BUFFALO — Jason Bay knows the Mets have gotten out of the gate slowly following the All-Star break, and he is confident he can help the team soon.
Asked if he was ready to play for the Mets when they open a three-game series at Washington tonight, the left fielder said: “Yeah, I don’t see why not. If I feel like I have been — like I’m anticipating — yes. But I don’t want to jump too far ahead.”
Bay has learned the hard way there’s no sense making predictions.
He played his third rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo last night, batting second and manning left field as he comes back from the June 15 concussion he suffered diving for a ball.
He went 0-for-2 with two walks and also lost a ball in the twilight in left field to start the eighth inning of a 4-2 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens.
“I think he’s going in the right direction,” Bisons manager Wally Backman said. “I’ve seen his swing coming back [Sunday] to the way it was a few years ago. Does that carry over to the major leagues? I hope it does, because the kid is working hard.”
The injury and slump-plagued Bay said any lingering effects from the concussion are gone and now he just has to get his legs underneath him on the field.
“I feel pretty good,” Bay said. “We have some lefties coming up. I desperately want to be out there. Hopefully I’ll be in Washington [tonight]. I’ve felt fine for the concussion in [easily] two weeks.”
He acknowledged he has learned the hard way not to expect too much too soon.
“It’s just unfortunate,” he said. “I’m understanding the rehab process a little too much.”
Bay struggled in two games with Single-A St. Lucie before going 3-for-10 in three games with Buffalo prior to last night. He knows he’ll have to adjust when he makes his return to the Mets.
“The tough part is I missed six weeks with the rib [injury] and then came back and was back for a week,” Bay said. “It took me four or five days in the big leagues to get my footing again and then, Boom, right back on the DL [with the concussion]. It’s almost starting from scratch. Then it’s not just timing, it’s everything. It’s almost like spring training.”
He would like Opening Day to get here soon.