Jason Bay’s first season with the Mets was one he would like to forget, but even a concussion that kept him out of action for most of the second half didn’t make that happen.
“Last year, for all intents and purposes for me, was a lost year, as far as production and injury,” Bay said yesterday.
But the left fielder is confident that he is finally healthy and will be able to contribute next season.
“Since about the last week of the season, I didn’t have any more issues,” Bay said at the team’s holiday party for local students at Citi Field. “Since then, I’ve resumed full everything . . . and no restrictions going forward.”
That’s a far cry from how Bay spent the latter part of the season. His year ended shortly after he crashed into a wall at Dodger Stadium in July and was diagnosed with the concussion.
“It was always about the headaches,” Bay said. “I got so used to having headaches, I didn’t know I had one. . . . Since the end of September, I haven’t had one headache issue.”
Still, he admits there are questions that he needs to answer. Since Bay resumed physical activity he has not done any baseball-specific activities.
“By all accounts, I haven’t played baseball, either,” Bay said. “But the workouts we go through are much more strenuous than baseball, and it’s one of those things, it’s not like a hamstring or an elbow where you try to rehab and make it stronger.”
And he said there are no further tests pending to determine whether he actually is healthy.
“I feel fine, but as far as testing and stuff, they couldn’t find anything wrong in the first place, so there’s no baseline to test it against,” Bay said.
The 32-year-old is hoping his second year with the Mets is better than his first — both for him and the rest of the team — with Terry Collins replacing Jerry Manuel as manager.
“When a change is made, most of the time it’s made because it’s needed, it’s forced,” Bay said. “It’s no slight to anybody in the past, but in our situation, change is good. Maybe try a different direction, and I’m looking forward to it.”
*
A week ago, it looked as if Carlos Beltran might end up with the Red Sox.
When the season starts, he may wish he was in Boston, now that he and the rest of the Mets have to deal with the Phillies adding Cliff Lee to an already loaded rotation.
“Yeah, it’s going to be fun, man,” Beltran said while rolling his eyes. “Good luck. We need to bring good luck to Philly now.”
Beltran said he was aware of the trade rumors that grew louder during last week’s Winter Meetings about him potentially being shipped to the Red Sox.
“I didn’t receive a call from my agent, I didn’t receive a call from the organization, so I don’t worry about it,” Beltran said. “The only thing I have to worry about is to put myself in the condition where I can go to Spring Training and help this team.”
Beltran added that his surgically repaired right knee feels good.
*
New general manager Sandy Alderson said he might not meet with former GM Omar Minaya until January about his future with the organization.