Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 2B

You know that he was rookie of the -- in the American League field -- the -- in the American. Did you know that he has now I know that the -- as well with his ball. Born to play my life that the game written by Dustin Pedroia with Edward.

I regret -- not pick that song I loved that entrance music would come up to bat had to pick.

I don't know and it just so little I'm from the west coast and west coast rapper collected so are. You know Michael cannot do when I'm walking up to the plate but at.

Hey I've I was joking around with my son and I told him I was going to interview -- I was reading your book the other day and he said. While I hope there's a volume 20 I mean you're pretty young guys have a book out about your life --

Yeah yeah I mean you know let -- account want to do that because. You know obviously not not -- billion and growing up you know right. I apologize I looked up to Barry Bonds and you know he's really not my excitement and not the type of player I am -- You know are not a lot of things to try to get particularly in. And you know are smarter -- cut -- mark story out so you know appeared and everybody you know it. Note that you know -- got into it you know -- You know -- can be employed to believe in a few years down the road but. You know I hope I hope people you know enjoyed it and and -- and like the direct.

And a lot of people and enjoyed it not they would -- that you want to hear that. I note that -- an -- does the book we got a copy of his last leaguer couple weeks ago yeah. Oddity but in the bathroom I'm going to read it and it'd it'd take toilet book --

You know what I I have to put up with have. You know every day and you know it just gets worse and worse every -- and even know how he -- because. -- are so this should ever bet like him a Christian and usually you know I went. Much of the daily routine and then we go up there -- right -- and then matches would mean -- game if it's like. You know I've got to explain you know they I don't look you got scholarships or you're been Kevin Millwood -- about all I got -- alumni. You know ten pitch at bat but I feel like somewhere in the pictured out and then and hypocrites -- out of body bare -- comes -- pretty strict set obviously you know contract in the naked bottom. So you know with stuff like that from the manager street tough.

And you guys go back and forth all the time I'm wondering how it out of this -- started because obviously. It's it's funny games don't have a lot of affection for you and you for him. What would it start when you have that kind of relationship we felt like you can make fun of them and vice --

Well it's starting progress start getting hit you know I don't think you really really wanted to talk here about -- about 150 you know. That they've brought up seven but on. On the yard I was trying to keep the guys in the clubhouse in almost joking around and and and and doing things in. Just trying to keep everybody you know not struck out because especially playing in Boston you know it's tough in an expectation to win it is it's so hard it. You know I I always I always joke around everybody inadequate as a manager I make but it is you know sometimes to make a decision and I crushed the next day and you know just to keep her relax knowing that you know we're all in this together and we're trying to win and even -- the toughest circumstances you know it he got to have fought just you know when you're playing -- that's your back though. Not picked off hardened you know settled -- started hitting and and joker around a little bit more. You know it's kind of you know -- up in an hour let's just getting better -- better thirteen game better -- so makes it far.

You know I I used to tease Rodney Harrison when he played with the Patriots tonight's that you make up stuff. To get yourself cranked up even if there isn't stuff there and I get the feeling if there weren't people doubting you probably aren't as many now is they're used to be. You don't mind making up -- stop if you have to to get yourself don't.

Well a little bit you know I think your motivation as a player and we play 152 games and you know Arctic everyone knows that you know what this game is not easy you're -- a practice in the road and in -- get a final waste to motivate yourself in any team on. You know I've got the biggest thing for a player like me -- we have to come bring energy to the team not our job. Iraq you know based around then and do little things that help us win and you know there's there's certain -- work. You know I'm not going to go to the players are not seeing the ball good but you know are under way and you know try to motivate myself as is the biggest thing to the public yeah.

You tell a story in the book that you weren't recognized. In in in Colorado during the World Series is that true you work recognize the -- about the story is Tito was in and watch it take place.

You know I knew it was it was great coming out. You know we without SP who won the first two games and and we headed to Colorado and and any -- I get this field around 12 or 31 o'clock in target there 11 guys there. You know like I actually cabin Internet and a walk and the and the guy stops being it was they would you know what you don't -- Junior played baseball -- the World Series going I don't know if you can watching you know can't match. You know kind of mess and what I got. And he goes well we get up like he's from a -- got a lot my Major League Baseball. Players identification card he looked to me goes. You can get this -- I'm like the week talking about you know so. You know after about three or four minutes you know I I finally -- on the guy and you know. Say you know -- after practice I am on the go to the world surgery -- You know I I don't hit many home runs so I think I had to throw that out there. With a guy cuddle up and united have just walking and I got in the clubhouse I told everybody about it Nate they literally were -- bottoming nonstop and they are still make it funny today it. So you know it's bruised pretty good story and not it was a lot of other -- of funny things in --

The one thing that jumped out at me and and I mean we followed the obviously day by day since you've. Better major leaguer but. I didn't know some of the things about your your earlier days I had no idea you were injured as badly as you work. Playing for team USA playing internationally you take a bad hop in the -- and you thought you might never play the game again.

