Few people have had a greater impact on By Dustin Pedroia career than Terry Francona.
Francona was the Red Sox coach when Pedroia made his major league debut in August 2006, and the two would become close. The small talk between the two was legendary and watching them throw insults at each other was like watching a vaudeville show at its peak.
Behind all the games, however, there was a real affection for each other.
Even so, Francona was not always a believer. As the former Red Sox manager said BostonSportsJournal.com in the hours following Pedroia’s retirement announcement, he needed some time before he was convinced.
Pedroia may have been an All-American in Arizona State and a choice in the second round. But what Francona saw was a 1.50 meter dwarf swinging with such ferocity that he risked throwing himself to the ground.
“The guys on the board warned me that he would probably start slow,” said Francona from his home in Arizona, “because of his stature or build, I think they were worried that we couldn’t give him a chance. And I promised these guys that I would do. And that’s a good thing. ”
In 31 games in 2006, Pedroia compiled a .191 / 258 / .303 cut line, all the time swinging with each shot with such force that it looked like he was going to dislocate a shoulder.
The following year, 2007, did not start much better. At the end of a country house in early May, Francona replaced Pedroia for the final game at Fenway and told him he would be seated in the first game on a road trip to start in Minnesota.
At the time, Pedroia was hitting just 0.180 with just three extra hits (all doubles) in 22 games.
“We told him
