"When Jason Bay was given time off over the last two weeks, it was under the pretense of a breather. But Tuesday, when manager Terry Collins put Willie Harris in left field and Bay on the bench, it was for a different reason. Harris hits Jair Jurrjens, and Bay isn't hitting anyone.

Bay suffered through an 0-for-24 slump, prompting a two-day break Thursday and Friday. Back in the lineup, he went 2-for-10 — not enough to raise an argument over his place on the bench.

"I'm a realist," Bay said. "I'm not playing that well. That's the reality of it. Had I been up there hitting .500, I think I'd have a little more reason, have a little more say. This is just the way it is."

Bay had taken some solace in breaking out of the slump, even if it was two singles.

"It's progress, but I'm not out there trying to reward myself for hitting a single," he said. "I'm a much better player than that. It's frustrating. I don't have much else to say. I just battle, same as every day, battle if you're in the lineup. If not, try to get something going.""