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| Two days I’ll never forget | 07.15.09 at 2:53 am ET |
ST. LOUIS — So I become an American citizen and a week later I meet the President. That’s how it works for everybody, isn’t it?
Getting a chance to shake President Barack Obama’s hand prior to Tuesday night’s All-Star Game was undoubtedly the moment I’ll most remember when looking back at my third trip to the Midsummer Classic, but there was so much more than that. There always is.
Sure, I won’t forget the fact that we won the game, 4-3, especially if we find ourselves playing at home for the first game of the World Series. And I will always recall getting the chance to make the trip with my Red Sox teammates, especially first-timer Tim Wakefield. Yet, what separates these games are the little memories, such as having to catch my daughter from running on the field during the Home Run Derby. (Fortunately they were in a commercial break.)
Workout day. I run back in from the field to get sunglasses. Locker room completely empty except Ichiro stretching on the floor and his translator sitting on the chair beside him. Sow we make small talk, and I ask him where he lives in Seattle because I lived in the suburbs.
Well, I had barely got the last word out when Ichiro says something in Japanse. Then his translator turns to me, deadpanned and straight-faced and says, “I’m going to mess with your house.” The way he said it was malicious, and Ichiro is on the floor dying laughing like it was the funniest thing ever. I was just like, “OK, I’ll see you guys out there.” I didn’t know what to say. It was weird.
There was plenty more to come away with.
For example, from the time we went on the field one thing I couldn’t take my eyes off were the snipers on top of the stadium. Even in the fourth inning, I couldn’t stop looking at them because from where I was it looked like a video game, with the dark silhouette and with the sun setting. I’m thinking, “These are snipers! That’s so cool!”
Or coming to realize that they just played a recording of the Canadian National Anthem instead of having somebody come in and sing it. That seemed strange, that they couldn’t find anybody in St. Louis who knew “Oh Canada.” Morneau and I could have done it if they really needed somebody.
And then there was playing in the actual game (which was just 2 hours and 31 minutes, which is truly unbelievable). On the third pitch of my first at-bat I hit a single to center. Then I lined out to right on the first pitch I saw, in the fourth. Put it this way — you know you’re probably going to get fastballs from the best pitchers around, so you aren’t preaching patience. There’s no “Moneyballing” it in this game.
On my way out of the clubhouse at the end of the day — which I punctuated by pulling from my pocket a plastic grass ornament that my daughter hijacked from the lunch buffet — it was a great time with plenty of memories. Hopefully I’ll get another chance to do it all again next time around … even if it doesn’t mean meeting up with the President.
42 Comments for “Two days I’ll never forget”
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July 15th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Jason Bay, you’re a class act! And you write well too
I wish you would blog on here more often!
(tune of soccer chant “Olé”) Go Bayyy, Go Bay Go Bay Go Bayyy, GO BAYYY, GO-OO BAYYY
July 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
What a great commentary from a fabulous athlete! Not only did the Red Sox do far better than the Dodgers as far as personalities and sincerity go, they (we) also got a damn good baseball player who continues to bring class to this team.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
This is exactly why Jason Bay is my all time favorite baseball player.
There are no airs about Jason. He is genuine and sincere.
Jason you are a class act.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
This was a great blog from a great athlete. I am glad Theo had the sense to make the deal, last year. Hopefull, you will have 3-4 more great years with the Red Sox…
July 15th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I would have LOVED to hear Jason and Justin singing “Oh Canada”!
July 15th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Jason you are a breath of fresh air.We are fortunate to have a ball player that wants to give 100% effort at bat and in the field at all times.
Congratulations on becoming a U.S citizen.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
wow i think jason needs to lighten up a bit, ichiro was just trying to make a friend and jason had to take him too seriously. i think ichiro really needs to go mess with his house now.
July 15th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Thank you, Jason.
