Dustin Pedroia Should Never be a Captain.

The last thing I expected from this team of malcontents is how Dustin Pedroia has shown a lack of leadership this year.  He seems more interested in always supporting his teammates, regardless of whom and how they have performed.  The latest example was last night’s response to Josh Beckett’s performance.  Pedroia said that Beckett was “Great”.  Are you kidding me?

Great?  Pedroia thinks losing a lead and giving up 5 runs to give the Red Sox another loss and back in the basement of the AL East was great?  A Leader of a team is a player that isn’t afraid to call out a teammate or manager when he feels they are not performing up to par.  I am not saying that he needs to ridicule them publically but he shouldn’t be out saying someone was great, when obviously they weren’t.

All the talk after Jason Varitek retired was how Pedroia should be anointed Captain and have the capital “C” permanently implanted on his jersey.  I for one am glad that the Sox didn’t jump the gun on this one.  Pedroia hasn’t earned that Captain honor, at least not this year.  All Pedroia has been is just another spoiled player who pouts because he doesn’t like his manager.  I got news for you Pedey; you can’t always be the coach’s pet in your lifetime.  Varitek played under numerous managers and was able to remain composed and level headed.  He earned the respect from players, coaches, managers and ownership.

Do you think not going to the mound when the manager comes out to visit the pitcher while the other infielder’s do a show of leadership?  Or sitting on the end of the bench when on the disabled list, sheltered from the other players and not showing any signs of support for your team, leadership?

It didn’t take long for Pedroia to show his distaste for Bobby Valentine, when he called Valentine out on the benching of Kevin Youkilis in game three of the season.  Saying, “maybe that’s how they do it Japan but not in our house.”  Good to defend his teammate but the wrong way to go about it. 

Is Pedroia that clueless on how every red Sox fan feels about Josh Beckett?  He is hated; we all wish they could trade this arrogant stiff.  Does Pedroia see that neither Josh Beckett nor Jon Lester give a damn about this team?  What Pedroia should have said last night was.  Josh was better than he has been his previous starts but this team can’t win if Beckett can’t close out games like this. We can’t afford to give our Ace the lead only to have him cough it up. 

Newsflash Dustin, Terry Francona isn’t walking thru those doors anytime soon.  You won’t be playing cribbage on the fight home.  Time to stand up and be the leader we all thought you could be.  We don’t care if you like Bobby V or not.  Be leader in and out of this clubhouse, before you get lumped in with these underachievers and lose all credibility with the Nation.

Pedroia has always been a fan favorite and possibly will always be.  Who doesn’t like a scrappy player like Pedroia?   But, how many of  you would truly be upset right now if the Sox explored a trade for Pedroia or anyone else on this team?

Looks to me like Jason Varitek has more leadership skills in his little finger than Dustin Pedroia has in his entire 5 plus foot  frame.