While he may not have the designated “C” on his jersey just yet, it is clear to see that Dustin Pedroia is the fuel that drives this Red Sox team. For the past 4 years and already early this season, Pedroia is leading by example on the ball field and he showed it again last night. Only this time, it had Derek Jeter like character.
For over 15 years Derek Jeter has been one of the toughest outs in baseball, especially when it’s late in the game and the Yankees need a run. Jeter seems to rally back from being down in a count and push it full, only then to foul off pitch after pitch after pitch until he gets one he can drive or take ball four. He’s made a career of making the big play in the big moment.
Last night, in the bottom of the 5th, Dustin Pedroia looked like Derek Jeter. With a key point in the ball game, Red Sox trailing 2-1 to Angels Jered Weaver, two men on, Pedroia battled Weaver for over 10 minutes at the plate. He pushed the count full and then proceeded to foul off 7 in a row, patiently waiting. Then, on the 13th pitch of the battle, Pedroia got a pitch he could drive and he lined it up the middle into centre field scoring Varitek and Ellsbury, giving the Red Sox the lead. The rest is history as they say and the Red Sox won the game, another rally capped off by Pedroia.
Now Dustin Pedroia is not Derek Jeter, at least not yet. But it is fair to say that Pedroia is to the Red Sox what Jeter is to the Yankees. And last night Pedroia looked the Yankees captain at the plate, showing heart, determination and the will to win. They are both leaders on their respective clubs and while Jeter is nearing the end of his career, Pedroia is only hitting his peak. Perhaps last night was an example of the passing of the torch when it comes to leaders of men in baseball. Jeter has owned his captaincy title for many years, more than a decade in fact. When he does retire, Pedroia is a good fit as the next great captain in baseball, even though he plays for the rival Red Sox.
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