11:35 PM Tue, Aug 19, 2008 | Permalink
Joe McDonald  Email
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By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer
BALTIMORE _ It's no secret to Red Sox fans that Dustin Pedroia is a very intense competitor.
It's also no secret to major league umpires that Boston's second baseman usually speaks his mind.
Pedroia got a little too emotional in the top of the eighth inning last night and was ejected from the game by home-plate umpire Bob Davidson. The count on Pedroia was 3-1 when he took a check-swing and figured he had drawn a walk. He began to jog down to first when base umpire Alfonso Marquez signaled that he took a full swing for strike two.
Pedroia was livid.
He began to have words with Marquez and the umpire waved his hands for him to return to the batter's box. After Pedroia grounded out to short on the next pitch, he had words for both Marquez and Davidson before he was ejected.
"He said something he shouldn't have," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I would have thrown him out, too. I was just trying to get him before he said it because we already put our defense on the field, but I was a little late. He knows because as soon as the game was over he said to me 'I can't do that.' He's right. He can't do that."
Pedroia knew he had messed up and he stood at his locker after the game to answer questions about the incident.
"I checked my swing and I was running down to first when I looked up and Alfonso kind of took a swing himself, like that's how I swung," admitted Pedroia. "He kind of showed me up and I really didn't appreciate that. I grounded out and when I was running back to the dugout I just said some things and got thrown out. It was stupid on my part to get thrown out. I learn from it."
Before he was ejected, Pedroia hit his 40th double of the season, marking the sixth time a Red Sox second baseman had reached that plateau. Former Red Sox Jody Reed hit 42 in 1991.
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There's nothing wrong with letting out some steam once in a while. Pedroia is one of MLB's best at his position if not the best. He gives 110% effort every game he plays. It's not like he gets ejected, regularly. So, Dustin, you don't have to be ashamed or apologetic for your ejection from the game last night.
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There's nothing wrong with letting out some steam once in a while. Pedroia is one of MLB's best at his position if not the best. He gives 110% effort every game he plays. It's not like he gets ejected, regularly. So, Dustin, you don't have to be ashamed or apologetic for your ejection from the game last night.
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