CLEVELAND — In the middle of the visitors' clubhouse at Progressive Field, Jonathan Papelbon took on all comers in a video shoot-'em-up game called Big Buck. Around the corner, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett matched each other shot-for-shot in Golden Tee golf. Daisuke Matsuzaka, other players and even members of the Japanese press that follow the Red Sox around the American League stood transfixed while watching Dustin Pedroia take on those interested in RBI Baseball, a 1980s-era video game.

It's an easy, relaxed atmosphere that the Red Sox strive to create, and with good reason. Unlike the more frenzied pace of games at Fenway Park, the players say they can relax more on the road, where their only focus is baseball.

That environment fits Jason Bay just fine, thank you. A quiet, reserved Canadian native, Bay remembers when he got traded from Pittsburgh to Boston last August and the maelstrom that hovered over him as the replacement for Manny Ramirez. Performing — and fitting in — were his two priorities.

"Last year when I got traded we had a three-game series at home against Oakland, and it was a whirlwind for me. It was crazy," he said.

"I was scuffling a little bit, but then we had a week where we went to Kansas City and Chicago, and that was where I really started to relax and fit in. Not having that external stuff (at home) is a big change. On the road it’s more hanging out, playing cards and buddy-buddy stuff. On the road it’s a little easier."

From the moment he arrived last summer, Bay has fit in perfectly with the Red Sox. He hit .341 with three homers and nine RBI in the playoffs last October, and is off to a blazing start in his first full season with Boston.

Entering Wednesday night’s game against the Indians, Bay was hitting .359, was tied for the team lead with five homers and had knocked in 19 runs.

"It’s normal now. I’m not the new guy anymore," Bay said. "I had a little trial run last year, but now there is nothing new about it. It was a lot easier coming in this year, a lot less hectic. Whether that has anything to do with (a good start), you’d like to think so, but maybe for the most part it kind of feels like I’ve been here longer than I have."

The Red Sox are certainly happy to have him. Not only is he not a clubhouse distraction like Ramirez, he’s a genuine good guy. On Wednesday, Bay was presented with the Chuck Tanner Good Guy Award by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

More importantly, he plays a solid left field and has shown an ability to hit in the clutch.

The latest example came on Monday night, when he broke a scoreless tie with a ninth inning three-run homer in a 3-1 victory over the Indians.

"He hit that ball, and it was a different sound," said Sox manager Terry Francona.

The Red Sox were due to leave Cleveland early Thursday night and traveled to Tampa, where they’ll face a four-game series with the Rays. That’s clearly the A.L. team Bay is most familiar with. In his short time in the league, he’s seen the Rays in big regular-season games and in the playoffs.

"Since I've been here, we've seen them a lot," he said. "Seven games in the playoffs and then open with them this year. They’re good at home. I fully expect a handful from them. It'll be a good series."

Bay says he credits Francona with crafting an atmosphere that’s conducive to winning, even if it means a few wisecracks and plenty of video games.

"It's a very easy place to be comfortable and an easy environment to thrive in. Tito does a good job of keeping our clubhouse loose but ready," Bay said. "I've never been on a team where everyone’s kind of busting chops, but come seven o’clock we’re ready to go. There’s really no nit-picking or anything. Things get magnified with the market that we’re in, but being ready to play is a huge focus here, and we do a real good job with that."

kmcnamar@projo.com