BOSTON -- We knew the statistics, but October has a way of taking those numbers and burying them at the bottom of the leaf pile.
Sample sizes that ballooned over the course of a six-month regular-season slate suddenly fizzle in the postseason spotlight. Conor Gillaspie, of all people, provided the decisive punch in San Francisco's Wild Card Game triumph earlier this week. Lonnie Chisenhall, who rarely starts against southpaws, tagged David Price for an ego-bruising three-run homer on Friday afternoon.
October baseball often creates new heroes. It bucks trends. It offers few explanations for its madness.