BOSTON -- Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia defended his clubhouse leadership on Friday in light of the continued fallout from a confrontation between David Price and broadcaster Dennis Eckersley.
"Nothing is going to divide this team. For whatever people say from the outside: 'We don't have a leader' -- I'm standing right here," said Pedroia. "I've been here for a long time. We're in first place. That's it. Write what you guys want. Here I am. See anybody else standing here doing this? Do you? Nope. That's a fact. There's your source. From the mouth."
Pedroia was angered by one report that alleged he applauded Price for yelling at NESN analyst Eckersley in front of several Red Sox players.
"It bothers you when stuff is not true," said Pedroia. "But obviously, I'll do anything for my teammates. We're moving past this. This was a month ago. We all love each other. We're in here together."
Price, who was placed on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation on Friday, hasn't apologized to Eckersley. But Pedroia indicated that a conversation would happen at some point soon between the pitcher and former pitcher.
"They're going to have a conversation," said Pedroia. "We're grown men here. I'm not disciplining my 6-year-old son -- you know what I mean? These are people who really care about what they do. That's it, man. They'll have a conversation when they see each other. David's a man. He's going to do it face-to-face. He's not going to do it over the phone or text message. When he sees him, they're going to have a conversation."
Eckersley is in Cooperstown, N.Y., this weekend for Hall of Fame induction weekend and is expected to be back in the booth for NESN at some point next week.
"I'm sure he's going to have a conversation with Eck whenever he sees him -- he hasn't seen him since that. That's it," said Pedroia.
"I love David Price," said Pedroia. "One of my favorite teammates ever. We're all in this together. We're all trying to overcome everything and win the World Series, despite what anybody thinks of our team. We're in first place right now, and we're going to try and keep it going."
Because the issue has lingered for so long, Red Sox manager John Farrell would welcome Price speaking with Eckersley.
"I would hope so," Farrell said. "I know Pedey and David have had a chance to talk as well. I know Eck is at the Hall of Fame weekend this weekend. I would anticipate there being a conversation."
"[Owner] John Henry has apologized to him," said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "[Chairman] Tom Werner apologized to him, [president] Sam Kennedy apologized to him, I apologized to him. So I think the highest ranking officials in the Boston Red Sox organization, we've all reached out to him. So, that's up to individuals and what they decide they want to do on that."