Dustin Pedroia says he needs help from Red Sox' young core

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A year ago, in the middle of a contentious series with the Orioles in Baltimore, Dustin Pedroia was famously captured on camera in the Red Sox dugout telling Manny Machado: "It’s not me; it’s them."

On Saturday, addressing the team’s leadership void, Pedroia had a slightly different – but no less compelling -- message.

Roughly translated, it was this: "It’s not just me; it has to be them, too."

In other words, Pedroia seemed to be saying: leadership responsibilities need to be shared, with more players invested.

This wasn’t finger-pointing on the part of Pedroia, the way it may have been that day in Camden Yards, when Pedroia sought to distance himself from the team’s clumsy attempt at payback aimed at Machado.

No, this was about perspective, about context.

As the Red Sox attempted to transition in 2017 A.D. (After David), much of the leadership expectations fell on Pedroia. He was the longest-tenured player on the roster and the last remaining tie to the 2007 World Series title. He was the lone player in the clubhouse with two championship rings.

But as Pedroia noted Saturday, past successful teams didn’t rely on a single leadership voice.

“I’ve thought a lot about this,’’ said Pedroia. “I’m thinking, ‘When did the Red Sox start becoming successful from 2002 on?’ They had (Jason Varitek). Not only did they have Tek, but they had David, Trot Nixon, Johnny Damon. There were a ton of core players who were leaders. And then you look at the next championship, they had David, Tek, Mike Lowell, Alex (Cora) ... there were multiple leaders. And then, in ’13, there were multiple leaders.

“So, our core group... I need them and they need me. We need to work together because it’s not one leader. Everybody always says that it’s not one guy in baseball. It’s me, it’s Mookie (Betts), it’s Bogie (Xander Bogaerts), it’s Jackie (Bradley Jr.). It’s our team, so we have to be together and know that.

“I know David’s gone. But when Tek was done, we were OK, because he built that into David. And David’s built that into me and I have to do a better job in finding a way to get everybody to realize it’s not one guy; it’s everybody. It’s not (that) we need one leader. No, we need everybody. That’s what it takes to win at this level and in this environment, for everybody to come together and take responsibility and do it together.’’

Pedroia has reason for optimism that his message could be sinking in. He recounted an incident prior to a game in the ALDS last year when Pedroia, despondent over the condition of his left knee (which required off-season surgery), received some much-needed words of encouragement from Bogaerts.

“We all need each other,’’ said Pedroia. “It’s OK to be that guy, and let it come out and I think (the younger players) are all at a point now where they all understand that and  you can see when their personality comes out, Mookie’s more vocal and Bogie can be more vocal

“That’s what we need. It’s those guys and it’s their team. And we’ve got to do it together.’’

As for the assertion by Betts and Bogaerts earlier this week that the Red Sox’ clubhouse was an uptight, joyless environment, Pedroia didn’t offer much in the way of argument.

“For whatever reason, I think our overall outlook was result-oriented for that day. And that can wear on you as an everyday player and as a pitcher because baseball is so hard," he said. "When you fail seven out of 10 times, you’re really good. And if you’re really result-oriented that day, the only time you can go home and get a good night’s rest is if your team wins by 10 and you go 4-for-4 with four home runs. That’s not realistic.

‘’It’s not (just about the) result that day. Because if you think (it’s only about) ‘result that day,’’ you’re not going to have any fun. When you get home, you’re going to be, ‘Oh my gosh, man.’ We want to kind of tighten that up and have a little bit more discipline as far as how we approach things.’’