Dustin Pedroia, voted by fans as the starting second baseman for the American League will miss this year's All-Star Game in St. Louis to attend to his pregnant and hospitalized wife, Pedroia said in a statement released by the Red Sox.
Pedroia stressed about the decision all week. He consulted with manager Terry Francona, general manager Theo Epstein, Phyllis Merhige of Major League Baseball, and his wife, Kelli Pedroia.
"This was certainly not an easy decision," Pedroia said in the statement. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game of baseball and for the All-Star Game and am incredibly honored that the fans voted me this year’s starting second baseman for the American League. I am disappointed that I will not be able to enjoy the amazing experience with the other All-Stars, especially with my Red Sox teammates, but it is important that I put my family first at this time."
Pedroia missed Monday's game against Oakland because his wife went into premature labor. Doctors were able to stabilize Kelli Pedroia, who is due at the end of August, and Dustin was back in the lineup Tuesday. He got the winning hit in Friday night's game and had two more hits Saturday. Since last Sunday, the day before Pedroia's wife went into the hospital, Pedroia is 13 for 27, perhaps the best stretch of his season.
"He always focuses," Francona said. "When he plays and gets on the field, he has an amazing ability to play the game. Regardless of what's going on, he's a good player. That's not going to take away from being a good player. I'm sure he's been thinking about other things at times. He's just a real good player."
Francona watched Pedroia struggle all week witht the decision, and yesterday he helped convince Pedroia his family should take precedence over the game.
"Real tough," Francona said. "Probably tougher than even people realize. Because of his character, he was really having a tough time. I hope when it came down to it, I actually hope I influenced him. I'm not taking credit, but I hope I did.
"Yesterday, I said, 'Pedey, look. What's the worst-case scenario if you don't go to the All-Star Game?' He said, 'Well, I'm mad.' I said, 'What's the worst-case scenario if you go and Kelli is not ... ' And he said, 'I can't go.'
"I think he has been stressing about it," Francona continued. "I think Kelli has been stressing about it. It's not something he took remotely lightly at all. I know it's the right decision. Becuase you can't predict the future, it's the only decision."
"I want to thank Major League Baseball as well as Tito and Theo for supporting me in this decision," Pedroia said. "I also want to thank the fans for their understanding and the continued support they have shown throughout my career.”
Boston Globe
Pedroia stressed about the decision all week. He consulted with manager Terry Francona, general manager Theo Epstein, Phyllis Merhige of Major League Baseball, and his wife, Kelli Pedroia.
"This was certainly not an easy decision," Pedroia said in the statement. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game of baseball and for the All-Star Game and am incredibly honored that the fans voted me this year’s starting second baseman for the American League. I am disappointed that I will not be able to enjoy the amazing experience with the other All-Stars, especially with my Red Sox teammates, but it is important that I put my family first at this time."
Pedroia missed Monday's game against Oakland because his wife went into premature labor. Doctors were able to stabilize Kelli Pedroia, who is due at the end of August, and Dustin was back in the lineup Tuesday. He got the winning hit in Friday night's game and had two more hits Saturday. Since last Sunday, the day before Pedroia's wife went into the hospital, Pedroia is 13 for 27, perhaps the best stretch of his season.
"He always focuses," Francona said. "When he plays and gets on the field, he has an amazing ability to play the game. Regardless of what's going on, he's a good player. That's not going to take away from being a good player. I'm sure he's been thinking about other things at times. He's just a real good player."
Francona watched Pedroia struggle all week witht the decision, and yesterday he helped convince Pedroia his family should take precedence over the game.
"Real tough," Francona said. "Probably tougher than even people realize. Because of his character, he was really having a tough time. I hope when it came down to it, I actually hope I influenced him. I'm not taking credit, but I hope I did.
"Yesterday, I said, 'Pedey, look. What's the worst-case scenario if you don't go to the All-Star Game?' He said, 'Well, I'm mad.' I said, 'What's the worst-case scenario if you go and Kelli is not ... ' And he said, 'I can't go.'
"I think he has been stressing about it," Francona continued. "I think Kelli has been stressing about it. It's not something he took remotely lightly at all. I know it's the right decision. Becuase you can't predict the future, it's the only decision."
"I want to thank Major League Baseball as well as Tito and Theo for supporting me in this decision," Pedroia said. "I also want to thank the fans for their understanding and the continued support they have shown throughout my career.”
Boston Globe
