Dustin Pedroia Earns New Nickname as ‘The Muddy Chicken’ in Red Sox’ Marathon Win Over Rays

by

Jul 18, 2011

The Red Sox and Rays played for 5 hours and 44 minutes on Sunday night and into Monday morning. Fifteen pitchers combined to throw 480 pitches, and a run was nearly impossible to come by.

But by the end of it — a 1-0 Red Sox win in 16 innings — the biggest story had to do with a chicken.

“We don’t know his real name anymore. He is now the Muddy Chicken,” Josh Beckett said of teammate Dustin Pedroia, according to ESPN.com’s Joe McDonald. “The Muddy Chicken is definitely the player of the game. He got it done when we absolutely needed it.”

The Muddy Chicken is certainly a change of pace from “The Laser Show” that’s become popular over the past 15 months or so, and its origins are unknown. It may come from Pedroia’s two diving plays at second base on Sunday, one of which saw the undersized infielder pop to his feet and make a dazzling play behind Beckett. It also could have come from Pedroia’s bat, which accounted for three of the Red Sox’ five hits and drove in the only run of the ballgame. Or it could have come from nowhere, really. After a marathon game like Sunday’s, you can forgive a bunch of ballplayers for getting a little delirious.

Pedroia, when pressed for answers as to his new nickname’s origin, claimed ignorance.

“It sounds awesome, though, doesn’t it?” he said.

When you have a night like Pedroia had, you can pretty much get away with being called whatever you want. Even The Muddy Chicken.

Photo of the day

Are you cool with “The Muddy Chicken” nickname or are you hoping something better comes around?

Dustin Pedroia Earns New Nickname as 'The Muddy Chicken' in Red Sox' Marathon Win Over Rays

Dustin Pedroia Earns New Nickname as 'The Muddy Chicken' in Red Sox' Marathon Win Over Rays

Dustin Pedroia Earns New Nickname as 'The Muddy Chicken' in Red Sox' Marathon Win Over Rays

Quote of the day

“I’m a bit of a normal bloke, aren’t I? I like to go to the pub and have a pint, fly home, buy everybody a drink, just normal. There’s not many airs and graces about me. I was a little bit more difficult to deal with in my earlier years, and I’ve mellowed some. Just a little bit. But I’m just a normal guy playing golf, having a bit of fun.”
–Darren Clarke, after having quite a bit of fun at Royal St. George’s, where he won the Open Championship

Tweet of the day

When the Red Sox win after such a long night, there are no rules. Blast away, young man.

Dustin Pedroia Earns New Nickname as 'The Muddy Chicken' in Red Sox' Marathon Win Over Rays

Video of the day

I’ll be honest with you. I don’t have any idea what this announcer is saying, but I know the red team hated this.

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