Ortiz adjusts fine-tuning

They look to him. They always have. When David Ortiz strolls into the clubhouse wearing his trademark garish colors, and humming some horrid, indistinguishable song in Spanish, his teammates relax, because it means all is well in Big Papi's universe, and chances are, their universe will benefit as a result.

He is their emotional compass, the catalyst who can ignite the clubhouse in a heartbeat, and they have come to depend on him for a jolt of electricity, both on and off the field.

Sometimes the burden is unreasonable. Sometimes Ortiz is hurt and tired and he is the one who needs a little lift.

"But I know," he said last week. "I have no time to feel sorry for myself. Everyone is a little banged up. And not everyone on this team can hit home runs. So I will try to do that, like I always have."

Last night, in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Red Sox were in pursuit of 19-game winner John Lackey. They were nicking him for hits here and there, yet they remained embroiled in a 1-0 game, with the only true damage done by Kevin Youkilis's solo homer in the first.

So when Youkilis ripped a double to the left-field corner with one out in the third, Big Papi slowly walked up to the plate with one particular notion in mind: Don't let this guy off the hook.

"Everyone knows that Lackey, he's a good pitcher," Ortiz said. "He has good stuff. So when you are facing pitching like that, you have to make sure whenever you get a pitch, you have to do something with it."

You know, like depositing it in the right-field seats for a two-run homer. Ortiz's ninth career postseason home run (which, incidentally, ties with him Jason Varitek for the most all-time by a Red Sox player) broke open the game and enabled Boston's own front-line starter, Josh Beckett, to cruise to a 4-0 victory.

Ortiz, who finished 2 for 3 with a walk, has lamented the lack of power in the Sox' lineup recently, wishing aloud someone other than him or Manny Ramírez could knock a few out of the park. Mike Lowell obliged during the regular season, particularly while Ramírez was on his annual late-season hiatus, but Big Papi knew whom everyone would be looking to once the playoffs began.

"I know this team counts on myself a lot, and a lot of guys count on me and watch how I do things," he said. "I take a lot of responsibility for what's happening around here."

This is not always easy, not when you raise the bar as impossibly high as Ortiz did last season. His 54 home runs were a remarkable curiosity unto themselves, but equally impressive were his five walkoff hits. The man has hit 10 game-ending home runs, and when you accomplish such a dramatic feat that many times, people come to expect you to do it all the time.

As in every time.

Obviously, that is preposterous, but that's what Ortiz encountered this season, when his power dipped to 35 home runs. Never mind that he managed to bat .332 and lead the big leagues with an on-base percentage of .445, all on a balky knee; there was a sense he hadn't delivered as he had in the past.

"I think a lot of people have been hard on David all year," offered Youkilis. "I think it's been tough . . . people have not really looked at David and said, 'Wow, this guy has done an amazing job this year,' even though his home run totals are a bit down."

So, has it been as tough as Youkilis indicated?

"I won't call it tough," Ortiz responded. "People are just kind of used to seeing you coming through at every at-bat, coming through and doing some damage. And the same people that watch the game every day, they never sit down and analyze that this is not an easy game to play.

"This is not like a Nintendo game that you can sit down and hit a home run or a hit a double or get a hit, whatever. There are guys out there pitching and trying to make a living out of it."

Most of them would be on the unemployment line this morning if their future hinged on negating Ortiz in the playoffs. He has hit safely in six straight postseason games, with a .364 average (8 for 22), 2 homers, and 3 RBIs.

He is clearly driving the ball better, in part because of a cortisone shot he received for his knee. The short-term results have been extremely positive, although the long-term effect remains to be seen. Even Ortiz concedes the pain could return at any time.

"My knee has been feeling way better than what it was," he said. "I was really sore before I got [the shot], and I was a little afraid, because that big old needle is coming through your knee. It's not fun to see.

"But the pain has been going, thank God. It's not that easy to play through pain."

The chronic knee injury has limited his ability to drive through with his legs the way he likes. That, in part, caused his drop in power this season. But it was more than that. Pitchers became more careful when Big Papi came to the plate. They were more inclined to steer clear of offering him a decent pitch.

Ortiz is headed for offseason surgery. He has also battled aches in his elbow and back, but he is feeling about as good as can be expected at the most critical time of year. We know this because he has been singing off-key again, and showing up in ensembles like last night's Celtics green sweater with a matching skull-and-crossbones cap.

"He looks to be feeling better," reported outfielder J.D. Drew. "You can see it in his swing. You can also see it in [the clubhouse]. He has that flamboyant personality, and when he's feeling good, it's fun for us to see."

It is not up to one player. It never is. But when Big Papi is feeling right, his team likes its chances.

Jackie MacMullan is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at macmullan@globe.com.