July 15th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I concur. This is funny and wish to read more from Jay Bay. It’s fun reading from the player’s perspective.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Jason – Thanks for your post. We all hope you remain in a RS uniform for years to come.
July 16th, 2009 at 3:08 am
Jason Bay, what a class act. Thanks for making us forget about a World Series MVP and playing hard at a high level every night. It’s always noticed. Please stay in Boston for years to come.
Ps: WEEI needs to cut Bay the same deal they gave Schilling.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Nice reading. You should be writing a daily or at least weekly blog.
Congratulations on becoming a United States Citizen!
Noni
July 16th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Jason, this was a wonderful post, and I’m sure I’m not alone in wishing that we had gotten to see you chasing your adorable daughter as she made her mad dash towards the field. You bring so much to this team, and I hope to see you wearing a Red Sox uniform for many years to come.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Very cool. How nice to get an inside personal view of the summer classic. Hopefully many more to come. Thanks for sharing.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:39 am
You are a class act Jason. But i would like to correct you and your last statement “even if it doesn’t mean meeting the president.” Your goal should be winning the world series and you then you would get another opportunity to meet the president when you and the Red Sox get invited to the White House. And please, re-sign with the hometown team.
PS Thanks for becoming a US citizen, a much needed class addition.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Jason,
Being a typical Red Sox fan, the ‘Ichiro Story’ is the one I’ll focus on: Everybody knows he speaks fluent English. For him to diss you in Japanese is reprehensible. I always hated when Gary Sheffield dismissed Ichiro’s record of hits in a season with, ‘Anybody could do that, just hitting singles’. Maybe Sheffield knows more than we give him credit.
Like I said, I’m a Red Sox fan, mess with one of our players and you’ll answer to RED SOX Nation.
Anyway… great blog. Keep up the good work.
wfalcon76
July 16th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Jason,
I have been a fan since your Pittsburgh early days. I hope you truly are a smart man and you get out of Boston at the end of the year. Your to classy of a guy to be abused away Sox management abuses there players. They will never pay you what your worth. They dumped Pedro,Nomar, and Manny because they love yes men like Pedroia Lester and Youk. They will not pay Papelbon and will bad mouth him out of town because they want to pay players cents on a dollar. Go back to the NL to a big market team and show Boston what they missed.
July 16th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Hey Mark,
Why don’t you take a long walk off a short pier?
-G
July 16th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Wayne,
If you knew anything about Ichiro, you would know that he has a pretty good sense of humor. Everyone in baseball knows that he speaks fluent English (up until this year he has given a profanity laced tirade to the AL team before they take the field), but using the translator was obviously part of the joke and struck him as hilarious even if Jason doesn’t share his sense of humor. And how exactly is he going to answer to Red Sox nation? Are you going to boo him mercilessly -gee, that’s never happpened to an athlete – or are you going to charge the field and prove yourself to the nation as a die hard who’s too easily offended?
July 16th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Was the Canadian anthem booed?
July 16th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Wayne -
You are a tool! Mess with one of “our” players and you’ll have to answer to Red Sox nation? Are you kidding me? Jason Bay is a big boy, he plays in the bigs and makes plenty of money, so he doesn’t need you or “Red Sox nation” to stand up for himself. Obviously Ichiro was having a good time and Bay apparently has no sense of humor.
Another classic was that you actually said the fact that Ichiro “dissed” Bay (overreaction) and that it was “reprehensible” is hysterical! Dude – TAKE IT EASY!!!!!!
July 16th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Mark-
Nomar TURNED DOWN 4 years and $60 million. $15 million a season was, apparently, not enough. But by all means, keep telling yourself they never paid him what he was worth.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Mark – We’d hate to see Jason Bay go. We don’t want him to be sent to NY where players go to die.
July 16th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
i dont think Mark should even be allowed to comment on this site… he has a NYY hat as his icon, are you kidding me?
July 16th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
come back to the pirates, j bay!