Yet that was that was the -- thing. That the -- I've been through client you know always been a guy that you know up my body and you know under anything you know I think the first base you know -- no -- now I've always been told in my -- yet -- are the satellite you're gonna get hurt. Are up the biggest so I hit it's grown always Albert -- and -- and then kind of hard grounder field wasn't really that -- And it just took about a -- I -- it it shattered my face and it broke a bone and I want one about it and you know -- I didn't open up for a couple weeks and not all these tests done and you know I like up from you know I'll be able to see after that that was the -- the -- course. -- like a back out I didn't want to pick -- air. And you know I I I talk to our beep or a sports psychologist about it and you know he's one of the greatest guys in in baseball or. He just told analysts and you know for a guy like you being scared -- do anything on the based popular music you're never going to make it. You know the yep which are faced bigger area in front of all yes it will -- poker game and otherwise it's not about people anybody. You know and I looked like based on. It just turn turn it around fact that you know what I have to do everything I possibly can on the field economic team and idolize you know -- like this game very law.

His story in the book about how you got to Arizona State. Your uncle was talking to the coach and got a guy. And in the -- how big is your uncle told underneath that we don't need another bat boy. So you you had a lot of people. I've criticized your size. And -- that you don't have a Major League body like he can't add height. But what have you done they tell people what you've done to to strengthen your body as you've been in the vaguely.

You know let I. I was a lot hotter I was I was I was sore and kind of -- you know what I got the big leader -- note six. I got called up then and Diaw talked me after that these and instead it listened you don't get yourself in -- lose weight. If the -- body fat. You know coming area and the fight for the second -- I don't know seven and are they what that I that that that I'll be penalized. On believe -- I don't know I ran three times today outdoor. Push -- pull out you know all or work. It's -- body fat -- and I never really done that before you know I've always been a guy. The China just not going -- whichever are running was. All part of my game I'm not really the fastest guy in the world. Our -- you know what I I dedicate myself I ran right I -- you know I mean it was -- or upper you know out get out of measuring cup put vegetables than parent. And doing all this stuff that to try to lose much weight off -- it was. It was kind of little overboard you know and but I knew that. If if if I could lose that weight it would make it better player I got actually on the get faster. Stronger. Might not be got better. You know all expected jumped on the bases but it actually helped me become a baseball threat you know -- without waiting and getting Procter -- it worked well this so. You know I dedicate myself. To get my body in shape. To be able to be a major leaguer for a long time.

Are you had a lot of good stories in Atlanta great lines of the book but best line in the book by far for me. Come to welding goggles night at McCoy stadium and watch that Dustin Pedroia laser show. My line in the book.

that there's but there's some great -- economic they must care what I play with a guy in the you know I joke around a lot of these things that I say I mean I'm I'm I don't need them but trying to do you don't mean. So well and when it went my good friend but they -- somewhat high school he let second base that would shortstop. And now I've made this we play it took about half I ended up there and rip on the guy out -- he's joking around mean egos and your best source of players -- I signal and I I -- thing about you but I quick second based Duke.

And yeah.

You know what they're loud no doubt Larry.

Ask you this you think if you had to 45060. Games did you play shortstop in the big leagues today.

I mean. I'd like to think I can't you know but you know make -- Another organization decided that the move to second base a few years ago -- and about not at a particular. You know on I want to go well last year. And you know I I was took out you don't -- what sort out and -- to mind here. You know I had called up about six seconds -- outlaw electorate fished in a row understand the Yankee Stadium so. -- You know topic topic that's ever going to happen again but. I go over there with with with the jedi grainy under the golf ball doesn't plan like take -- all sorts sometimes checked my arm. You know as well they're the throat second bases always you know short so I think -- also there I don't like it later but not to -- my best position is obvious to second base.

team get a little bump in the road offensively right now.

