Three Red Sox players past and present who could manage the team
By Rick McNair
DUSTIN PEDROIA
Dustin Pedroia is going to be paid $25 million for the next two seasons even if he doesn’t play. Take advantage of the fiscal possibility and if Pedroia recovers sufficiently to play you could have a rare treat from another era – a player-manager.
Pedroia was well on the way to a possible Hall of Fame career until the last two seasons became an injury-riddled nightmare for Petey, fans, and the team. When an engine loses a sparkplug it misfires and as far as the lineup, losing a career .300 hitter hurts. So does losing a perennial Gold Glove defensive player.
Sports often have the term “role model” applied to a player – ether is a negative, positive, or neutral context. Pedroia is patient zero in extracting the most out of his physical and mental skills and that certainly can influence others – especially younger players. Just taking ground balls on his knees which attempting to rehab shows either intensity or craziness. Probably both.
Pedroia knows the game and is one who has honed his baseball adulthood with Terry Francona. Personality-wise, Pedroia appears to have a tinge of Bobby Valentine, Dick Williams, and Francona. Observant, dedicated, intense, can all apply. I do have considerable concerns around the Manny Machado affair. Pedroia may be far better suited as a bench coach for a season or two.
CHANCES – Fair