ESPN has developed a serious man-crush on Dustin "Pleats" Pedroia.
In a single day, the network alternately aired a puff piece montage all about him, posted an article fawning over him, and then sent Joe "Don't Call Me VORP" Morgan to talk with him about playing second base. It seems they have succumbed to his many, many charms. I'm not exactly sure what those charms might be, but if you just ask Dustin, he will most certainly be sure to tell you.
First up, the video of the Peter Gammons-narrated montage, aired before yesterday's game against the Angels. Gammons says that Pedroia "looks like a little stuffed toy from FAO Schwarz" - which is both true and awesome. (And Gammons should know-- he's definitely got that Lord Of The Rings hobbit action-figure vibe going.)
Red Sox marketing folks alert: if you made a Pedey Bear, I would totally buy one. Of course, each Pedey Bear must come with a dirty uniform, a wad of chew in its cheek, a bald patch, and when you press its paw, it says, "FUCK YEAH!" Also, it likes to play cribbage with Tito Bear.
video courtesy of ESPN
Next, Peter Pascarelli f-loves him some Pedroia:
I guess we can add Mike Scioscia to the list of dudes with man-crushes on Pleats.After just a season and a half, Pedroia seems like he's been in Boston forever. On a team of considerable age that is yet becoming younger, Pedroia has all the look of becoming a Derek Jeter-like leader for the next generation of Red Sox. Pedroia doesn't have Jeter's natural ability and grace, but he uses dogged intensity and his love of the game to do the same thing Jeter has done for more than a decade in New York -- be a daily role model for how a Yankee is supposed to play."He's amazing, really," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
"People always talk about Pedroia being so scrappy and so good fundamentally and how he gets so much out of his ability, as if he's some kind of overachiever. And all that is true in some ways. But the fact is that this guy is a very good hitter. Nearly every ball he hits is hit hard. And he gets to fastballs that few guys in the majors can turn around."
And in the "Not At All Awkward Interview With A Guy Who Doesn't Really Care Very Much About Baseball" category...
video courtesy of ESPN
Two thoughts:
1. Joe Morgan is really short.
2. "They don't really come after us like they did wh... a couple of years back." Dustin was absolutely going to say, "when you used to play" -- and then decided not to make Joe Morgan feel old. How sweet.
on July 21, 2008 1:11 PM
Texy, you sure helped my sucky morning by all your wonderful posts and videos (there's not much more that pisses me off than someone screwing up my code and asking, "why isn't this working???" ::screams::)
How can you NOT love Pleats! Even my husband says that if he were to get a jersey, it would be #15.