"The Sports Fan" Podcast

            On Friday, September 20, the first ever edition of the Sports Fans Podcast was created on sound cloud. Recorded at 9 a.m. the Podcast had a round-table discussion of baseball- and focused on the Boston Red Sox. The host of the show was Andrew Baughn, who interviewed baseball players at Lyndon State College. Those athletes were Shane Lacroix and Mike Raimondi.

            The start of the show included a discussion about the three men’s favorite Red Sox players. Lacroix’s favorite was second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Two Gold glove Awards and one MVP Award are part of Pedroia’s resume, but Lacroix claims that these pedigrees are just part of the reason that make Pedroia such an excellent player. His attitude and work ethic on and off the field are what set him apart in Lacroix’s mind. Pedroia works hard and gives everything he has every time he steps on the diamond. His mindset is something every coach wants in a player, and the stats that come with him are impressive as well. These qualities put him in a spot where he is viewed as a leader of this team.  When he won his MVP Award in 2008, Pedroia led the major leagues in runs scored, hits, and doubles. He batted an impressive .326 with 83 runs-batted-in for a man standing at a pedestrian 5’8’’ and 165 pounds. Pedroia is a fan favorite, working hard to win the love of fans. Many baseball fans in New England are fans of the best players, and this theory is holding true for the three speakers.

            Baughn and Raimondi both felt that designated hitter David Ortiz was their favorite Red Sock. Ortiz is a common choice for favorite player among Red Sox nation, and for good reason. Ortiz was a critical component of breaking the “Curse of the Great Bambino” when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. “Big Papi” and Manny Ramirez in the middle of the Boston lineup created a formidable force of offense very few pitchers could stop. Bringing the first World Series Title to Boston in 86 years was a huge deal to Red Sox nation and the City of Boston. The region was lucky enough to grab another World Series Title a few years later in 2007, largely in part to Ortiz. In 2007 he led Major League Baseball in walks with 111, and led the league in on-base percentage with .445. Ortiz has been a crucial part of the Red sox success in the mid- 2000s.

            The Red Sox have gone through a huge turn-around this season. Last year at this time, fans were complaining about a poor team and Manager Bobby Valentine saying things publically he should not say. A year later the Red Sox have clinched the American League East Division, and are heading to the playoffs with right now, the best record in Major League Baseball.