Sometime after Dustin Pedroia’s exit out of Dolphin Stadium, and prior to Team USA’s drubbing at the hands of Puerto Rico (mercy rule!?), the Phillies Shane Victorino relayed what he witnessed when Pedroia was stricken by what is being deemed as a “minor strain of his lower abdominal region”.

Victorino, you see, was not only closest of anybody to the action, but also convinced Pedroia not to continue pushing through his ailment.

“I told him that it was better he be out for one game that be out for half a season,” said Victorino, who was watching Pedroia take flips from Team USA coach Reggie Smith. “You know how he is, he wants to keep going. He just took a swing off a flip and then he went ‘aahh!’ I’m like, ‘Don’t be risking it here.’ He was like, ‘Nah, let me take one more.’ But I told him, obliques aren’t fun, I know.”