Pedroia is a real mover
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- When Terry Francona looks at 5-foot-8-inch Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox' top pick in the 2004 draft, he sees David Eckstein, the St. Louis shortstop and former Sox prospect.
"Kind of an overachieving-type guy," Francona said. "He may not profile in some scouts' minds as the typical high pick. I think he's a winning baseball player. That's what we're hoping for."
Pedroia, who appeared in 20 games last season at Single A Sarasota, played all nine innings against the Dodgers yesterday. In front of his mother, Debbie, and father, Guy, who flew in from Sacramento, Pedroia went 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk. His second-inning base hit nearly took off Derek Lowe's head.
"It was fun to watch him play," Francona said.
But the real significance was not in how Pedroia played but where. A shortstop by trade, Pedroia played second base, a place he'd been only about 10 times in his life, all during his freshman year at Arizona State.
In meetings with Sox executives the last few days, Pedroia said, he was told he'd play second base in Double A Portland, where Hanley Ramirez will begin the season at shortstop.
"He's going to play a lot of second base at Portland this year, but we're not taking shortstop away from him," general manager Theo Epstein said. "We're excited about Dustin's rapid adjustment from college to pro ball. Defensively, he has tremendous hands, instincts, and consistency. Offensively, he has remarkable hand-eye coordination and more pop than his frame may indicate."
Pedroia, 21, said he'll welcome the position change.
"I'm grateful for how this organization took a chance on me taking me with their first pick," he said. "It makes it even more exciting going to the park every day when you're learning a new position.
"Hanley is an unbelievable player. I look forward to learning some things from him and hopefully he can learn something from me."
Baseball America recently rated Pedroia the Sox' sixth-best prospect.
Pitching with ease
Bronson Arroyo lowered his spring ERA to a tidy 2.87 with six crisp innings. He needed just 73 pitches, which almost persuaded Francona to pitch him in the seventh. He struck out three, walked none, and allowed just four hits and one run. He said he's more comfortable this spring, knowing his roster spot is secure. "Last year I knew B.K. [Kim] had the inside track on me," Arroyo said. "I had to prove myself. This year I felt an equal. Knowing I have a little bit of time to work on my pitches, you don't have to fight yourself." Arroyo will pitch twice more this spring. He'll throw 85-90 pitches his next outing . . . Johnny Damon, out since March 13 with flu-like symptoms and then cellulitis, is expected to return tomorrow against Baltimore . . . Eric Gagne, the Dodgers' inimitable closer, made his spring debut, which had been put off by a sprained left knee. Gagne pitched the sixth inning, topping out at 91 miles per hour and facing four batters. Kevin Youkilis and Ramon Vazquez grounded out against Gagne, who then walked Shawn Wooten and struck out Dave McCarty . . . The Sox trekked 316 miles round-trip yesterday, their longest bus ride of the spring. Beyond Arroyo, only two starters, David Ortiz and Trot Nixon, made the trip. Nixon, who played the day before and wasn't required to come, volunteered . . . Tim Wakefield opposes Cincinnati's Eric Milton tonight at 6:05 on NESN . . . Former Sox outfielder Steve Lyons debuted as a color commentator on Dodger broadcasts. Lyons is expected to work about 50 road games . . . Sox prospect Chris Durbin, a 10th-round pick in 2003, was called up from minor league camp for the day. He went 2 for 2 with two singles and an RBI.
