You're with me, clutch hitting

"All other hitters are down here- David Ortiz is up here"

Okay, so those of you who aren't tittering like a field mouse at the title of this blog, let me refer you to this little Deadspin story about the sultan of catch phrases and nicknames. I've been meaning to bring this story to your attention for some time now, because it elevates Berman to Wall of Man status. For the full story- it even has a Wikipedia entry. Now all of you should understand when you see me wearing my "You're with me, leather" t-shirt.

The point of my story today, however, does not have to do with Chris Berman. It has to do with the master of disaster... and by disaster, I mean clutch hitting - Big motha-effin' Papi. After his performance last night, securing another Red Sox victory with a walk-off, three-run, frozen-rope over the centerfield wall, I'm officially converting to the church of Papi. All followers must own a Papi jersey (those of you who don't have a birthday gift for me yet, I'm a Large, which translates to a Small if you want it to be in the form of a belly-shirt), chant MVP every time he steps up to the plate (even if you're watching the game in a bar or at home), and kneel down and bow 34 times in the general direction of Santo Domingo, every morning when you wake up.

After last night, D-Ort now owns the all-time record for most HR's by a Red Sox hitter in any one single month AND he currently has three walk-off park-jobs, this season alone! He also has five walk-off hits in less than two months and a grand total of FIFTEEN (you can refresh your memory with a sweet Boston Globe slideshow right here.) in three seasons. He continually comes up big when all other Sox hitters fail to do the job. When he steps up to the dish in late inning hero situations, you think to yourself, "I want to believe he can do this again, but no human being could possibly be that clutch." Then with one swing of the hickory, he proves you wrong. While Coco Crisp is struggling a little bit to live up to his billing, he's having no problem creating interesting sound bites; I think he put it best when he said "You know how they say that it ain't over till the fat lady sings? Here, it ain't over till the big man swings." For all you fellow Sox fans, a little disheartened by the fact that the Yankees just stole one of the most talented players in the league from the Phillies for a few peon prospects, the Soxaholix do a good job of putting things in perspective when they point out "David Ortiz has fahts with more powah than Bobby Abreu."

A quick Wily Mo "chronic back" Pena, update. Trot could be out for three weeks and WMP did a good job in his first night as a replacement, coming a double short of the cycle and driving in 3 runs. That deserves a Wall of Man high-five.