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It's mainly because rarely do players in baseball play through injuries compared to football or even basketball.

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Football players are tougher and so are hoopsters. When I said Pedroia makes baseball great, its more of his mental state. In football, if you are talented, tough, and have aggression, that is all you need. Baseball players aren't as tough and aggressive physically, but like poker players, they need strong minds to get the most out of their talents. Its a game of failure and patience, staying out of your own way. Billy Beane couldn't do it, Lenny Dykstra could.

Even natural born mashers like Manny, he really approaches each at bat, each game, with great balance of mind. Cold dudes like JD, facing elimination in ALCS, spring training in Florida, I don't think he thinks much differently. And its not golf or tennis, no quiet please, the fans in Boston tell him exactly what they think, yet still for all his struggles, he would get ahead, work the count, get something he can drive, put a good swing on the ball, let the results come. Gamers like Pedroia are the best though, 97 in 197 out!