Earlier today, the Red Sox simultaneously announced that the team was going to transfer 2B Dustin Pedroia to the 60-day Injured List after he experienced yet another setback with his knee during his latest rehab stint with the Portland Sea Dogs as well as hold a press conference in reagrds to Pedroia that would include him, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and manager Alex Cora speaking. From the getgo, I knew that this wouldn’t be a retirement announcement unlike some giddy, anti-Pedroia folks excitedly predicted upon hearing the news.
The negativity surrounding this particular tidbit of Pedroia news is genuinely grinding my gears. I’ve been an adamant supporter of one of my favorite childhood baseball stars, one of the many likable Boston athletes of the 2000s, and I remain firm on the stance that I’ve had all along. Nothing is going to sway my unconditional support of this player, not even the man himself saying, when asked if he will ever play baseball again, “I’m not sure.”
Pedroia, for the first time ever from my recollection, openly admitted that he isn’t sure if he’ll ever be able to play professional, competitive baseball again. This is a massive step for Pedroia who has seemingly done a lot of thinking and self-reflection on both the physical and mental levels. Pedroia is always quick to shoot down any questions or comments suggesting that he may be slowing down even when everyone else knows the ultimate truth. Pedroia thinking realistically is a big step for him and will greatly help his decision-making when the time does come to make decisions about his Red Sox and baseball career.
I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it again, I don’t know how any Red Sox fan can sit back and doubt Pedroia let alone talk badly about Pedroia. Are they aware that he’s in the physical condition and standpoint he currently is because he literally put his blood, sweat and tears into the Boston Red Sox every single day since he was drafted by the team in 2004 and made his debut in 2006? Who are we to sit back and judge him for wanting to give it another go once he feels the time is right, with the only team he has ever played baseball for at the Major League level and has had so much success with? People are quick to forget that this is solely Pedroia’s decision, not the team’s decision. The team is complying with Pedroia and accepting his decisions because it’s the correct thing to do. There is zero risk and/or loss in staying true to this all-time player.
Some fans will be quick to jump in and say, well he’s costing the team money so in the end, he’s really hurting the team he needs to hang ‘em up already, kid!!!!!!!! Um, hardly. This is Boston Red Sox money we’re talking about here. Pedroia is being paid $15 million this year, $13 million next year and $12 million in 2021. I’m sorry but when it comes to athletes, especially baseball players, salaries mean literally nothing to me. It’s not my money. The Boston Red Sox franchise as a whole are worth more than my peanut brain can even begin to comprehend. Besides, the Red Sox would still be paying Pedroia even if he did decide to retire today, so it’s not like it matters either way whether he retires or not. To me, it just sounds like these people are scrounging up any hate they can possibly have towards this player for one reason or another (*cough* they’re still hung up on something that happened over two years ago and they think he’s a bad teammate when in reality that entire situation I’m referring to was taken completely out of context by the media as well as delusional Bostonians *cough*).
Allow me to reiterate: Dustin Pedroia is not refusing to hang them up because he wants money, wants to be talked about, whatever. He’s refusing to call it quits because he cares about YOUR baseball team. He wants at least one more shot at playing the game he loves with the only Major League Baseball team, city and fans he’s ever known. You guys. The very least you could do is support the man and send him well wishes. He’s not hurting your precious baseball team or the owners’ precious wallets. He wants to put on a Red Sox uniform one more time for the sake of the game and for the sake of you guys because he’s that kind of an athlete and that kind of a human being. Dave Dombrowski himself said during the press conference today that Pedroia is and should be viewed as a David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez-level Boston athlete. Perhaps we should treat him with that level of respect for a change. If this were David Ortiz or Pedro Martinez, we would be begging him to give it his all at the age of 35 and give us one more shot. For whatever reason, it’s different with Pedroia. That upsets me.
People are also forgetting that this isn’t a no-namer, this isn’t some scrub and this certainly isn’t Jacoby Ellsbury. This is Dustin Luis Pedroia, the man who was once considered the heart and soul of the Boston Red Sox by the collective fanbase. A two-time World Series champion, a four-time All-Star, an MVP, A Rookie of the Year, a four-time Gold Glover, a true leader and a true Boston Red Sock. He deserved the right to make his own decisions about his own body about his own future with this baseball team. He, quite frankly, can do whatever the fuck he wants without judgment. There is a reason he is adored the way he is and has been adored since he first entered the league. He’s a different breed from everyone else, he’s always been a different breed. He has always stood out for all of the right reasons. A bum knee is never going to change that.
All we know for sure is that he is going to give it one more shot next year. Dombrowski said that Pedroia’s break from baseball is currently indefinite so I’m going to assume that he’s out for the remainder of the 2019 season and will give it another go in 2020, which makes the most sense. Pedroia says that he doesn’t want another surgery as it would be detrimental to his quality of life. This is another great sign for the player, looking out for his personal wellbeing and not solely as an athlete. All that he has left to try, at the moment, seems to be doing and taking whatever the doctor orders and lots of rest. His knee will have to respond to whatever the doctor orders as well as respond to rest. If not, we’ve seen the end of Dustin Pedroia. But that is a massive “if.” Obviously, he will never be Boston’s everyday second baseman again considering his health and rookie sensation Michael Chavis’ role with the team. Regardless, anyone with a heart wants to see him suit up again for the Red Sox at some capacity and be able to contribute to this team on or off the field at his physical and mental best. It is quite possible that we’ve seen the end of the Dirt Dog but it is also quite possible that we have not seen the end of the Dirt Dog. Time will answer all of these questions and all we can do until then is wait for the fat lady to sing, and that fat lady is Dustin Pedroia’s knee.
Either way, soon enough, No. 15 will never be worn by another Red Sox player again and will be permanently drilled into that right field rafter alongside the Ortiz’s and the Martinez’s of the Red Sox world of which that world Pedroia is apart of.
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