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Pedroia rips California hometown

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Dustin Pedroia returned to his Northern California roots this week, backpedaling. The Red Sox second baseman is playing down his quotes in a Boston Magazine cover story in which he called his hometown of Woodland a "dump" and Alex Rodriguez a "dork." Ensuing published reports had Pedroia denying the A-Rod slight and implying the Woodland comments were taken out of context, that he was laughing and not serious; that he loves the town and its people. But in the magazine article, which portrays Pedroia as a scrapper who overcame great odds to reach the majors, he says, "It's a dump. You can quote me on that." That is where he was born and raised and where his family runs a tire shop on Main Street, where he was invited to be grand marshal of the Christmas parade. "The place sucks," said Pedroia, directing his comments to the local newspaper when he added, "I come from your town. You should embrace me. I play for the Boston Red Sox. You haven't had a lot of major-leaguers come out of your city." In the wake of the article, Kenneth Samuels, 47, was arrested for allegedly making death threats to Pedroia's family. It's speculated Pedroia is down on the town after his brother, Brett, was charged with child molestation (he pleaded not guilty).

San Francisco Chronicle

Dustin Pedroia, AP Dustin Pedroia, AP
April 16, 2009  07:34 AM ET

Pedroia didn't press the <SARCASM> button. Would have made all the difference.

April 16, 2009  07:42 AM ET

Pedroia can be brash at times, but what the folks in Woodland really need to key on is the nut issuing death threats.

He wants to whack people because someone in their family said the town is a dump.

What would he do to some kids who broke one of his windows while playing ball?

April 16, 2009  07:45 AM ET

well ok your brother is a sicko and likes being around little kids a little 2much... so that makes you hate your home town wow spectacular! and this guy wants to talk about someone being a dork... did he see his own commercial of himself in the baseball 2k game... now that was a dork... dam red sox there all a bunch of jack*sses!

April 16, 2009  07:51 AM ET

Another non baseball related story. How many people got tired of where they grew up and moved away. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

April 16, 2009  07:51 AM ET
QUOTE:

Oh boy, this is gonna bring 'em outta the woodwork.

fraid so

April 16, 2009  07:53 AM ET

A Rod is a dork. If you're from somewhere you have every right to say it's a dump. Especially if saying it's a dump leads to people making death threats about his family. Sounds like a wonderful place to be from.

April 16, 2009  07:54 AM ET

Did I forget to mention:

LET'S GO RANGERS!
<CLAP..CLAP..CLAPCLAPCLAP>

April 16, 2009  07:54 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Another non baseball related story. How many people got tired of where they grew up and moved away. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

I just wonder...if Arod had made these comments there would already be HUNDREDS of comments bashing him. Pedroia's a tool...and his brother LOVES to touch little boys.

April 16, 2009  07:55 AM ET
QUOTE:

Oh boy, this is gonna bring 'em outta the woodwork.

You mean the Woodland?

April 16, 2009  08:02 AM ET
QUOTE:

Did they win yesterday JC?

They won 4-3. They were out played but their goalie Lundqvist was so much better then the Caps goalie they ended up winning even with their captian and clutchest player Drury hurt.

Speaking of Captians Jeter had a no out double and scored the tying run and then had the game winning hit in the 9th. Petitte went into the 8th inning and looked good. Bruney struck out his two batters and then Mo closed it out.

Basically a best case scenario in Cyderland.

April 16, 2009  08:04 AM ET
QUOTE(#9):

I just wonder...if Arod had made these comments there would already be HUNDREDS of comments bashing him. Pedroia's a tool...and his brother LOVES to touch little boys.

In his brothers defense he probably thought those kids were adults since they were taller then Dustin.

April 16, 2009  08:06 AM ET
QUOTE(#9):

I just wonder...if Arod had made these comments there would already be HUNDREDS of comments bashing him. Pedroia's a tool...and his brother LOVES to touch little boys.

A-Rod has made so may stupid statements he's easy to pick on. I for one would love to have Pedroia playing 2nd base for the Yankees. And I'd take Youk over Tiexiera on the Yankees too. Pedrioa and Youk both play witha lot of emotion and for the haters out there it is a good thing not bad.

