JASON BAY
9/20/78; '00 22nd (Montreal); Gonzaga Univ.
R/R; 6-2, 200
| Level |
BA |
OBP |
SA |
AB |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
K |
SB |
CS |
| 2000 A- (Mon) |
.304 |
.358 |
.385 |
135 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
25 |
17 |
4 |
| 2001 A+ (Mon) |
.195 |
.306 |
.268 |
123 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
26 |
10 |
3 |
| 2001 A (Mon) |
.362 |
.449 |
.572 |
318 |
20 |
4 |
13 |
48 |
62 |
15 |
2 |
| 2002 AA (NYM) |
.290 |
.383 |
.477 |
107 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
15 |
23 |
13 |
3 |
| 2002 AA (SD) |
.309 |
.411 |
.568 |
81 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
22 |
4 |
2 |
| 2002 A+ (NYM) |
.272 |
.363 |
.437 |
261 |
12 |
2 |
9 |
34 |
54 |
22 |
2 |
| 2003 NL (SD) |
.250 |
.400 |
.750 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| 2003 NL |
.287 |
.421 |
.529 |
87 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
19 |
29 |
3 |
1 |
| 2003 AAA (SD) |
.303 |
.410 |
.541 |
307 |
11 |
1 |
20 |
55 |
71 |
23 |
4 |
| 2004 NL |
.282 |
.358 |
.550 |
411 |
24 |
4 |
26 |
41 |
129 |
4 |
6 |
| 2004 AAA |
.400 |
.538 |
.900 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
After missing the first six weeks of the season, Bay emerged as the Pirates' best
hitter and a strong candidate to be the team's first Rookie of the Year. Bay showed
impressive power and hit for average, with a penchant for big games—he's already
one of only two active players to put up two 8-RBI games. He was very consistent
throughout the year until he finished with a 2-for-24 slump. The one big concern
with Bay is obviously the K total. It's unlikely he can maintain his hitting unless
he cuts down on the holes in his swing. He's especially prone to bad days, with
three or even four Ks in a game. He's a patient hitter and tries to work the count,
which sometimes gets him in bad counts. Based on his history, he should be able to
make the needed improvements. His performance in 2004 wasn't at all out of line
with his hitting in the minors. He doesn't need to pull the ball, as he has the
power to hit the ball out to all fields. He also wasn't hurt by PNC Park, which is
normally rough on RH power hitters. In fact, he hit for considerably more power
there than on the road. Bay has good speed and was a very good base stealer in the
minors. He'll probably steal more often as he gets more experience. The Pirates
consider him very good defensively, which is particularly important with the large
LF in PNC. He ranked only about average in zone rating in the NL among LFs, but for
a rookie that's fairly good. He was 2nd at his position in fielding percentage,
committing only two errors. He played CF a good deal in the minors and played there
a little in 2004, but the Pirates initially seemed determined not to try him there
full-time. The acquisition of Matt Lawton to play RF wasn't expected to change that,
as the indications were that Tike Redman will continue in CF. One factor that could
affect Bay's usage is the status of his shoulder. Due to the off-season surgery he
had for a torn labrum, Bay wasn't able to throw well at all. His arm was previously
regarded as fairly good, so his throwing should be better next year, given the long
recovery time for such operations. One other caveat about Bay is that he turned 26
late in the season, so he probably won't improve a great deal more. The Pirates would
be happy, however, if he just maintained his current level of performance. Lloyd
McClendon finally figured out late in the season that Bay belonged in the 3rd spot
in the lineup, rather than out machines like Daryle Ward and Rob Mackowiak, and that's
where he should be in 2005.
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