't the case.
I imagine he'll be on a World Series team in five years or so. (No, not the Pirates. They'll trade him to cut costs in a few years.)
Yeah, it was surprising that the Pirates had never had one. I'm a lifelong Pirates fan, and never realized that fact until Bay's ROY hype started in late July.
Before Bay, the best rookie season of any Pirate was probably Ralph Kiner, waaaay back when. Don't think they had any type of ROY award then. Dave Parker's first full season (1975) was decent, putting put up MVP-like numbers, but he had already used up his rookie eligility with two previous half-seasons. Bonds was used as leadoff hitter when they broke him in, in 1986.
Johnny Ray was a ROY candidate in 1982, as were Orlando Merced in 1991 and Tim Wakefield in 1992. I think all three finished #2 in final balloting.
If not for Bay, Pittsburgh would have been mentioning the steady rookie season of Jose Castillo. Optimistic Bucs fans envision the team contending in 2006. That's with alot of caution, though. The rug could be pulled out from under us if they trade Bay, Castillo, Oliver Perez, Jon VanBenschoten, Jack Wilson, etc.
This is good for the Pirates, but, no offense to fans of the team, there is a huge chance Bay will be gone when it comes time to re-sign him (as others have already pointed out). The Pirates are really one of the worst franchises in baseball. A decade without a winning season, and they're one of those teams that 's constantly rebuilding, always unwilling to spend any money. Maybe this gives them hope, but maybe not.
Yeah I'm sure it's wouldn't surprise anyone if Bay didn't play for the Pirates past his current contract, I for one would love to see Jason Bay (as well as Oliver Perez) in a Mets uniform.
Originally posted by QuezzyI for one would love to see Jason Bay in a Mets uniform.
Jason Bay was in a Mets uniform (well, Double A Binghamton Mets, anyway) until the Mets decided to trade him to San Diego. For Steve Reed. Be sure to thank Steve Phillips the next time you see him.
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Wellp. I just saw my Marlins win in HOOTERS, of all places, and believe me, getting home was hell, what with the cars, and blocked roads, and honking of horns and banging of pots and pans and what-have-you... ...but it still feels GRRRRRREAT!
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