Jason Bay has been swinging a very hot bat for Boston. He is 5 for his last 11 with 2 doubles and a home run. Needless to say, with two games remaining against the Rays and first place in the AL East on the line, he couldn’t be heating up at a more opportune time. But instead of Bay sticking around to help in the chase for the division title he was brought here to help win, he headed back to Boston today because his wife was giving birth. In his absence the Sox mustered just 5 hits in a 2-1 loss that put Tampa back in first place by alone. He was replaced in the lineup by either Mark Kotsay or Coco Crisp…doesn’t really matter which as they combined to go 0-6 with 2 Ks and strand 4 runners on base. Would Bay have driven those runs in? Would the Sox have won if he stuck around? I can’t say for sure of course, but I do believe he owed it to his teammates (not to mention the fans) to stick around and find out. I’m not crazy enough to believe a baseball game is more important than a birth, but I do believe Jason Bay’s presence was needed more in Tampa tonight (and tomorrow) than it was in Boston.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Bay Abandons Sox for Birth of Baby
Jason Bay has been swinging a very hot bat for Boston. He is 5 for his last 11 with 2 doubles and a home run. Needless to say, with two games remaining against the Rays and first place in the AL East on the line, he couldn’t be heating up at a more opportune time. But instead of Bay sticking around to help in the chase for the division title he was brought here to help win, he headed back to Boston today because his wife was giving birth. In his absence the Sox mustered just 5 hits in a 2-1 loss that put Tampa back in first place by alone. He was replaced in the lineup by either Mark Kotsay or Coco Crisp…doesn’t really matter which as they combined to go 0-6 with 2 Ks and strand 4 runners on base. Would Bay have driven those runs in? Would the Sox have won if he stuck around? I can’t say for sure of course, but I do believe he owed it to his teammates (not to mention the fans) to stick around and find out. I’m not crazy enough to believe a baseball game is more important than a birth, but I do believe Jason Bay’s presence was needed more in Tampa tonight (and tomorrow) than it was in Boston.
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From MLB.com
Bay's wife, Kristen, delivered Evelyn Jane at roughly 6:45 ET on Tuesday night. Bay arrived roughly 45 minutes before the birth.
Bay will likely rejoin the Red Sox on Friday in Toronto, where they open a three-game series against the Blue Jays.
It doesn't seem to make sense for Bay to fly all the way back to St. Petersburg for the finale in this three-game series against the Rays, which will take place on Wednesday night.
...I wonder who the first athlete to leave his team for the birth of a child was.
...and I wonder if I'll feel differently after I have children.
DK, sorry for such a long post. If I was married and I was not present at the time that my wife was pushing a watermelon out of a whole the size of a grape to play in a baseball game she would probably have more than a few choice words for me!! Then she would kick my butt again for refering to our baby as a watermelon.
I have also heard many athletes say that winning the world series, super bow, stanley cup or any other championship was the second best day of their life behind the birth of their child, and this is only a regular season game.
Yesterdays game is going to be forgotten about by the time that tonight's game is over. I can not imagine missing the birth of my child, and not supporting my wife when she needs it most, just so I can go to work for a day. Beyond that I can not imagine what I would say or do to my boss if he/she told me I could not miss work to go to the hospital
With the amount of money that athletes get paid they should not be allowed to take days off - especially since they get at least 1 day off a week anyway - unless it is something to do to with family issues - and real issues, not Manny's grandmother dieing for the 12th spring in a row. Not only do I think it is right for him to take time off, but I am glad that there is an athlete in Boston that is teaching young kids, like my nephew and cousins, that there is more to like - like family - than sports.
I'm with Sean here on this one...Taking my die hard obsession with the Red Sox out of it for a moment, I see no problem with letting Bay leave for the birth of his son.
Now...That being said, am I surprised that he went???...A little...More important is the fact that we are unable to touch the Rays bullpen this year...Once you get to the 7th inning they are lights out with Wheeler, Howell and Balfour...Are you kidding me?..Look at their stats from last year, they're either all having career years at the exact same time or on the juice.
Grant Balfour
2008: WHIP 0.94, BAA .148, ERA 1.62
2007: WHIP 1.91, BAA .313, ERA 6.14
J.P. Howell
2008: WHIP 1.15, BAA .198, ERA 2.40
2007: WHIP 1.76, BAA .318, ERA 7.59
Dan Wheeler
2008: WHIP 0.93, BAA .176, ERA 2.70
2007: WHIP 1.52, BAA .277, ERA 5.76
I am 100% not surprised that the Sox allowed him to go, I don't want to get that point confused. I would be shocked if they didn't allow him to. I'm just surprised that with the season potentially on the line and playing 2 games against our biggest competition that could decide the AL East pennant he chose to.
It's all personal choice for sure, I'm just disappointed (as a fan) in his choice.
Good to see Bay going to be there for the delivery of his 2nd child. Guys alway get the bad parent wrap. So i love to see when a guy steps up and does the right thing especially when he gets credit for it.
I think the media would have been all over him if he choose to go to work instead of tending to first responsibility his family.
