I think that was before game 3, at Coors. (Edit: I see that was covered)After he had to show ID to a Colorado ballpark guard to get in the gate?
The actual quote I think was more profane than cited above.
I think that was before game 3, at Coors. (Edit: I see that was covered)After he had to show ID to a Colorado ballpark guard to get in the gate?
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?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.
He’s not all that dissimilar to Kirby Puckett, in losing his career early to a freak injury.he should have his number retired and in the Sox HOF. But no shot at Cooperstown. No way.
My license plates are SOX15. Sad day.I really want(ed) 15 to come back, even if just for a curtain call. How can he not be an all-time favorite?
I'd love to say noIs 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 believe Pedroia said to the guard, "Ask Jeff F*cking Francis who I am."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
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: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.
“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.”
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.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.
Extreme Cribbage!Any word on what he was doing when he sustain the (re)injury?
This is awesome.My license plates are SOX15. Sad day.
Maybe. I pulled that paragraph from an articleI believe Pedroia said to the guard, "Ask Jeff F*cking Francis who I am."
Agreed -- Puckett is an excellent comp, and neither should be in the Hall (though both are quintessential, first-team HOVG).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.
Working out with Yoenis Cepedes on his farm.Any word on what he was doing when he sustain the (re)injury?
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.I’d take Pedy over Harold Baines though
Could have been worse ... could have been Mark FidrychWorking out with Yoenis Cepedes on his farm.
For me, it was a little later that same season.I've been thinking this over, and have decided that for me the iconic Pedroia on-field moment is the at-bat against Gagne
Yep. It’s this for me. I was driving across the country and saw the no hitter happened via the box score. Went back and watched clips and was blown away by that play. I’ve seen it countless times now. Pure insanity that he was able to make that.
From Pedroia's book Born to Play: My Life in the GameI’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.
Thank you for posting this.From Pedroia's book Born to Play: My Life in the Game
Which group do you think was funnier:Thank you for posting this.
I’ll never forget Pedey explaining half-seriously that “Big Papi” was Spanish for “Large Father.“ He’s hilarious.
Don’t forget comedic genius Coco Crisp on the 2007 team along with the joke that was Julio Lugo.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.
Was this 07 or 08? Add Julian into the group! View: https://youtu.be/gyyLh08vIagWhich 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.
They would have to use a seven second delayI 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.
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.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 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.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.
07 was also the pizzer thrower.Was this 07 or 08? Add Julian into the group! View: https://youtu.be/gyyLh08vIag
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.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.
I assumed RGB was talking about the Red Sox HoF, since the reference was paired with retiring his number.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.