SB Nation Boston: All Posts by Brandon Worleyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-08-29T17:22:31-04:00https://boston.sbnation.com/authors/brandon-worley/rss2012-08-29T17:22:31-04:002012-08-29T17:22:31-04:00Nick Punto On WEEI: 'Regret' Not Attending Johnny Pesky Funeral
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<p>Former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> infielder <span>Nick Punto</span> expressed regret about not attending the funeral of Johnny Pesky last week <a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21224321/punto-mm-regret-missing-pesky-funeral" target="_blank">during an interview with WEEI</a>. Only four current Red Sox players attended the funural, sparking local controversy on why so many players made the decision not to attend the funeral of the legendary player.</p>
<p>Punto, who was traded to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> along with <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>, <span>Josh Beckett</span> and <span>Carl Crawford</span>, said it was a decision he'll always look back on and regret. What he had to say is after the jump.</p>
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<p>"There was a note on our chair at like 4 o'clock in the morning, when we showed up [after arriving home from New York]," Punto said. "I know for me personally -- I can't speak for my teammates -- for me personally, that's going to be something I regret -- not going to bed at 4:30 and setting that alarm for 10 o'clock and just going. When I reflect back on that season, that will be one of the things that I definitely regret not doing. So, that's me personally. Yeah, it was definitely one of those nights where we got those letters and I'm sure guys were half-asleep when they were reading it."</p>
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<p>Punto would also discuss perceived leadership issues on the Red Sox, stating that different players led in their own way, and that Bobby Valentine's much-discussed communication issues were improving as the season progressed. Punto also denied reports that the players had demanded Valentine be fired.</p>
<p><span>David Ortiz</span>, who attended the funeral along with <span>Vicente Padilla</span>, <span>Clay Buchholz</span> and <span>Jarrod Saltalamacchia</span>, stated last week that the amount of players attending the funeral was probably understandable considering the team's late arrival that morning. <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/22161/ortiz-pedroia-weigh-in-on-pesky-funeral-flap" target="_blank">He's hopeful the Red Sox can move on.</a></p>
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<p>"Hopefully people don't start making a big deal about it," he said. "We don't need that right now. We need to continue playing and focus on trying to win some games and get into the playoffs."</p>
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<p><i>For more on the Boston Red Sox, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.overthemonster.com%2F&ei=ooc-UPf-HoX56QGJ14Fw&usg=AFQjCNHBnOPDMDeagukdGyPNuF-daRnKbA&sig2=0PrVGN5JN_wtIfW8_cxpJQ" target="_blank">Over The Monster</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/29/3277814/nick-punto-regret-johnny-pesky-funeral-red-sox-2012-mlb-newsBrandon Worley