Posted by Joe Hamrahi on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 5:29 pm

In lieu of the New York Mets’ reported signing of Jason Bay, I thought it might be interesting to go back in time to March 2007 and “replay” the interview I conducted with Jason during Spring Training in Florida. So here it is…

As we prepare for the upcoming season, we continue our series of interviews here at Baseball Digest Daily. Today we are fortunate to talk with Pittsburgh Pirates star outfielder Jason Bay.

Baseball Digest Daily (BDD): Hi Jason, how are you?

Jason Bay (JB): Good, how are you?

BDD: How are things going down there? Still nice and warm?

JB: It was cold for a bit, but it’s been more like Spring Training weather now…a nice change from the northeast.

BDD: How is the knee holding up?

JB: It’s great. It’s not an issue anymore. It feels much better. I don’t have any pain like I did last year. If I would had known it would feel this good, I would have (had surgery) much sooner.

BDD: You’ve been an iron man of sorts out in the field. How important was it for you to get back out there and start playing everyday?

JB: It’s big. If you’re used to being out there and then you’re not, it’s like you’re cheating yourself. At the same time, as you get a little older, a day or two off here or there in the right spot might do you a little good. But, I think it’s just human nature for most guys, as you’re playing this game, to feel like “I’m here so I might as well get out there.”

BDD: You’re coming off two seasons that would merit MVP consideration on most any other team. Is it frustrating putting up those types of numbers but still losing so many games as a team?

JB: It’s definitely frustrating. It’s tough to really relish personal success if the team, and everyone around you, isn’t going as well. I would gladly trade my personal success for the team to do well. At the same time, I realize I’m a big part of that success so I have to keep doing what I’m doing. We have some other guys who can contribute and hopefully our pitching will hold up…allowing us to translate some of that into wins.

BDD: Speaking of other guys, you have the beginnings of a formidable lineup developing around you, Sanchez, LaRoche, and Paulino. Who else has really impressed you offensively this spring?

JB: You look around and you see those main guys in the middle of the order. Then there are some other guys who want to get a spot on the roster…guys like a Don Kelly or Mike Ryan. They have to battle for a spot, and they’re doing all they can. Xavier Nady missed the first couple of weeks, but got a bunch of hits the last few times out. I think the big thing is the focus on the 3-4-5-6 guys in the lineup, and you realize there are guys that can hurt you too. Hopefully that’s the way other teams look at it so that they can’t just concentrate on getting a certain guy out in the order.

BDD: You signed a 4 year deal a few years ago for under $5 million per year. Do you have any regrets about signing that contract with the money being thrown around these days?

JB: Not really. I guess the parameters in which I signed that deal were a lot different than the parameters now. I signed the contract through my arbitration years so it was the four years the Pirates had my rights anyway. But I just signed through my arbitration years. I didn’t sign through my free agency years. You know baseball is one of those things that rewards service time. Once you get your time in, you see what happens. (That deal) set up my family. I have a little daughter now. Hopefully at the end of this contract, when I become a free agent, things will still be where they are now or relatively close so it won’t matter.

BDD: The Pirates have been accused of being frugal with their money. I realize it’s a small market team, but were you pleased the way things went this offseason?

JB: Yeah, there were a couple of needs. We needed a left-handed bat plus some power. When you look back to the beginning of the offseason, you look out and see that Adam LaRoche was the number one guy who fit that role…with his bat and age and all those things. That was big. There are a number of teams that want certain players, but to actually go out and get those players is a different thing. So that was one good thing.

There was also a need for a right-handed starting pitcher, but at the same time, you can’t just throw money around. The Pirates can’t throw money around and take big risks on big contracts…where if something doesn’t work out, you have to eat it. Some other teams have that luxury. You have to be a little more analytical and a little more cautious, I guess, and it didn’t work out that we could get anyone that fit that bill. So rather than just wasting (money), I think it was a smart decision to just move on.

BDD: Do you feel it was harder to get noticed growing up playing baseball in Canada as opposed to the U.S.?

JB: No question. It has opened up more recently, but when I grew up in a rural BC town, I played as many games as I could in Washington and Idaho because it was the closest competition. And even in northern Washington and Idaho, the exposure wasn’t like it was in California or Florida or another one of these hot beds.

I wouldn’t say it was a disadvantage though. It wasn’t ideal, but I think with the emergence of guys like myself, Justin Morneau, Jesse Crain…guys that have done well…people are looking a little more to Canada than they did before, and it’s getting better exposure.

BDD: I had an opportunity to see you live at your infamous performance in the home run derby in 2005. How much pressure was it performing on that stage? 

JB: The biggest thing for me was I had never done anything like that on any level. There’s not really much you can do to practice for it. You go up there and swing and hope things go well.

They asked me to do it again last year. But because Detroit was my first All-Star game, it took up so much of time along with all the media questions. I didn’t really get to enjoy the real reason I made the All-Star team. I wasn’t really enjoying the experience. Like you said, I was putting a lot of worry and a lot of stress into the home run derby. Granted I didn’t hit any home runs, but it was a great experience and when it was over I knew I could just relax.

It takes a certain type of person to do well in the home run derby. I may hit 30 home runs, but if you watch me in batting practice, I’ll be lucky if I get 2 out of the ballpark. Whereas, we got guys here who may hit 2 home runs during the season but could put 50 out during a batting practice session. It kind of plays to a certain person, and having done it now, I realize that I am NOT that person!

BDD: So I have to ask, how disappointed were you by Gonzaga’s performance in the NCAA tournament this year?

JB: I always get excited about the tournament. I usually got them going a round or two, but I think this year the writing was on the wall. We had a couple of players suspended, and you looked at the record and the fact it was a rebuilding year…the fact that they got in was a plus. I wasn’t too disappointed because my hopes weren’t too high. I think next year will be a little better, and hopefully we go a little further.

It’s something I take a lot of heat for every year! Everyone has them going to the Elite Eight or something as their sleeper. And every time they don’t, I have to hear about it!

BDD: Well thanks a lot Jason. Best of luck this year, and we’ll talk to you along the way.

JB: I appreciate it.

Special thanks goes out to Jason Bay for being a terrific interview and one of the nicest players you’ll ever meet. Sometimes it’s hard to capture the person in the context of a transcribed interview, but Jason Bay was a class guy and very funny.