July 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
You need to hang with Ichiro, I hear he’s nuts.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:39 am
Ichiro just wants you to come home. COME HOME JASON! We need you in Seattle!!!!!!!!
July 17th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I’m sure Bay and Ichiro can talk it over and become good friends when Bay signs with Seattle during the offseason. The writing is on the wall – he, and i’m sure his wife, want to be home in Seattle and he’s said as much in most interviews. He doesn’t say it directly cause he doesn’t want to burn any bridges but it’s obvious to those who pay attention. The only question will be if Seattle wants to pay him 15mill/year for him to play here. If he was set on being in Boston for the next 5 years he would have signed already unless you believe the rumors that Boston is seriously low-balling him. If Boston really wants him they need to write a blank check and tell him to fill it in because if he goes to FA – he’ll sign with Seattle for basically whatever they offer.
As for your nonsense about the redsox nation – nobody outside Boston really cares about it and Ichiro will be fine, lol. Bay obviously doesn’t know him or ever hung out with him so its not surprising that he doesn’t know his humor yet. Like I said, they’ll be good friends when they are on the same team next year, lol.
July 17th, 2009 at 9:11 am
First things first – I’M A YANKEE FAN!
Now on to Jason Bay. Through years I’ve loved some Red Sox and hated others. Jason Bay makes it hard to hate the Red Sox because of his professionalism, classy baseball, and sportsmanship. Red Sox fans are lucky to have him roaming LF and if you don’t lock him up soon, I hope the Yanks open up the wallet for him. (Message to Cashman – if you can pay $118 million on Jason Giambi, this Jason is worth $125 million)
I totally appreciate a player that takes the time to share with his fans his own wonderful experiences. Is a way of showing appreciation because the fans selected him and cheer him on.
You go boy!
July 17th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Enjoy it while it lasts Jason. If you don’t accept the low-ball offer the Sox will inevitably throw at you, expect to see the propaganda wings of the Sox (Boston Globe and NESN) start writing trash stories about you and the fans will turn on you in a second. I admire any baseball player with the guts to play in Boston, everyone gets eaten alive here.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Colin,
I could not have said it better myself. It’s rediculous how NESN and WEEI trashes guys when they are either on the way out, or have left. I hope he goes back to the NL say for the Cubs, or Mets and gets what he deserves. The Sox will not give him that, they will low ball him right outta town.
Red Sox nation…..is that Like Raider nation….lol
July 17th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Jesus Christ Jason. Do you have zero personality? The only interesting part of this article is Ichiro and even there you have some weird reaction.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Wow you Red Sawk fans are really butt kissers.
Philadelphia Phillies – 2008 World Series Champions!!!
July 17th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Jason, your blog was interesting and it would be nice to see you amintain a blog as does Curt Schilling. I also hope you spend the rest of your playing career with the Reed Sox for all the good reasons people have listed above. As far as Ichiro goes, maybe you should have Dice-K’s translator say the same thing to Dice-K. Dice just might think you’re the funniest guy around…or he might look at you as though you had three eyeballs. Based on one of those two reactions, you will then know that Ichiro is either a real funny guy (using obviously Japanese humor), or somebody who needs a check-up from the neck up.
July 18th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Hi, I’m a baseball fan in japanese.
I think translator took miss.
First, “be going to visit” was said “お邪魔します(ojamashimasu)”, but “邪魔(jama)” alone means “disturb” or “mess”.
The translator maybe misstook those expression.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:16 am
loved the game! would’ve been awesome if i could be at the ballpark with beer.
in defense of ichiro’s comment, if i may, like someone already pointed out i think it was probably mis-translated. it’s very unlikely that he says something like “i will mess with your house”. i hope you’ll ask ichiro what he meant.
July 18th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Jason, please stay in Boston where you will have a very good chance of winning a world series or two.
Mark, you do not seem to know that the Red Sox have had the 2nd highest payroll in baseball over the last several years or that the Sox have won two World Championships in the last six years and have a team that can win it again this year; if it takes “yes men” to win the world series I am all for it.
