Pedroia has "significant setback with his left knee"

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Pedroia was an original character, easy to read by fans watching on tv, or in person. I was thinking back among Yankee second basemen and the one who matched Pedroia in intensity was Billy Martin. Nowhere near the player Dustin was, but they would both do anything to win, and were pretty good bench jockeys.
 

shaggydog2000

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 5, 2007
11,482
He was possibly the funniest player of my lifetime (I was pre-Bill Lee). Papi was hilarious as well, but Dustin was next level. How many 5'6" pro-athletes can pull off cocky asshole to that degree? He's a Norhern California Hall of Famer, a Red Sox Hall of Famer, and a Short guy Hall of Famer. Longevity might keep him from the MLB hall of fame, but he was an incredible offensive and defensive 2b in his prime. One of the top 2 or 3 in the leauge each way in those years.
 

Plympton91

bubble burster
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2008
12,408
Pedroia signed his extension on July 24,
My personal feeling is that the Players' Union and MLB should get together and redesign things, starting with money. MLB should tell the players, "Here is your half of the money. Divide amongst yourselves as you see fit." That should keep the players busy over the winter.
How would this work in terms of allocating talent among the teams? Would there be an NBA-like atmosphere where 3 top free agents team up and decide to go to Seattle and win a championship together, because they get paid the same everywhere?
 

Plympton91

bubble burster
SoSH Member
Oct 19, 2008
12,408
he should have his number retired and in the Sox HOF. But no shot at Cooperstown. No way.
He’s not all that dissimilar to Kirby Puckett, in losing his career early to a freak injury.

Puckett has him by 500 hits and about 30 points of slugging though. So probably a bridge too far.

I’d take Pedy over Harold Baines though
 

santadevil

wears depends
Silver Supporter
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
6,472
Saskatchestan
Is this the tribute thread? I’m gonna have a lot of laughs when we get there. Loved this guy’s heart, none too many like Pedey.
I'd love to say no
I'd love to tell everyone to go fly a kite, because Pedey's coming back

So....No
Fuck you all, Pedey's coming back to finish his HOF career



But if not, you were one of the best and for me, right at Pedro level of enjoyment to watch playing the game
And yes, since you asked, I haven't dusted my office in a while, that's why my eyes are red
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9HaCXsHQwQ


edit/ Many of the members here have a lot of the same feelings I do. Lots of love of his play in the field, at the bat and all of the stories
Pedey has a ton of fans because of his character and his demeanor
 

The Talented Allen Ripley

holden
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 2, 2003
12,723
MetroWest, MA
No that was before game 3 in Colorado

Before Game 3 of that Series, the Red Sox were walking into Coors Field when a security guard sized up Pedroia, took him for an intruder rather than a ballplayer, and insisted that he produce I.D. Pedroia didn't break stride. Recalling the bomb he hit with his first Series swing, he barked, "I'm the guy who took Jeff Francis onto the Mass Pike. How's that?"

Edit: unless you meant, after he he the homer he had to show ID... which yes, is true
I believe Pedroia said to the guard, "Ask Jeff F*cking Francis who I am."
 
Last edited:

HowBoutDemSox

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2009
10,103
Best moment of cockiness was when the Sox were hit hard by the injury bug one year so Francona put Pedroia in the clean-up spot for a game. Pedroia's reaction was "About $%*%ing time." while he walked past David Ortiz.
And then he went on a buzzsaw of a run at the plate, going 4 for 4 in two consecutive games against the White Sox, prompting this quote from Ozzie Guillén:
“I never thought I would walk a jockey,” said Guillen after the 8-2 loss. “I must be the worst manager ever in the history of baseball right now, walking a guy that just came from being on the top of Big Brown to beat the White Sox. Right now, he’s on a roll.

“I get opportunities to walk him to face Big Papi, I will do it, whoever hits in front of him. This guy right now is on fire. No matter what you throw there he’s going to get it. I can’t believe it, you can change professions from one year to another. To go from the Kentucky Derby to the Boston Red Sox ballpark and perform, that’s amazing.”
 

