In Recognition of Aybar's Accomplishments

Lost in the mad lovin' the young Rays are receiving today is perhaps the most important player to Tampa during the ALCS: Willy Aybar.

Aybar, who hit .253 with 10 homers during the regular season, was an offensive beast the entire series. He ended the seven games with a .421 average, six RBIs and two homers in 19 at-bats. But putting all that aside, he had perhaps the most important hit of the ALCS last night when he blasted a solo bomb in the seventh to give the Rays a two-run cushion. The insurance run changed the entire game.

In the top of the eighth, the Red Sox's first ups following that homer, Boston’s first two batters reached. With runners on first and second, no outs, and Pedroia coming up with Papi to follow, there’s a decent chance the Sox manufacture a run there and tie the game. But with the score 3-1, they were forced to let their guys try to drive in the runs, which wasn’t to be as David Price eventually slammed the door with the bases loaded.

The same goes for the top of the ninth. J.D. Drew reached on a leadoff walk. If the Sox are down by one, their entire approach to their last half-inning changes. But thanks to Aybar, Drew’s run meant nothing and Boston miserable 7, 8, 9 spots in the line-up failed to make anything happen.

So, Mr. Aybar, as a hater of all things Red Sox, I’d like to tip my cap to you, sir. Evan Longoria’s smile might make the ladies go crazy, and B.J. Upton may be able to hit the ball into the rafters, but without your homer in the seventh, there’s a decent chance we aren’t sitting here wallowing in Boston schadenfreude.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.