As Dustin Pedroia returns to the Red Sox lineup on Thursday night in Boston, the team moves one step closer to becoming completely healthy. David Ortiz is the lone member of the lineup still missing in action, but Pedroia’s addition has his teammates excited.
“It’s huge for us,” Cody Ross said of the second baseman’s pending return. “We missed him, he’s a huge part of this team and we feed off his energy.
“His energy is second-to-none,” Ross continued. “I’ve never seen anybody put off that much energy and be that excited all the time.”
That excitement will be key for the Sox during the second half, as they look to fight through the dog days of summer to keep up with the playoff hunt.
So far, the Red Sox have weathered the storm of injury season, battling through long stretches without key pieces. With Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford back in the mix after the All-Star break, the team’s been riding a hot streak. But the way that the team was able to stay competitive without its stars is a testament to the team’s preparedness and the depth of the organization.
There’s been the excitement of bringing a new guy into the lineup, which has had a similar impact to a midseason deal — all without the hassle of introducing a new face into the locker room.
“The good thing about the guys that have come back,” outfielder Daniel Nava explained, “is they’re guys who’ve been with the team in spring training. That makes it a lot easier compared to a new guy coming in, where you don’t know what’s going on, what kind of person they are.”
As one of the call-ups himself, Nava recognizes the value in finding a fresh face in the lineup to energize the team. He may have earned himself a longer stay in the bigs with his ability on the field, but it’s the excitement of getting an opportunity that also drives players.
“Everyone who comes up, you want to make that impact right away, and you play with a lot of energy,” Nava said. “Whether you’re doing well or not, it’s always energy that you bring to the field.”
So while the rumors fly about wheeling and dealing players here and there, the Sox can afford to wait and see how the market settles. Yes, they’ve been short-handed this year, but they’re still in good shape for now. And with pieces of the puzzle falling into place, they’re sitting pretty during their recent hot streak.
“With [Ellsbury and Crawford] playing well and scoring runs, that helps a lot,” Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. “I think the guys enjoy having Ells back, enjoy having Carl back and we’ll enjoy having Dustin back, for sure.”
So while not everybody is back quite yet, the Sox are getting there. And every little bit helps along the way.
