In this a US Presidential election year, the phrase “As Ohio goes, So goes the Nation” will be trotted out in every newspaper column and shouted out by every talking head on television. The theory behind that particular mantra is that you cannot become President of the Untied States without having Ohio on your side of the ledger come election nights end. Indeed, no Republican candidate has ever won the race to the White House without taking victory in Ohio. That makes Ohio important, it separates whether a candidate wins or losses. The same can be said for the Red Sox and Dustin Pedroia
In the off season as new Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine, was doing some research on his players, David Ortiz filled the new boss in on what to expect from second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Get ready to see the best baseball player you’ve ever seen,” Ortiz said.
Valentine, would have to agree with his designated hitter assessment, after witnessing Pedroia will his team to their first victory last night in Toronto.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the sixth inning and looking listless at the plate, the Red Sox needed a spark, some energy. Up stepped Dustin Pedroia, the equivalent of the Duracell bunny after it downed a six pack of Red Bull. Petey as he is affectionately known by fans and team mates alike sent a neck high fast ball in the right field stands to cut the deficit to one.
Pedroia, was not done however, as in the 9th he started the game winning three run rally with a leadoff double off Toronto closer Sergio Santos.
The Red Sox as the currently are constructed are a professional team. A bunch of corporate middle mangers who are good at their job, yet lack that X factor that would see them rise up the ranks. Pedroia is that X factor for this team. If his team mates are suit and tie kind of guys then Petey is ripped jeans and t shirt.
At times this Red Sox team displays the energy of a retirement home at nap time, Pedroia is the exception. A throw back player to the “Idoits” of 2004 that won the world series, Pedroia plays the game hard and with fun. While Kevin Youklis stomps around the dugout throwing Helmets and bats after every failed at bat, Pedoria is working on unique handshakes which each individual teammate.
While other players avert their gaze hastily to their Ipads, or field fake phone calls on their phones when they see a member of the media make their way to towards them, Pedroia is more than happy to become the voice of the team.
In an amusing moment during last nights game, Red Sox play by play announcer, Don Orsillo , revealed that Pedroia had come up to him during spring training and requested that whenever Petey hit a home run that Orsillo yell out La Luna meaning the moon.
People might construe the fact that Pedroia would request such a statement to be arrogance or cockiness, It is not, just another example of Pedroia trying to provide a a moment of levity for a fan base and teammates stressed about the Red Sox losing start to the season.
No only did Pedoria talk the talk last night but he also walked the walk. If The Red Sox are to reach the postseason this year Pedroia’s will to win and talent will go along way to determining their fate. As they say “As Pedroia goes, So does the Red Sox.
No comments:
Post a Comment