It’s getting so that I just expect incredible things from Jason Bay every time he steps to the plate. Runner on base? He’ll knock ’em in. Big hit needed? He’ll nail it wherever you want it. Guy in the front row a couple bucks short for a hot dog? No probs; JayBay will jog over, grab the necessary change from his back pocket, and save the day. First date at Fenway going down in flames on the first base side? He’ll excuse himself from the batter’s box, shuffle over to the distressed couple, and school the guy with his eight minute instructional video, “How to Impress a Woman and Win Over Her Friends and Family.”
Seriously, I’m starting to think that there’s nothing the guy can’t do. And I know that’s wrong. Because there will be those dry spells. Those painful arcs of summer days in which the guy can’t hit the side of a barn with a Cadillac. When runners are stranded and strike outs pile up and the sweat of frustration and August heat cascades off my back.
But for now, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy it. Because this guy is the goods. And last night’s win was just the thing we needed after Saturday’s pasting. The only bummer came when Pedroia stumbled out of the box after grounding out in the third, hands cupped over his nut region. Never a good thing, Hoss. Especially with Youk already quarantined in the netherworld between the bench and the disabled list. But the Elf is mighty, and says he’ll be fine:
“I’m all right,” Pedroia said after the game. “Kind of been playing with this for about a week and a half. Just took a swing and my cleat kind of got caught in the ground. Hurt pretty good. Already talked to Tito. He won’t let me play on Tuesday, so then we’ll go on from there. I’ll be out there as soon as I can.”
Word.
