Jason Bay, Clutch Hero

I know, I know: clutch statistics are meaningless, individual at-bats don't predict anything, Manny is still a phenomenal player, etc., etc. That's the intellect talking, doing its rational thing.

But there's also the heart, and the heart knows this: Jason Bay just hit his third home run in as many games to give the Sox the lead they just might need to put the Rays into the ground. He did it with two outs, with no men on board, with chances dying on the vine like soon to be swirling leaves of Fall. And man, did he look fucking pumped when that sucker went into the Monster Seats, like he was giving voice to every cheering maniac in that crowd.