The report came out on Thursday that Dustin Pedroia will likely need season-ending surgery. The decision isn’t going to be made for another week or so, but I can tell you for sure, Pedroia is done in 2010. Whether he has surgery or not, the Red Sox would be stupid to push Pedroia back onto the field, because the season is basically over barring a major miracle. There is a need to err on the side of being cautious given the importance of Pedroia to the Sox franchise and the need to have him back at 100% when everyone reports to Fort Myers, FL in February. The only thing worse than losing Pedroia for 2010 is losing him for a part or all of 2011 as well.
Despite being hampered by his foot injury in the second half of the season, Pedroia’s numbers on the year were solid. In 75 games, Pedroia hit .288 with 12 home runs and 41 rbis and he was on pace to shatter his previous career highs in almost every offensive category before being sidelined. Pedroia’s impact early in the season went beyond his stats as he provided the only spark in April and part of May when the rest of the Sox team was struggling to hit for power and win ball games. His grit and determination is looked up to (or down to because he is listed at 5’9″, but is 5’7″ at best) and his on-field leadership is instrumental in the team’s success.
Since making his debut nearly 4 years ago to the day (August 22, 2006), Pedroia has shown confidence and focus that borderlines on cockyness, but it is all backed-up with his heart. He plays the game like it should be played, 110% all the time, no exceptions. He has played hurt and bruised up, mostly from a disgregard for his own body, and never uses it as an excuse, nor does he use his short stature as the reason can can’t catch high line-drives or make the long-diving stretch. The biggest compliment I can give him is that he plays much bigger than he is, both in the batter’s box in terms of intimidation and on the field in terms of making plays someone as short as he is should not be able to make.
His grit became clear in his 2nd day after returning from his most recent DL stint when, sore foot and all, he stole second at a crucial point in the ball game. Although it turned out to be to his detriment, because it put him back on the DL, he knew the team needed that steal at that moment. He picked up his team by showing them how hard he is playing and working and the team responded by winning a tough 7-5 contest against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. His teammates want to fight harder when they see Pedroia running and being aggressive on the basepaths with a major injury.
One of the main reasons I think Pedroia should be shut down, surgery or not, is his inability to play less than full-out. The steal mentioned above is a perfect example of something he should not have tried to do given his foot being sore and in pain, but mentally he can’t slow down or change his game. The day after he was diagnosed with a broken foot, Pedroia was on the field, crutches at his side, taking ground balls on his knees. Many see that as gutsy in typical Pedroia fashion, but it is also him not being able to focus on his body and his healing. By telling him he will not play in 2010 regardless, he has no choice but to focus on healing and not on keeping himself in game shape for when/if his opportunity comes around.
Pedroia is the real deal and has the potential to only get better as he plays more in the majors. He is a game-changer in the batter’s box, on the basepaths and at 2nd base defensively and the Sox are going to need his leadership in 2011. Get better Laser Show, Spring Training is just around the corner.
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