We're less than a month away from the Red Sox' first full spring training workout (Feb. 19), which seems as good a time as any to check in with Dustin Pedroia.
The second baseman is rehabbing in Arizona, where WEEI's Rob Bradford caught up with him, and Pedroia is not only making sure he's in shape for the 2011 season, but making sure his injured foot his back to 100 percent.
While everything looks fine, those surrounding him see a different Pedroia this winter:
"He's a little more quiet this year," noted Poole. "He's still not confident yet in that foot. He says he feels good, and he's looking good. But in the back of his mind he's a little nervous about it healing right, which probably everyone is. But I think he's in the right hands and everything will be fine."
Even Pedroia himself admits that it's not going quite as smoothly as he would have hoped.
"I'd say there has been some surprises," Pedroia said. "I thought when I had surgery on my foot, in three months I would feel 100 percent, and that wasn't the case. It's been a lot tougher than I thought it was, and what everyone thought it would be.