Dog Eat Dog World

Dustin Pedroia has been practicing order hot

dogs and a beer all season.

Millions of sunflower seeds litter Major League dugouts each year. A spread that makes Thanksgiving look like fast food is catered into clubhouses to feed hungry players coming off three hours on the diamond.

But only in spring training do you hear about a player leaving during a game to grab a quick snack.

After being lifted in the sixth inning of Saturday's game, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia changed and slipped out the back entrance to buy three hot dogs. Disguised in a brown T-shirt, Pedroia paid the unsuspecting cashier – a high school girl from Fort Myers – with a hundred-dollar bill before heading back to the clubhouse.

He might have gotten away with the snack run had the doors to the clubhouse not been locked. Nobody – not the cashier, not the other stand workers, not even the fans – realized who he was. But upon hearing him pound on the doors the jig was up and he was busted.

While this may seem comical during spring training, just imagine it happening during the regular season – or worse in the playoffs. Fortunately the Red Sox are no stranger to players slipping out during games. During his time in Boston, Manny Ramirez was known to run into the Green Monster to use the facilities.

These players are paid millions of dollars for anywhere from three to four hours of work each day. Can't they just wait? Reggie Jackson – known for soiling himself and his uniform mid-game – must be in awe of today's players.

Baseball is a team sport. Even if your day is done, there are guys trying to make the team who need all the support they can get. So Dustin, become a cheerleader for the next three innings and help give a young player some advice.

Or at least bring back enough hot dogs for everybody, since you've decided to break out the Benjamins.