July 19th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Ichiro is indeed a pretty strange person. I happen to be a native Japanese speaker and know of a bunch of this sort of eerie comments by & episodes of Ichiro through the Japanese media. In the case of Mr. Bay, what I am certain is that THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM OF TRANSLATION AT ALL. EVEN IN JAPANESE, MOST OF HIS COMMENTS ARE VERY BIZARRE AND SOMETIME UTTERLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE. Here is a link to support my claim.
http://www.slate.com/id/2171520/
This scout is right. It’s just the way he talks. He is known to have a very wicked sense of humor which is hard to understand even in Japanese. Some of his comments are silly, some are a bit perverted and others often offensive and even nonsensical. I think he just can’t talk like normal people do. He recognizes himself to be a superstar despite being a high school grad. I suspect that he’s sort of forcing himself to say something extraordinary and remarkable and that leads him to make some such weird utterance as the one Mr.Bay heard the other day.
One other thing that isn’t recognized by many that I want to emphasize here is that Ichiro doesn’t speak english as fluently as the american media say he does. You obviously don’t need a translator to make a simple conversation, if you are a decent english speaker. In every single interview, he uses a translator. He obsviously feels very uncomfortable answering in English. I’ve never seen him constructing more than 3 significant sentences in a row in English in answering whatever question.
In Seattle, Ichiro is often described as being selfish and he hasn’t got along with his teammates very well, as everyone probably knows. Less known is the fact that he doesn’t maintain a positive relationship with his Japanese media in Seattle as well. When they interview him before or after the game, they always have to be very careful in doing so, for they know that Ichiro is always temperamental and occasionally disdainful. Ichiro is excessively picky about the choice of words in asking questions. If he doesn’t like it, he ridicules the interviewer instead of answering to it. IN A WORD, HE IS A VERY DIFFICULT PERSON. I suspect that the reason he failed to have a good relationship with his teammates in the last couple of years is because he talks to his colleagues just in that way he talks to the Japanese media. So it’s not about language, not about translation that matters here.
As a Japanese, I’m sorry for Mr.Bay. I’m sure that Ichiro was not trying to be mean to you. He just has a wicked sense of humor that hardly anybody can understand. He thought it was funny and he probably believed that Mr.Bay finds it funny. It seems to me that he simply tried too hard this time.
Nobu
August 5th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Hey Jason, we love you in Boston and pray that you decide to stay here. You are one of my favorite players and I admire your professionalism and dedication to the game. I read a lot about you and am so glad you came to Boston. Congratulations on becoming an American citizen. You have given our team so much this year. Please sign with Boston at the end of the season and stay a Red Sox for many years. It would make a lot of us very proud. Best of luck to you for the rest of the season!
August 14th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Hi Jason – My son and I were there during All-Star week too and those days that you will never forget will be days we will never forget either. You helped make his dream come true – as well as mine. Seeing him out on the red carpet with you as you signed (of all things) a Pirates baseball card. We were there for his Make a Wish trip. I’m not sure which was more exciting for him meeting you, Wakefield, Youkalis, and Beckett or meeting the President. The entire trip was magical and I thank you for taking part in it. By the way – as a mom I loved seeing you carrying that diaper bag!
December 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Mark, you are so ignorant, it makes me sick! Keep your dumb yankee ideas to yourself! Don’t concern yourself with the Sox, it’s none of your business. They will be fine this new year, especially when they roll over the Evil Empire, you and all others who think as you do are going to get the surprise of your lives! The Yankee fans are wimps compared to .sox fans, Red Sox Nation reigns baby!!
December 30th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
one thing i noticed is that im a sox fan and the sox and the yanks have a great fan base but also probly the most obnoxious fans too and were both bad from what i hear the people from the west everybody hates the sox cause we still spend a lot of money granted not as much as the yanks but we still spend way too much ourselves