Pedroia Wants To Play All 162 Games

Boston Red Sox second baseman and AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, our Pedey, is one of only eight players in baseball history to have won the Rookie Of the Year award, the AL MVP award, a Gold Glove and a World Series. And he's done that in just two seasons. Pretty amazing, isn't it? But he has his sights set on accomplishing something that only five players did in 2008...to play in all 162 regular season games. Here's how he put it...

"I want to play every game and make sure I'm not tired throughout the year," Pedroia said. "I think if you condition your body the right way, you can do that. It's a long season, but if you take care of your body, you can play them all. It's a big part of what I'm trying to do, is be consistent every day and help this team win games. I did a little bit more running in Arizona," Pedroia said. "I conditioned six days a week, instead of two last year. I want to make sure my legs are even stronger than the year before. It helped me out a ton. It makes my body feel good throughout the whole year. I was a little banged up at that time," Pedroia said. "That was one of those times that I needed a day off. If you need one, Tito is really good about it. He usually knows more than I do, because I'm not going to say I need one."

We all know the Sox manager Terry "Tito" Francona likes to give his players a day off every once in a while so that they can recharge a bit. When he heard that Pedey wanted to play 162, he said this...

"162 what, cribbage games?"

Then he got more serious...

"Sometimes guys need a blow. They get beat up. He's already proven he's going to be out there a lot. Because of the way he plays, he'll take a dive in the hole and land on that shoulder. I think I need to be smart enough to every once in a while pull the plug on him and let him bounce back."

Pedey didn't miss a game until the first week of June last year, but if you ask me, and who would, I'd agree with Tito. Sometimes guys will just need a day off, preferably before an off day. That would make it a two day mini-vacation to rest the sore bones and heal the bumps and bruises a little bit. It makes sense.

Right now down in Fort Myers, it's all quiet on the southern front. JD Drew thought he made his back soreness sound much worse than it is with his quotes to the media. Good news. Big Papi's wrist is doing well and should not hinder him in any way. Mike Lowell is still bitter about the Teixeira quest, but that will fade. I haven't heard a bit about how Beckett is feeling, but in this case, no news is good news, at least without Manny on the team. You'll read all the spring training news right here, with an everyday link to guide you to a source of more Red Sox reading and viewing pleasure.

Thanks for stopping in and have a great Friday and a really great weekend. As usual, God willing, I'll be back here on both Saturday & Sunday, or sooner if any news breaks.. Click on the title for something red and as always, BE WELL. L'chaim...to life. Cheers. See ya. Please leave me a comment or three if you have the time and the desire...I look for new comments multiple times every day, and I respond to every one. Ciao.