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Bayseball and the Mets

Some things about Jason Bay that you probably don't know...

* He's Canadian, from Trail, British Columbia.

He'll be the 6th Canadian-born Met, joining, in order of success: Ron Taylor (1969 closer), Tim Harkness (early-years infielder), Ken MacKenzie (winning record for 1962 Mets), Ray Daviault (not much to say about him), and Brian Ostrosser (1973 cup-of-coffee guy). Harkness is the only one of those to hit a home run.

* He's 59-for-his-last 66 in stolen base attempts (13-for-16 last season)

That's 89 percent, which is quite good.

* Jason Bay was NL Rookie of the Year in 2004.

Rookies of the Year for Others
Went on to Play for Mets

Hideo Nomo
Mike Piazza
Vince Coleman
Pat Zachry
Willie Mays

Angel Berroa
Carlos Beltran
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Eddie Murray
Tommie Agee

* He went to Gonzaga

That was also the school of choice for former Mets Tom Gorman (6-0 for the '84 Mets) and Rick Sweet (ex-backup catcher).

* He's hit Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte, and Brad Lidge well

5-for-10 with a homer against Chamberlain
14-for-32 with a homer against Pettitte
6-for-15 with two homers (and 6 K) against Lidge

* He's what you'd call a "Walk-Off Buncher"

Jason Bay bunched all three of the walk-off hits he's had into a 36-day span in 2008, a 14th inning single to beat the Cubs, an 11th inning homer to beat the Cubs, and a 13th-inning homer to beat the Rays. That's a little odd.

Bay's thing isn't walk-off home runs, but game-tying ones. Bay has six ninth-inning game-tying home runs in his career, including one against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera last season.

In fact, Bay's six game-tying ninth-inning home runs are the most by anyone in the majors since 2005. No one else has more than three. Of course, your team has to be trailing in the ninth inning for those to rack up.

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