The Legend of Pedey appears to be back for Red Sox

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Sometimes it seems The Legend of Pedey is greater than the man himself, which is saying something and, also, how legends—and love affairs—work, except that Pedey himself is still, you know, right here.

Dustin Pedroia is 35, has played in three baseball games since the fall of ‘17, stood with his chin on the rail as the Boston Red Sox put another championship on the wall, and otherwise, until lately, has dragged his bum left knee to and from the ballpark. As it is undeniably hard for him to watch a baseball game, it is perhaps harder still to watch him watch a baseball game, like watching a greyhound shiver in a starting gate. That never opens.

Having the Red Sox win with Pedroia in a hoodie, and with them barely breaking a sweat in October, still has a one-arm-tied-behind-their-back vibe to it, if only in part because of The Legend of Pedey. (And, also, because Red Sox second basemen ranked 14th in the American League in OPS.)

“Pedey”?