Forums » Support
onsultants.”? Don Matt
-
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox had a big lead in last years opener at Yankee Stadium. Still, Dustin Pedroia slid headfirst trying to beat out his grounder. Bad decision, especially with Boston ahead 8-2 in the ninth inning. The win-at-all-costs second baseman tore a ligament in his left thumb, then missed just two games the rest of the season. "It was the most impressive thing I watched all year. The thumb was totally black," third-base and infield coach Brian Butterfield said Monday. "He didnt want anybody to know about it." So its not surprising that Pedroia downplayed how much it bothered him. "A little bit, but its fine now," he said. "Its fixed up, man. Its good. Its good to go." Pedroia had surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament 14 days after the Red Sox won the World Series in Game 6 against St. Louis. He wore a cast for about a month. Then he worked on regaining his strength. And on Monday he took batting practice three days before the first official full-squad workout. His attitude, typically, is upbeat. "The rehab was great," Pedroia said. "I feel healthy and theres no setbacks, no restrictions or anything." The Red Sox won their second title in four years in 2007 and Pedroia was named AL rookie of the year. In 2008, he was the leagues MVP, but the Red Sox lost the AL championship series despite leading 1-0 in Game 7 through three innings against Tampa Bay. "That was a huge letdown," Pedroia said. "You dont want that feeling." He tried to keep that from happening last year when the Red Sox were in first place through the first 34 games. He was hitting .311 at that point and wasnt about to take time off because of his thumb with so much at stake. Pedroia did even better in the next 10 games. He went 18 for 40 to raise his average to .343. "The first month and a half he hit with one hand and he played with one hand," Butterfield said, "but he never even blinked. Hes so impressive in so many ways and he showed unbelievable toughness." His average never dropped below .291 for the season and he ended at .301 while leading the AL with 724 plate appearances. He tied for second in the AL in hits and was second in the league in fielding percentage among second basemen. The only games he took off were on June 16 and in the regular-season finale Sept. 29. The Red Sox lost both. Pedroias injury reduced his power and he hit just nine homers, the fewest since he had eight in his rookie season. But he compensated by taking shorter swings and hitting more to the opposite field. "We had half of him, but he fought through it and he still was a highly productive player," Butterfield said. "He just kept playing and kept grinding and didnt flinch once. He never complained and just tried to find every way he could to make his game the most comfortable because I know early on he was playing with a lot of pain." Not that Pedroia would admit it. "You just figure it out," he said. "You just try to get hits, man. Thats it." With the Red Sox not re-signing shortstop Stephen Drew, Pedroia has a new double-play partner in rookie Xander Bogaerts. Pedroia knows hell find a way to make that work, too. "We all take ground balls a lot," he said. "Bogeys going to be fine. (Butterfield) will make sure that everybodys on the same page in the infield and our defence. We know what were doing." Healthy or not, Pedroia showed that he certainly does. And Butterfield still raves about that. "I get chill bumps when I start talking about him," Butterfield said. "He does anything that he can to try to win a game. Hes as tough as they come." NOTES: Manager John Farrell said Grady Sizemore will be used in left and centre field during spring training. The former Cleveland Indian missed the past two seasons with knee and back problems. Jackie Bradley Jr. is getting the first shot at replacing Jacoby Ellsbury, now with the New York Yankees, in centre field. Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes are back after sharing left field last year. ... LHP Jon Lester said it would be "great" if he could get a contract extension in spring training but hes focusing on preparing for the season. The club picked up his $13 million option for 2014. Adidas David Perron Jersey .Y. - Joe Johnson hit six 3-pointers in his 27 points, Mason Plumlee added 18 points, and the Brooklyn Nets won their 11th straight at home, beating the Boston Celtics 114-98 Friday night. Adidas Marc-Andre Fleury Jersey . Tyrell appeared in seven games with the Lightning this year, he had no points in those appearances. The 24-year-old has seven goals and 17 assists in 132 career NHL games, all coming with the Lightning. He was selected in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2007 draft. http://www.cheapgoldenknightsjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-colin-miller-jersey.C. -- Authorities say the brother of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White has been shot and killed outside a South Carolina nightclub. Adidas Teemu Pulkkinen Jersey . - Bryan Price sat down in the cushy chair. Adidas Nate Schmidt Jersey . Rosbergs time of 1 minute, 33.185 seconds at the Bahrain International Circuit was a quarter of a second faster than Hamilton, who had to abandon his final flying lap after running wide at the first corner.The Als couldnt have found more polar opposites when hiring their new “coaching consultants.”? Don Matthews was, for a time, the winningest coach in CFL history, while Turk Schonert, the longtime NFL QB and assistant coach who went to two Super Bowls with the Bengals, had no idea so much motion was allowed pre-snap after attending Alouettes practice for the first time. “Just soaking it in, its strange for me to come in and watch football and be quiet and just observe,” admitted the 57-year old former 1980 NFL Draft pick, now head coach Tom Higgins designated “fly on the wall.” Matthews, a former Grey Cup Champion head coach with the Als in 2002, who spent time with the club last season and took great satisfaction in watching his prodigy Noel Thorpe contact high-risk high-reward blitzes worthy of “The Don.” Schonert was in the mix to join the Alouettes a year ago, having interviewed with GM Jim Popp and owner Robert Wetenhall for the teams head coaching position before the ill-fated hire of Dan Hawkins. His number one task at the moment is finding ways to help the struggling offense.? “Its not just the quarterback...hes talented,” Schonert pointed out.? “He (Troy Smith) was in the UFL when I wass coaching at Sacramento he was with Omaha.dddddddddddd?I know Bart Andrus (the former Argos head coach) and he said a lot of great things about Troy. “You know hes talented -- he won the Heisman Trophy, and you know about his athleticism, so Troy has to keep working and improving, but everybody around him has to keep working and believing.” Smith welcomes the new set of eyes, even if the first impression was coloured by the “fly on the wall” approach. “I was around him all day and he didnt say one word so it gives you an eerie feeling,” admitted the former Ohio State hero under fire in Montreal now that his passing efficiency rating has dropped to ninth in the league. Still, Higgins admitted Schonert didnt know about the 20-second play-clock pace the Als practice with in order to replicate game speed.? So how can a man with no CFL experience help a struggling starting QB? “Sounds like me,” Smith chuckled with an infectious laugh.? “Theres different things he brings to the table and hopefully hell help us out.” If Schonert isnt able to get Smith and the offence on track, former Als recently-retired greats Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon are waiting in the wings for the opportunity. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '