FORT MYERS, Fla.
— Jason Bay is the anti-Manny Ramirez, a player who hustles and doesn’t create headlines or distractions. The contrast between the enigmatic left fielder who left Boston and his soft-spoken successor could hardly be more striking. “I don’t know that I even care about that,” manager Terry Francona said. “He’s a good player and he’s done a good job. And having him the whole year as opposed to a half year, we’re excited about.” The former Red Sox star from south of the border in the Dominican Republic had a rocky parting in his eighth season with the team. His replacement from north of the border in Canada blended in quickly. But there’s at least one similarity. Both can crush the ball. Bay hit nine homers in 49 games after being obtained from Pittsburgh on July 31 in a trade that also sent Ramirez to Los Angeles. Bay finished the year with 31 homers, the third time in four years he surpassed 30. And he never asked out of the lineup like Ramirez did several times, the last coming two days before he was traded when he said his right knee was sore. But MRIs on both knees showed no problem.
“The easiest part for me I guess is ignorance is bliss,” Bay said. “I had heard a little bit of what went on and, obviously, I didn’t know the whole story.