Can you coach someone to posses the fire that Dustin Pedroia has to win?
–Dean, Tucson, Ariz.
In my opinion, you either have it or you don't. I think Dustin is pretty rare. He has a passion to win from the time he gets up until the time he goes to bed. He is the first person to the park and I am always amazed by how hard he works. He will have a three-hit game and the next day he is at early batting practice as if he went 0-for-4. He is always the first one in the dugout for games, almost as if he visualizing how he is going to perform and how they are going to win. I have seen coaches try to get players to do this, and it just seems contrived if it is not in the players' original makeup. I truly respect his drive and mental approach everyday.
Do you think the Red Sox defense has been underrated?
–Tom, Audubon, N.J.
I do. The concept of runs prevented got a lot of play last year and this year we are actually seeing it. The speed in the outfield has been fun to watch, and I'm amazed by how little seems to fall in left center now with Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury manning left and center. I also did not have enough of an appreciation for how good Adrian Gonzalez is defensively. I cannot count how many errors he has single-handedly saved the infielders on throws in the dirt. The Red Sox have been third in the league for the majority of the year in fielding percentage.
Will Terry Francona start to rest guys as it becomes clear the Sox will be in the postseason?
–Derek, Medford, Mass.
It may be a little too early for that discussion. I think he does a good job already of keeping guys both rested and fresh for the bench guys. I agree with the lead both the Yankees and Red Sox have in the wildcard, it seems more than probable that both will be playing in October. The last week of the season, you may see Francona give several regulars off days. By then he'll want to have the pitching lined up for whoever they will be facing in the first round.
Last weekend you and Jerry talked a lot about how great Seattle is. Is it your favorite road city?
–Sam, Roy, Utah
One of a couple, no doubt. I like anything that has an ocean nearby. We always stay right downtown and the inner city is a great walking city. The fish market is tremendous and always gives you the feeling you are Anthony Bourdain from the Travel channel as you walk through all the aisles of fish and fruits and vegetables. I could easily see that being a weekly stop if I lived in Seattle. The ballpark and, selfishly, the booth are among the best in the league. Everything is really green, even late into the summer. You hear so much about the rain, but it never seems to rain much when we are here in the summer. I rate Toronto very highly, too. I am guessing Red Sox Nation does as well based on the number of fans who get there every year.