JimD

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2001
8,681
In threads on this board where the luxury tax, payroll, contracts etc. are discussed, we often see variations on 'It's John Henry's money! He's a billionaire! He can afford (insert player or payroll amount)!'

If that sentiment belongs anywhere, it belongs here. Dustin Pedroia gave everything he had on the field to the Boston Red Sox organization. He was Mookie before Mookie, topped off with a dollop of sh*t-talking attitude and the belief that he had it great in Boston and didn't want to play elsewhere. The team got his best years at an unbelievable bargain price and then happily signed him to a below-market deal when it had the opportunity. Yes, it absolutely sucks for everyone that his injuries have prevented him from authoring a satisfying end to his on-field career but that is the risk that every player and team face. It has been established beyond any doubt that the Red Sox are not going to receive any salary relief, so just pay the man his money and stop with the talk that he should retire and walk away from the remainder the of what he is owed.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
I don’t follow the media discussions here closely — do we think PeteAbe’s sources are in Sox management, or something else?

I ask because I don’t understand how a player who is widely understood to be finished can have a “significant setback” — whoever dropped the story had some sort of agenda. Maybe it foreshadows this situation being brought to closure (i.e., Petey is resigned to his fate and is ready to retire/be released). Or, maybe it‘s just management pumping the brakes on any expectation that Petey might play in 2020, which of course is not news for those of us who have been paying attention.

Edit: Could also be a signal to the free-agent market. The Sox need to sign another infielder, and an ST invite here is a lot more attractive if everyone knows Pedroia won’t be on the Opening Day roster. But I would think people in the industry already knew that.
 
Last edited:

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
I don’t follow the media discussions here closely — do we think PeteAbe’s sources are in Sox management, or something else?

I ask because I don’t understand how a player who is widely understood to be finished can have a “significant setback” — whoever dropped the story had some sort of agenda. Maybe it foreshadows this situation being brought to closure (i.e., Petey is resigned to his fate and is ready to retire/be released). Or, maybe it‘s just management pumping the brakes on any expectation that Petey might play in 2020, which of course is not news for those of us who have been paying attention.
All reports early in the off-season (this link kicked off its own thread back then) were that Pedroia was working out and planned to come to spring training and give it a go, so he wasn't "widely understood to be finished". We all might see it that way and say that Bloom should plan the roster as if he won't play, but according to Pedroia, he wasn't finished and frankly that's all that counts.

The significant setback most likely is yet another occasion of pain/soreness/swelling after exertion that has slowed or shut down every single one of his comeback attempts in the last two years. Or maybe it's yet another minor procedure to "clean up" the knee or drain fluid or who knows what. My guess is that the source is Pedroia or someone directly linked to him, and not the team.
 

Was (Not Wasdin)

family crest has godzilla
SoSH Member
Jul 26, 2007
3,721
The Short Bus
In my heart of hearts, I dont think Pedroia is a Hall of Famer. That being said, is his case all that different from Kirby Puckett, who got in the first year he was eligible (i.e. by the writers, so not a Harold Baines situation)? Puckett hit for a higher average and more power, but their career OPS numbers are not that far apart (.837 to .805 for Pedroia). Pedroia won both RoY and MVP, Puckett won neither. Both were superior fielders, both key parts of two WS winning teams, both had careers shortened by illness/injury. Career WAR almost identical (51.7 for Pedroia, 51.1 for Puckett). Pedroia's peak WAR/JAWS were a little higher, and puts him higher among 2nd basemen than Puckett is among CFs (although both are pretty far down their respective lists).

If Puckett's off field baggage had come up prior to his election, I'm not sure he would have gotten in, as I think a big part of the push for him was his personality. Pedroia has that too, but in a different way, but there is certainly a high level of respect from his peers/opponents.

