Manny Who? - Jenn

Everyone's been talking about how the Sox might be in trouble in the post season without Manny Ramirez. I mean, face it, he's the only reason the Dodgers are in the playoffs, he's probably got the best batting average in the post season of every player on the current MLB roster and our guy, Mr. Jason Bay has never seen the post season in his whole major league career.

Well, last night Bay made his presence known to Red Sox Nation and the rest of major league baseball and put any question about trading Manny to rest. Sure Manny may have gotten a solo shot last night to help the Dodgers kill the Cubs, but Jason Bay was the reason the Sox won Game 1.

It was a pitcher's duel if ever there was one last night. As Dad already said, the only run the Angels scored was because of a rare error from Jed Lowrie. That one run kept the Angels in the lead through five innings. Then in the 6th, Lackey walked Youkilis. But the Sox had already had men on base in every inning and couldn't get them home. Well, Bay, who was already 0 for 2 on the night, was tired of that. And on an 0-1 pitch that stayed out over the plate he let loose and crushed that ball to left for the 2-1 lead. As both my title and the commentator said last night -- Manny who?

But that wasn't it for the new left fielder. In the 9th with Scot Shields on the mound, Bay added some insurance to the Red Sox lead by smacking a double to right that Gary Matthews couldn't handle. That plated the 3rd Sox run and would have been enough to get the win. But Ortiz happily added some more padding when he smacked a single up the middle to plate Ellsbury for the fourth and final Red Sox run.

Bay has proved himself time and time again. Alright, so he may not be Manny Ramirez, but he's doing his part to keep the Sox in the running for that all important Championship Series. And while Bay doesn't have the stats that Manny has, he has something Manny evidently didn't all eight years he was with the Sox - happiness at being with one of the oldest teams in baseball. And in my opinion that's worth millions more than home runs or batting averages.

Jason Bay is another star in the Sox lineup. And trust me when I say we'll see plenty more from him as the post season continues. Maybe even enough for the comparisons to that other left fielder to stop altogether.