Say umpires are calling more strikes to speed up games--Bradford, WEEI.com

Toward the end of Rob Bradford's story about Dustin Pedroia was news that Red Sox players have noticed a marked difference in the strike zone since May of this year. Hitters who've built their game on 'patience' are most affected.

• "...it was the bigger picture when it came to the umpires' approach since beginning of May. The notion that the umpires have expanded their strike zone in order to move games along has lived with the Red Sox for some time.

But while many of the members of a Red Sox lineup have been disgruntled concerning the umpires limiting their trademark patient approach, players like Pedroia haven't been standing idly by. The second baseman is just one of virtually an entire group of starters who have been swinging at the first pitch more this year than last.

• Kevin Youkilis, for example, is swinging at the first pitch 15.2 percent of the time this year, compared to 11.2 percent a season ago.

"I think guys' approach at the plate have changed," said Pedroia. "I'm more aggressive, absolutely. I'm not going to get myself into a situation where an umpire is going to dictate whether I'm out or safe. That's how you have to do it now until they go back to the regular zone, I guess.""

• Bradford was on XM's Baseball Beat today with this story.

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