Roche: The Dilemma With Dustin Pedroia
BOSTON (CBS) - The Red Sox have a bit of a dilemma on their hands when it comes to their second baseman.
Dustin Pedroia has a torn adductor muscle in his right thumb. The good news is that, unlike Kevin Youklis, it will not require surgery.
The dilemma is that Pedroia, the ultimate gamer, wants to play through the injury. The biggest problem is when he swings the bat. If he can have a brace made that will allow for no further damage to the thumb then he wants to go out and play.
The Red Sox are working with their doctors and outside specialists to see if he can indeed continue to play on.
Of course Pedroia wants to play. The Sox are 13-5 since May 10th and are finally a game aboove .500 following a huge win Tuesday night over Detroit and Justin Verlander at Fenway. They have seemingly righted their ship. Pedroia has been -- and will always be -- a big part of the Red Sox winning. We all know what he brings to the table on a daily basis.
Read: Dan Roche's Sports Blog
So what do you do?
The answer is pretty simple.
Listen to the doctors. Bring in 50 of them and get their opinion on if the injury can 1) get any worse by playing, 2) stay the same by playing with a brace on while slowly healing, or 3) heal completely with 3-4 weeks of rest and rehab?
The answer, again, is pretty simple.
I want Dustin Pedroia when he's able to play like Dustin Pedroia. I want a guy who has zero thoughts going through his head when he's up at the plate. I want him to be able to swing that violent swing that squares up to the ball unlike any player his size I've ever seen. He needs to be able to go all out in the field and at the plate.
He hurt the thumb three weeks ago. He aggravated it Monday while swinging the bat. It sounds to me like he can aggravate it at any time, brace or no brace.
Let the tear in the adductor muscle heal. Take as much time as need be. He's too valuable. Start with a two-week trip to the disabled list and go from there.
There is really only one goal this season for this Red Sox team: a trip to the postseason and a shot at another World Series title.
You need the best Dustin Pedroia you have to accomplish that goal.
Choose the short-term solution for the best chance of attaining the long-term goal.
Let Dustin rest...
Follow WBZ-TV's Dan Roche on twitter @RochieWBZ
