Three Red Sox success stories on patience and perseverance
By Rick McNair
The Rookie
Players often require patience tested by repeated failure and in the case of Boston, a voracious media and fan base tossed in. Dustin Pedroia had a taste of “The Show” in 2006 and the show was rather bitter with Pedroia hitting just .191.
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The highly-ranked prospect was a disappointment and appeared to many to be carrying a few too many pounds. Despite that disappointment, the second base job was Pedroi’s to lose and he certainly tried.
The 2007 season started with Pedroia in a funk, but manager Terry Francona was committed to Petey. Already the social media Borg were classifying Pedroia as PedroiAAA. Then it happened. After a dismal .182 April, the dynamo started and finished with a .317 average and a Rookie of the Year honor.
That, quite naturally, is just one success story amid many that could be failures. Sometimes a rookie burned bright and quickly faded such as Red Sox Don Schwall or the Tigers Mark Fidrych. Pedroia could have joined both in the hall of failure. What it does show with Pedroia is sometimes a larger sample is needed. Just this last summer the baying was over Rafael Devers and the kid suddenly pieced it together especially on defense.