Although he's not playing, the second baseman is the team's elder statesman.
BOSTON — Even when he’s banged up and as far removed from the lineup card as some Triple A wannabe, Dustin Pedroia is a factor for the Red Sox entering this World Series.
He simply can’t avoid it.
Pedroia owns two World Series rings (2007, `13) and the type of clubhouse cred that any team loves. That’s certainly the case with the Red Sox as one-time close pal and now manager Alex Cora is insisting that Pedroia stay as close to the team as possible even though his injured knee ended his season months ago.
To Pedroia’s credit, Cora didn’t even have to ask. He relishes the elder-statesman role, and not because he thinks he’s breaking down at 35 years old.
“I’ve enjoyed this more than any of the years in the past, even like the two years where I was lucky enough that we won,” Pedroia said on Monday afternoon at Fenway Park.
Wait, did he really say he’s enjoying this Red Sox playoff run more than the two seasons when he was a fixture at second base?
“Yeah, that’s right,” he said.
Asked why, Pedroia gave the type of answer that shows why he’s so valuable. It also shows why he’s management timber, even if the days of superstar players who’ve earned millions (Pedroia has raked in just shy of $100 mill) sticking around the game may just be coming to an end.
“I was looking out on the field in Houston and there are a lot of our guys who’ve been up here the last four years,” he said. “Just the way they play the game and the way they go about their work, I’m pretty proud of that because it wasn’t like that four years prior.”
While the Red Sox stars in the 2013 World Series win over the Cardinals included Pedroia, David Ortiz, Mike Napoli, Jon Lester and Koji Uehara, the group helped guide 20-year-old Xander Bogaerts to success. Jackie Bradley Jr. (then 23) and Brock Holt (25) saw some time with that team but didn’t make the playoff roster. Mookie Betts was the prized prospect who was just one season away from the big leagues and future stardom.
“I know I had a certain role in helping build their mentality and how they work so that part I’m really proud of,” Pedroia said. “It stinks not being able to play with them and go through it with them, but I’m not upset about not playing because of the way that they’re approaching the game. It’s cool.”
As Pedroia was ending his praise for the group, Bogaerts wandered over and interrupted. “The man with the experience,” he said, bringing a wide smile to Pedrioa. “He’s like a book. So anyone who needs it, go to him.”
“Five years ago he wouldn’t do that,” Pedroia quickly answered. “He was hiding.”
Now Bogaerts is starring, not hiding. Same for Bradley and Betts. Now they’re leading the team, working the counts and putting in the day-to-day grind that every good team needs.
“Their attitudes are only focused on winning and one pitch at a time and doing it together,” Pedroia said. “Four years ago they probably thought I was nuts saying certain things to them, but now they’re like `Man, this is the environment that you want to win in.'’’
Besides his veteran status there’s one other reason why Pedroia is a factor in this Series. His career was suspended after a dangerous sliding play in Baltimore in April 2017 by then-Oriole Manny Machado. Pedroia was spiked by Machado at second base and instantly fell to the turf. It was one of many aggressive, questionable plays by Machado over the last few years and will make the newest Los Angeles Dodger a marked man in the eyes of Red Sox fans.
“How do I characterize my feelings to him?,” Pedroia said. “I mean I know how I hurt my knee and I know what happened. That’s it. We all know.”
Okay, so Pedroia has a beef with Machado. That’s understandable. It’s just another reason why the little man may not be on the field but he’s very much in the minds of the Red Sox in this World Series.