Posted by Isaac Thorn on Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 11:57 am

Like most of us with siblings, I have often been motivated to prove that my brother doesn’t know what he talks about.

Upon hearing of Jason Bay’s pending four-year, $66 million pact with the Mets my brother opined that Bay will be the best left fielder the Mets have has since the days of Garbage Pail Kids and wood grain trim bordered Topps cards.

Assuming Bay passes his physical, the validity of the statement above is worthy of debate. Immediately, it seems that there could be no way that New York hasn’t had a stud left fielder in the last twenty years. The Mets have signed lots of free agents, and spent lots of money over the last two decades.Surely someone better than Kevin McReynolds and his Bad Teen Moustache has played for them.

Heaven forbid my brother would be right about something.

Off the top of my head (which encases a huge, high-powered brain) Daniel Murphy, and the last gasps of Moises Alou and Cliff Floyd come to mind. The Mets have never shied away from signing somebody just because it’s obvious that their body is shutting down and/or falling apart.

The Mets have an appreciation of old players that is similar to a lot of our fathers’ appreciation for older cars that don’t run reliably, or get more than a dozen miles per gallon.

“Back in the day that was the best car on the road. It could hit .300, hit for power, and play great defense!”

Endy Chavez once robbed a home run in the playoffs, but that didn’t exactly propel the Mets to the World Series. It shouldn’t be so had to think of other players who recently played left field for the Mets.

Only looking back over the past 3 years it looked as if (regrettably) my brother may be right. Having been  huge Mets fans for most of our lives, it would seem that he or I would remember if there was a Silver Slugger-winning masher who patrolled left field for our favorite team.

Mostly, memories of aging players in the hospice center part of their careers and slap hitters came to mind. Sure, Bay is the first Canadian to play for the Mets since some zhlub had five at bats for them in the ’70s. To think he will be the first left fielder to play for them in decades who won’t be remembered for one great play, or months  spent on the DL is more captivating.

The more Shance Spencers and Eric Valents that I see have started games in left for the Mets, the more sense his assertion makes.

Timo Perez, Roger Cedeno, Benny Agbayani. Oy vey.

Rickey Henderson falls into the “hospice center part of their careers” classification, which the Mets apparently think is a good reason to sign somebody.

Those who think Jason Bay won’t be able to play sound enough defense should be reminded that the1998 Amazin’s left field was often patrolled by fleet-footed fielders such as Todd Hundley and Tony Phillips.

Bernard Gilkey had a pretty good year in 1996…but his production tapered off quite quickly after that. I guess Gilkey could be the safety pin to pop the hole in my brother’s assertion…but he was only good for one year.

The only explosiveness Vince Coleman brought to the team was thrown from his hands, injuring autograph seekers.

Jason Bay probably will be the best Mets left fielder since Kevin McReynolds. It’s hard to believe…yet if you discount Gilkey’s one good year in 1996, there really isn’t anyone else to throw in the discussion.

While Gilkey’s cameo role in “Men in Black” will live on in eternity, Mets fans probably hope Bay’s second go-round with the Mets will produce more baseball-oriented memories. Postseason play would also be a plus.

I’m sure columnists will be eager to jump on his back if he’s hitting .190 when the calendar turns from April to May, or if a few fly balls don’t end up in his glove.

What they will be remiss to note is that he is more talented than anyone who has played the position in a long time. If his production over the duration of his deal is 70% of what his numbers were last year, that would be a godsend.

Bay will probably hit more home runs in a five-week span than all Mets left fielders combined did in all of 2009.

It will be interesting to see how this deal pans out. Given the track record of Bay’s predecessors, the bar has been set low….to say the least.

Let’s just hope that McReynolds isn’t down in Arkansas, hoping New York’s new free-agent signing won’t have a few monster years.

Mr. McReynolds, my brother and I will still have special places in our hearts for you even if Bay plays to his All Star potential.

Sincerely,

The Thorn Brothers