Hopefully, something other than Manny will be discussed.

Rome's show is very difficult to listen to sometimes. For the last five minutes, they've been playing a takeoff they do on Brett Myers being sent down for a while this year. Boom, outa here. Over and over. What a freakin' idiot Rome is. How does he stay on the air?

He doesn't in most of New England, thanks mostly to EEI (and the demise of 790AM, which was thanks mostly to EEI).

Yes, when I get back there, I bookmark EEI right away on the car radio and watch NESN all I can. We do have among the best baseball announcers out here in Krukow, Kuiper (Duane, not Glen) and Miller for Giants games

Pedroia should be on in a couple minutes.

Dustin said all the right stuff, including about Manny.

- It wasn't Manny not hustling down the line those times. He generally busted it all the time. (??)

- Contract and salary stuff got in the way this year.

- Dustin mentioned the $20K Rolex watch gift from Manny for ROY award to Pedroia.

- Manny smartest hitter in baseball; will not swing at bad stuff.

He mentioned Youks several time for his big hits, including in the 19 - 17 game. In that game, after the 10 - 0 lead, the pitchers were just trying to pound the zone, but Texas is too good hitting, so they got back into it.

Tampa Bay will be there all the way; solid 5 starters, good D, etc.

To win the AL East is the Sox goal, of course.

Again, Pedroia comes across squeaky clean, unlike his personality on the field. I almost wished he was a little more sassy. Smart kid (PAC10).

Aaargghhh, the mandatory David Eckstein comp. (after Dustin signed off).

Nothing wrong with that.

I mean, sure, two years into his career (assuming he doesn't lose 23 points off his BA between now and October) Pedroia has Eckstein beat in the "seasons hitting .300" department 2-1. His rookie total of 8 HR matches Eckstein's career high. His current OBP of .366 (down from .380 last year) tops Eckstein's career high. His SLG the past two seasons has been well over .400 - a mark Eckstein has never reached. With 39 doubles so far, he's on pace for 52 for the season. That would be a barely significant 100% increase over Eckstein's career high of 26. But hey. They're both short, and they don't strike out very much. Sounds like the same guy to me.

That comp must privately really piss DP off. He's legitimately one of the very best at his position in MLB, and people compare him to an overpaid, injury-prone utility man as if he is supposed to be flattered.

You think so? Putting the stats aside, Pedroia is a threat any time for a wallball or an HR. I don't think you could ever say that about Eckstein. Pedroia is challenging for the batting title this year, although it's a lower than normal BA year in the AL. I don't think Eckstein ever did. Eckstein is a good, solid little contact hitter, whereas Pedroia uses an exceptionally big swing for a little guy and makes it work incredibly well. So far, Pedroia is quite a bit superior to Eckstein, IMO, and the comparisons are only because of size. I was thinking today that there are two young players in baseball that are performing in a manner you would not expect because of their size. One is Pedroia and the other is Tim Lincecum.Like I was saying, Dustin acted in the interview like he's been to charm school. Nothing wrong with that, but I prefer the pepperpot side he shows on the field. **** yeah!

I think your sarcasm meter is due for a tune-up, Malzone. Take it to the shop and run it past rom's post again.

I'm a big fan of DP's on-field comments, too. There is something about chirping like that on the field that seems like it is appropriate in a way that preening and watching your HR isn't.

Maybe this will help:

[sarcasm]
Insert pretty much any Rominer post here
[/sarcasm]

Yeah, truth be told, I was busy and didn't carefully read anything after the "Nothing wrong with that." part. Don't you hate it when people don't get a post and then give the "I was busy, or tired" excuse?

Man, David Eckstein sucks, those comparisons are BS. I wish Pedroia's biggest fan (Peter Gammons) would lead the charge of comparing the two players on merit, not height.