Day 213: Red Sox Collect Two Gold Gloves

It's going to be a short post tonight... I'm too excited for the game to focus on anything for very long! I can make short jokes because I'm short. I know the feeling of being in a crowd and smelling only a sea of armpits. It's not fun. So I had to laugh when the Gold Glove Awards were handed out today and the Red Sox collected two—both going to a couple of the more vertically challenged members of the team. GO SHORTIES!

Dustin Pedroia (5'8") picked up his third fielding award for second base. To watch Pedroia patrol the right side of the infield is a thing of beauty...if you find a ridiculously dirty uniform beautiful...which I do. To me, a dirty uniform says I played hard and that's really what it's all about.

Pedey previously won in 2008 and 2011. This season, he played 1,398 innings (career high) with 688 chances and just five errors. His .993 fielding percentage was also the highest of his career. Before Pedroia won in 2008, the last Red Sox second baseman to win was Doug Griffin in 1972—you know it's a loooong time ago when I don't even remember the guy!

Shane Victorino (5'9") collected his fourth Gold Glove—this time for his stellar work in right field. His first three were won with the Philadelphia Phillies. Normally a center fielder, Victorino showed real versatility moving over to the tricky right field of Fenway Park and has played it almost flawlessly. He became the first right fielder to win since Dwight Evans in 1985—pretty big shoes to fill.

Victorino finished with 913.1 innings played and 276 chances. He made nine outfield assists and only three errors for a .989 fielding percentage. He also turned three double plays. Shane's quick hustle on hits to right field keeps most base runners at first base.

Congratulations to Pedroia and Victorino! Short people got all kinds of reasons to live!