Francona: 'I think' Pedroia will be back

Red Sox manager Terry Francona made his weekly appearance on the Dale & Holley Show Wednesday. He was first asked if he thought the Sox and Mariners would be able to play Wednesday's scheduled doubleheader with the prospect of continued inclement weather.

"We are getting a better forecast," said Francona. "I know it's ugly out there right now but it sounds like in the couple of hours that most of this stuff will be out of here and we're going to play. As the day progresses, I think we're going to be OK."

Francona was asked about Dustin Pedroia and the perception that he was perhaps brought back too quickly. The All-Star second baseman missed 45 games after breaking his left foot in June. He came back on August 17 and played just two games before returning to the DL with soreness in the same foot.

"I think it was pretty well documented," said Francona of the process that led to Pedroia's return last week. "He saw Dr. [Thomas] Gill, Dr. [George] Theodore, Dr. [Lewis] Yocum, there are a couple of things that we are trying to get done today, just trying to get more information. The best way I can put it is that he passed all the tests and I think everybody felt that he was safe to come back and try to play. Now saying that, they also warned him -- and very aggressively -- that if he felt pain he had to let us know. That's when he could do damage. So when he felt some pain we immediately … we went and got a scan. The scan showed that there was no further damage, so we were very relieved. But since he's sore we put him on the DL."

Francona doesn't think the latest DL stint for Pedroia means that the second baseman's season is finished, but more of an exercise in caution.

"He was a little concerned so it made us concerned.," Francona said. "So we pulled the plug and before we wanted to play him again we wanted to get it looked at then we ended up putting him on the disabled list. That doesn't mean he's not going to come back and play. I actually think he will. I think we'll have to keep an eye on him and do the best that we can."

Francona was able to get Pedroia on the phone with Michael Jordan, who played for Francona during his year in minor league baseball. Jordan broke his foot in 1985 and was able to relate to Pedroia's injury.

"I knew that Michael would enjoy talking to him -- and he did," said Francona. "He was almost fatherly with advice, like 'hey man, I went through this, it's tough, you gotta listen' and Petey was all ears. That was good. When guys like Michael Jordan talk, guys are more apt to listen."

As for the "ESPN 30 For 30" that aired Tuesday, a one-hour documentary that focused on Jordan's one season with Francona and the Birmingham Barons, the Sox skipper was less than impressed.

"I thought it was a little bit disappointing," Francona said. 

To hear the interview click on the Dale & Holley audio on demand page [1]. For more Red Sox news visit the team page at weei.com/redsox [2].