You know I think it's just took the -- you know -- Think everyone knows we're talking about it but thought I hadn't been back to hotel -- It's not easy you know it ever isn't it obvious -- 07 in LA that fears that the previous to -- great teams and and and won the World Series became more important -- There's always bumps in the road there's always -- where. You know the you used to -- a row and they Yankees went three -- rowand and it's tied and everything it's it's always irate then. I think you just gotta you know ride your teammates and and believe he got that we're we're going to be all right and you know everything has pumped up actively you know it it hurts to guidance about well and a couple guys are. You know he's in those situations where guys are coming up. You know that are that are cold with got on base but you know that happens but. You know I think we need to get ourselves in a position get everybody on the same page and everybody out direct I'm going to be good team we do.

You know on a perfect world you'd have year. You practice your double play combination from spring training -- at the same guys export three. But you haven't had that luxury this year because you had to work with Julio Lugo you've got to work with Ted Lowry. And you had to work with Nick Green what are some of the challenges. Like you have to think about as a second baseman deal with these different guys.

What I'm comfortable with with all the -- we've we've spent enough time picking ground ball you know earlier. You know before BP it's so you know that that that bat up parts you know not not the -- impact. -- injury created years knows that doubt portion of enacting those killer. You know on and and Julio you know we've put together for a couple years and you know we got caught -- an unbelievable job. I think common and then and player. As well he had it has been accused Bruce or arm but you know world world safe pick defensively that matter who's out there. And you know we're -- comfortable each other.

In a perfect world I think the batting order in the positions that we saw last night as what Tito envisioned at the start of the years as being the Red Sox team. I know you do whatever Tito -- do but are you more comfortable hitting second than in the leadoff spot.

made a little bit I think I got used to it last year you know -- its second most of the year goes seven I can't deny the beginning and I hit leadoff. Most of the time our and that you know Jacoby got called up and then and as you know he's a prototypical leadoff guy of the speed and and then you know the way matter manufactured runs and I'm Eric I used to hit second you know no -- and no more situational guy without get on you know he's he's always right and it cannot take pitches -- that if you could not recognize the obvious second at the all the right side and get him over. Ortiz up directly drive it meant so. You know I look it up there -- a situation where are you know I can do a lot of things to help our team. It's not about. You know but I I hit lead off earlier in the year and no I didn't the statistics and say you know arrogantly doctor Goer won -- a lot of games and -- I'd -- if you -- finally actually about it out and about 200 going to lead -- spot he goes facial -- up collect all. Create a winning -- but. I I don't know farm. We are here I mean we -- You know elders is is more a lead off ice steal bases and and does a lot of things -- or so. Not a lot I chose you know that that's a lineup that I think we're going to winless and and then take off with.

Not I love reading on the back of books and these quotes from people in on -- editor of this and that. I can't wait to see -- over your teammates say about the book what they said do you privately that you've got that you could use for a quote.

I don't know first -- I don't know how our team can read we don't have that we don't have the sharpest guys that you're going door but. You -- I don't know that we you know what our team everyone loved everyone you know -- we got. We got a lot of guys on the same page -- the field early hang out together off the field com it's a special group met in and then come look report -- the -- The season plays out because we got a lot of guys that care about winning and now you know you have that in your special thing.

Did you get a chance to read built belittle additional chapters that were in their by other people. Before like pat Murphy year ASU coach wrote a nice thing about yet. Tito Rota a chat did you get to read all those things at a time.

Yeah yeah I read all those I had -- you know other than those guys that I mean. Which are if you are made up look up to those guys so much -- they're like you know father figures to be having their helping out in in every in every direction and obviously. The situation now like right now you know if you go to a lot. Last couple weeks has been unbelievable to me. You know especially when I needed and it was of people in my life that I I try to surround myself with people like -- to make it better person.

Hope everything's going good right now to by the way. The book is called. Born to play in my life in the game it's published by Simon and Schuster if you're wondering where noted sports -- Dustin Pedroia will be signing the books. He'll be at Barnes & Noble oils in street in Boston at 5 o'clock on Thursday. He'll be at willow books. Ian Acton at 9 o'clock on Thursday. You just know as Michael said that your teammates are going to kill you about this right.

Actually you don't let that makes -- nonstop so. You know this isn't something new but a.

Well it's. I I really liked it it it's a pretty easy read it's fun to read through various stopping here I didn't know about chip. Minor league stop college stuff bug growing up in California's he did I I think Red Sox fans will get a real kick out of Reading your story. Dustin Johnson would appreciate it now will talk to and so. -- take care that is -- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and joining us from Texas.