BOSTON (AP) — Don’t look for Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley to be turning any double plays during this World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.But the presence of both has already had an impact on the clubhouses of the two teams looking to add to their already rich trophy cases.With 10 All-Star appearances and three championship rings between them http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-o_neill-jersey , Pedroia and Utley are two of the premier second basemen of their generation, each earning revered status that exceeds their stats and awards.Pedroia has spent his entire career in Boston, winning championships with the Red Sox in 2007 and 2013. Utley started his career in Philadelphia and spurred the Phillies team that won it all in 2008.But with a knee injury sidelining Pedroia and age slowing down Utley as he approaches 40, they have embraced the unfamiliar role of baseball elder this time around.“I don’t think either one of us will be getting any at-bats in this Series. So, we’re similar in that way,” Utley joked on Monday.This season has been a final lap for Utley, who in July announced his plans to retire at the end of his 16th season.He appeared in 87 games during the regular season but after hitting just .213 with one home run and 14 RBIs, didn’t make either of manager Dave Roberts’ NL Division Series or NL Championship Series rosters. He’s still soaked in every moment of the run so far.“This is the reason I wanted to play this year, was to get to this point,” Utley said. “I’m excited for the opportunity that we have. … Dustin, I know his teammates respect him and look up to him. From what I hear he’s a good motivator and a guy you definitely want on your team.”Dodgers third baseman David Freese said Utley commands respect.“He just does so much for this group,” Freese said. “The guy just wants to win. … I view him differently than other guys.”Currently in his 13th season Jacoby Ellsbury Jersey , the 35-year-old Pedroia has no plans of hanging up his cleats. That’s despite playing just three games in 2018 because of a left knee injury that has dogged him since he was spiked by Manny Machado on a late slide last year.He had surgery on the knee in the offseason but had an additional arthroscopic surgery while rehabbing in Arizona in July to clean up scar tissue. He had two initial procedures on the knee last October.“It’s hard not playing, but to be honest with you I’m enjoying this more than the other trips in years past,” Pedroia said. “It stinks not being able to play with them and be there with them, but I’m not upset about not playing because of the way they’re approaching the year.”His rehabilitation process was slow, though the four-time All-Star returned to action in May for three games. But he went just 1 for 11 with two walks before going on the disabled list again and eventually being shut down in September.Even before his season ended, Pedroia remained a presence in Boston’s clubhouse as it rolled up a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins.He texted teammates after big wins and during hitting slumps. He also called the clubhouse and was put on speakerphone to offer words of encouragement. He’s been on the field this week as the Red Sox prepared for Game 1 on Tuesday night.“He’s the heart and soul of this team,” infielder Brock Holt said. “He’s been here the longest. He’s won two World Series. So to have him here — it’s always better with him here than when he’s gone.”That opinion of Pedroia is shared by Boston’s opponent.“He set the tone for this organization,” Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill said.Pedroia believes his words still have an impact.“I hope I still do,” he said. “If not, they’re asking me a lot of questions wasting my damn time.” Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesFormer MLB outfielder Jayson Werth said Wednesday that "super nerds" are killing baseball.Werth, who hinted toward retirement in June,believes the game's analytics revolution is having a negative impact on the sport http://www.yankeesfanproshop.com/authentic-don-mattingly-jersey , as he explained on theHoward Eskin Podcast(viaESPN.com):"They've got all these super nerds in the front office that know nothing about baseball but they like to project numbers and project players. ... I think it's killing the game. It's to the point where just put computers out there. Just put laptops and what have you, just put them out there and let them play. We don't even need to go out there anymore. It's a joke."Werth lamented the lack of previously considered fundamental aspects of the game, including the strategic use of the bunt to take advantage of defensive alignment and the widespread use of the shift."When they come down, these kids from MIT, Stanford, Harvard, wherever they're from, they've never played baseball in their life," he told Eskin. "When they come down to talk about stuff like [shifts], should I just bunt it over there? They're like, 'No, don't do that. We don't want you to do that. We want you to hit a homer.'"It's just not baseball to me. We're creating something that's not fun to watch. It's boring. You're turning players into robots. You've taken the human element out of the game."In October Aroldis Chapman Jersey ,Brian Costa and Jared Diamondof theWall Street Journalreported MLB games last season "saw an average gap of 3 minutes, 48 seconds between balls in play, an all-time high." In addition, the league set records for pitching changes, time between pitches and longest games.TheWSJcited teams' use of data to seek pitchers who generate more strikeouts and hitters who generate fly balls to avoid shifts and create more home runs as key reasons for the lack of activity. It noted the "all-or-nothing approach means that between each home run there is a lot of standing around and waiting."Werth, who was one of the National League's toughest outs in his prime with the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, struggled to adapt to the changing game over his final three seasons. He posted a .226/.322/.393 triple-slash line across 70 games for the Nats last year.His .360 career on-base percentage would rank inside the top 30 of active players if he was on a current roster. He toldJon Heymanof Fancred Sports he was "done" in June after a brief stint in the Seattle Mariners organization, though.