April 16, 2009  08:08 AM ET
QUOTE(#9):

I just wonder...if Arod had made these comments there would already be HUNDREDS of comments bashing him. Pedroia's a tool...and his brother LOVES to touch little boys.

Boston better hope it doesn't run in the family genes

April 16, 2009  08:12 AM ET
QUOTE(#18):

A-Rod has made so may stupid statements he's easy to pick on. I for one would love to have Pedroia playing 2nd base for the Yankees. And I'd take Youk over Tiexiera on the Yankees too. Pedrioa and Youk both play witha lot of emotion and for the haters out there it is a good thing not bad.

Texiera's hit 30 HR's and had over 100 RBI's the last 5 years. The only one to do so. Calm down on Youk.

I hate A Rod so I'd trade him in a second for Youk even though A Rod's the better player. Not 20 mil a year better however.

Cano had a bad year last year but hit 330 a couple of years ago so let's see what happens this year. Pedroia has the speed but he'll never have Cano's power. I have a feeling those two are going to be playing each other 19 times a year for the next 10 years.

April 16, 2009  08:19 AM ET
QUOTE(#22):

Texiera's hit 30 HR's and had over 100 RBI's the last 5 years. The only one to do so. Calm down on Youk. I hate A Rod so I'd trade him in a second for Youk even though A Rod's the better player. Not 20 mil a year better however. Cano had a bad year last year but hit 330 a couple of years ago so let's see what happens this year. Pedroia has the speed but he'll never have Cano's power. I have a feeling those two are going to be playing each other 19 times a year for the next 10 years.

I myself think Tiexiera is just a little over rated for the money. My point is that I'd love to have guys that play the game with some emotion and not like a business. I know Youk is a little over the top in that but I think its genuine and not an act. I liked Cano but I don't like that you have to sit guys to get them to concentrate on things. I just happen to like Pedroia because of the way he plays. I don't root for A-Rod to fail however I've been following the Yankees since the mid 60's but I don't just love a guy because he's wearing pin stripes.

April 16, 2009  08:24 AM ET

I have to say, Im a little surprised, if this is true...I normally love to hate the sox as a yanks fan, but Dustin comes accross as the type of athelete to support...hard working , and seemed classy...guess I was wrong

April 16, 2009  08:24 AM ET
QUOTE(#18):

A-Rod has made so may stupid statements he's easy to pick on. I for one would love to have Pedroia playing 2nd base for the Yankees. And I'd take Youk over Tiexiera on the Yankees too. Pedrioa and Youk both play witha lot of emotion and for the haters out there it is a good thing not bad.

Go root for the Sox if you like em so much.

April 16, 2009  08:25 AM ET
QUOTE(#9):

I just wonder...if Arod had made these comments there would already be HUNDREDS of comments bashing him. Pedroia's a tool...and his brother LOVES to touch little boys.

Nice....

April 16, 2009  08:28 AM ET
QUOTE(#23):

I myself think Tiexiera is just a little over rated for the money. My point is that I'd love to have guys that play the game with some emotion and not like a business. I know Youk is a little over the top in that but I think its genuine and not an act. I liked Cano but I don't like that you have to sit guys to get them to concentrate on things. I just happen to like Pedroia because of the way he plays. I don't root for A-Rod to fail however I've been following the Yankees since the mid 60's but I don't just love a guy because he's wearing pin stripes.

A switch hitting, slick fielding, power hitting 1st baseman in his prime was going to get what Tex got. For the first time since they had Nick Johnson the Yanks have a 1st baseman that can throw the ball.
I like Pedroia and Youk and their approach to the game. Youk's versatility is a huge plus. The Sox have a nice set up. Their best prospect is a first baseman and when Lowell is done they can shift Youk over there and bring him up.

 
April 16, 2009  08:28 AM ET
QUOTE(#25):

Go root for the Sox if you like em so much.

Brilliant. A person can be a Yankee fan and a baseball fan and a real fan of the sport can and does appreciate a good player or accomplishemnts of another team. Even true Boston fans can appeciate Jeter or Posada or Mo even though they want to root against them. Its really being a real fan of the sport. Sorry of you feel that not being a homer means not being a fan.

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