TL-DR Pedroia not a HoF'er, I'm not sure Puckett belongs either.
 

Savin Hillbilly

loves the secret sauce
SoSH Member
Jul 10, 2007
18,783
The wrong side of the bridge....
In my heart of hearts, I dont think Pedroia is a Hall of Famer. That being said, is his case all that different from Kirby Puckett, who got in the first year he was eligible (i.e. by the writers, so not a Harold Baines situation)? Puckett hit for a higher average and more power, but their career OPS numbers are not that far apart (.837 to .805 for Pedroia). Pedroia won both RoY and MVP, Puckett won neither. Both were superior fielders, both key parts of two WS winning teams, both had careers shortened by illness/injury. Career WAR almost identical (51.7 for Pedroia, 51.1 for Puckett). Pedroia's peak WAR/JAWS were a little higher, and puts him higher among 2nd basemen than Puckett is among CFs (although both are pretty far down their respective lists).

If Puckett's off field baggage had come up prior to his election, I'm not sure he would have gotten in, as I think a big part of the push for him was his personality. Pedroia has that too, but in a different way, but there is certainly a high level of respect from his peers/opponents.

TL-DR Pedroia not a HoF'er, I'm not sure Puckett belongs either.
Agreed -- Puckett is an excellent comp, and neither should be in the Hall (though both are quintessential, first-team HOVG).
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,017
Oregon
I’d take Pedy over Harold Baines though
This raises an interesting point in terms of Pedroia's possible chances ... one of the veterans committees. Selection by his peers would be the route, however slim, to get him to Cooperstown ... although the inability of Lou Whittaker to muster enough votes through this process would likely work against Pedroia's chances as well.

Meanwhile, the final 3-for-31 in his career is going to piss him off for the rest of his life, since it dropped him below .300 lifetime
 

NickEsasky

Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
Silver Supporter
SoSH Member
Jul 24, 2001
9,190
I remember reading an article years ago about Pedroia in college and how his coach at ASU basically created the "monster" of brash Pedroia. IIRC he was leading off his freshman year against a tough Friday pitcher and when he came back to the dugout and guys asked how his stuff was etc. he was honest that the pitcher was filthy. His coach pulled him aside and said as a leadoff hitter he can't be psyching guys out like that so after that every pitcher they faced stunk and had nothing. Does anyone else remember this story? I tried to find it via Google but didn't really know what to search for outside of Pedroia and ASU coach.

Fake edit: Found the link. So he was already brash but the anecdote was correct.

https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/boston-red-sox-dustin-pedroia-game-has-always-been-bigger-than-his-stature-041416
 

bob burda

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
1,549
This is one of my favorites, from his rookie year, and still makes me laugh - his post game comment after a brawl with ejections that started with Daniel Cabrera trying to bean Pedroia in retaliation for Coco Crisp causing him to balk: "I was upset they took him out of the game. He's good to hit. He's 9-15. The guy [stinks]. "

Game coverage here:
http://archive.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/09/08/victory_dance/
 

E5 Yaz

Transcends message boarding
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,017
Oregon
I've been thinking this over, and have decided that for me the iconic Pedroia on-field moment is the at-bat against Gagne
 

WheresDewey

New Member
Nov 18, 2007
131
Taiwan
I love the "F- yeah!" he gives after seeing the runner is out. Hopefully he comes back as some kind of coach. Thanks for the laser show, Dustin.
 

sittingstill

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 17, 2005
1,585
Bay State Road
For me, it was a little later that same season.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7B5pggq8hQ
I’ll never forget that play, for a lot of reasons. One was that when I was coming out for the top of the inning, I’d put a humongous load of sunflower seeds in my mouth, and now I was standing out at my position thinking, F—-, I just put an entire bag of sunflower seeds in my mouth. It was a little hard to breathe. And besides that, I had to pee.