If this was a planned pregnancy, it was planned based on him not being traded to a contender. Cause if he was still in Pit it wouldnt have mattered there like 25 games back. Cant fault them for planning to have a kid in Sept when he's been playing on a losing team his entire career
Just out of curiosity, would everybody have been extended this type of courtesy or does Bay get a pass because he seems like a good guy? Pedro? Manny? Or...what if it were the playoffs? World Series?
Just curious if people think this is okay across the board or only in certain cases or for certain players.
The fact this is even a topic is somewhat embarrassing. He is a human being, above everything. Being there for the birth of his child is far more important than a single game.
A far more meaningful topic would be a discussion of who should be the sox's 5th starter.
WAKE FUCKING SUCKS. He is an inning eater, but is way UNRELIABLE in the playoffs.
I am all for him eating innings in the regular season, but he should never pitch in a game that has meaning.
FUCKING GIVING UP 3 innings in first vs. Tampa bay. HE SUCKS. I hate watching him pitch. It is BEYOND frustrating.
Dave, I know you've been gone a while but we try to keep f-bombs to a minimum on here...
(and Bay is missing 2 games, at least)
Ha...Dave got yelled at!!!..Wake is frustrating and may have just pitched himself out of rotation for playoffs...Last night was HUGE...Home field advantage is enormous for us and now having to go on the road to Anaheim is much different then having the White Sox here.
Better yet...Where is Drew?..You've got Lowell playing with a tear in his hip and Drew sitting out with a tight back...I personally have had back problems for over 8 years now stemming from a bulging disc in my back so I know how painful it can be...But even when I've been in pain I was able to play to a certain degree...Seriously...Time for Drew to suck it up and get out there.
Despite my hectic schedule Mrs. WJ made me get on and complain about this post...but I would have done it anyway.
DK, are you out of your mind? How could you even equate a game played by grown men in funny looking pants to the birth of a child?
It is ridiculous to suggest that he should have skipped the birth of his child for a game that means nothing in the grand scheme of life. Does it even mean that much in the sporting world? Do these 2 games even mean that much to Red Sox nation?
If he took off a World Series game I wouldn't fault him.
Now for me I don't want to know who was the first athlete to miss a game for the birth of their child, who was the first jerk who decided it would be a good idea to go into the delivery room? What was the matter with the father in the waiting room handing out cigars? One a-hole, who was probably afraid of his wife or did something wrong he was trying to make up for, goes into the delivery room and now every father-to-be is guilted into going in. What a screw job!
I said to Mrs. WJ , "Listen, I did all the hard work 9 months ago, what can I possibly add while in the delivery room?" After my black eye healed I agreed to join her in the delivery room.
Secondly, who was the first clown that wanted to cut the umbilical cord? The nurse asked me if I wanted to cut it, I said, "Hey, I don't ask you to come to my place of work and do my job, so don't ask me to do yours."
What the hell is a father going to do in the delivery room anyway besides get in the way?
I would like to start a new movement to ban father's from teh delivery room.
-too unsanitary
-mother needs to bond with baby
-insurance liability (my mechanic doesn't let me in the garage area to see my car for this reason)
Who is with me?
When I was in high school I had to watch a woman giving birth for 45 minutes throughout a biology class!! I have never been so sick in all my life. I learned 3 things that day:
1. OH MY GOD!
2. I will never give my wife advise as to what medicine she should or should not take during pregnancy. She is on her own there.
2. I would like to be in the delivery room giving my wife support, but I know I will just end up in the hospital bed next to my wife, and it will cost twice as much to have a baby!
On another note DK, I would like to see any man take a game off, whether it is the world series or spring training to be with his family.
WJ it is good to see you are not scared to openly admit your wife owns you! GO ROZZY!!!
I agree WJ.. i'm not allowed in any other surgical procedures why is this one any different. But i will say i'm glad to have expirienced it ONCE. Since your there you might wanna ask the DR. to put in an extra stich.
For the birth of a child i would extend the same courtesy to anybody. But if it was a Championship game and it wasnt the first kid i'm not so sure. These athletes need to plan better or wrap it up.
GMAC, as they youngest of 6 I find your viewpoint on the oldest being more acceptable highly offensive!
No need to take offense. You are the last making you the baby of the bunch. So like the 1st child you are more important than 2-5. After the 1st child its not new for either parent and there is less need for moral support. So i'll give another piece of advice to those who dont have kids yet....If you plan on having more than one during the birth of the 1st child be terribly unsupportive so when the next come she wont want you there anyway..Try this "Can you hurry up the game is coming on soon!" or "You're not trying hard enough if i was doing it we would have been done hours ago" those are sure fire way to get out of the next birth, but be careful they could also be sure fire ways out of living.
DK rememebr hospitals have Wi-Fi so when you do have kids you shouldnt miss any posting times. Here's the headline for you. "DK Recommends Not Blogging In the Delivery Room" i can even give you an opening for the story. I regret to inform you all this will be my last post. Mrs. DK has informed me that after she recovers from the birth of our child she will become a widow. My funeral service will be held at...
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