So really, I was hoping it would be a quick inning. Miguel Tejada was up, and I was just thinking, Whatever happens here, if the ball comes my way I just hope I don’t either choke on my sunflower seeds or pee my pants. That was pretty much the whole thing on my mind the whole inning.

Sure enough, Tejada hit a chopper, bounding over Clay and heading right up the middle. I went after it, and I swear if you look closely at the replay, you can see the sunflower seeds just spraying out of my mouth. I mean, they were just flying everywhere.
From Pedroia's book Born to Play: My Life in the Game
 

shaggydog2000

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 5, 2007
11,482
Thank you for posting this.

I’ll never forget Pedey explaining half-seriously that “Big Papi” was Spanish for “Large Father.“ He’s hilarious.
Which group do you think was funnier:

2002 with Pedro, Manny, and unintentional comedy genius Ricky Henderson

or

2007 with Manny, Papi, and Pedey

I go back and forth on this.
 

ookami7m

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,657
Mobile, AL
Which group do you think was funnier:

2002 with Pedro, Manny, and unintentional comedy genius Ricky Henderson

or

2007 with Manny, Papi, and Pedey

I go back and forth on this.
Don’t forget comedic genius Coco Crisp on the 2007 team along with the joke that was Julio Lugo.
 

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
I have no idea if he has an interest in it, but I would love to see Pedroia on the media side for NESN.

Dude is genuinely hilarious and entertaining, and some of his most memorable moments in Boston are off the field.
 

Al Zarilla

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 8, 2005
58,871
San Andreas Fault
This raises an interesting point in terms of Pedroia's possible chances ... one of the veterans committees. Selection by his peers would be the route, however slim, to get him to Cooperstown ... although the inability of Lou Whittaker to muster enough votes through this process would likely work against Pedroia's chances as well.

Meanwhile, the final 3-for-31 in his career is going to piss him off for the rest of his life, since it dropped him below .300 lifetime
I saw a Mickey Mantle clip in which he said he was really disappointed he dipped below .300 in his last year. He said in that aw shucks voice of his “I really feel like I’m a .300 hitter.” Of course, he had a great career, .300 or not, despite having terrible knee problems most of his career. No doubt hall of famer. I hope Pedey gets in, down the road probably. His personality, fire and leadership might push him over the top, a la Kirby Puckett. Pedey’s lack of 2000 hits kind of stands out though.
 

joe dokes

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
30,240
I saw a Mickey Mantle clip in which he said he was really disappointed he dipped below .300 in his last year. He said in that aw shucks voice of his “I really feel like I’m a .300 hitter.” Of course, he had a great career, .300 or not, despite having terrible knee problems most of his career. No doubt hall of famer. I hope Pedey gets in, down the road probably. His personality, fire and leadership might push him over the top, a la Kirby Puckett. Pedey’s lack of 2000 hits kind of stands out though.
I think we've had this discussion before, but Al Kaline did the same. In one of Roger Angell's (I think) books, he wrote about a Kaline fan who meticulously followed Kaline's every AB in his last year to track his BA.
 

Tyrone Biggums

nfl meets tri-annually at a secret country mansion
SoSH Member
Aug 15, 2006
6,424
Absolute number retired and entrance into the HOF, I loved his style but it’s probably what led to a short career. I’ll miss him if this is truly it.
Pedey is going to be a very interesting case. I think he falls short. If he never gets hurt a few years ago he's probably getting in 4th or 5th year.
 

joyofsox

empty, bleak
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
7,552
Vancouver Island
One report says Pedroia will not report with the other position players next Monday, but Pete's tweet makes it sound like he won't be in camp at all. Which probably makes more sense considering he had a big setback last month.
 

bsj

Renegade Crazed Genius
SoSH Member
Dec 6, 2003
22,774
Central NJ SoSH Chapter
Love the guy but he isnt coming back. Hes not retiring because he would lose a ton of money, nor should he, but I just dont see the benefit in teasing these potential returns. Just not happening. Organizationally time to turn the page.