Oft-injured lefty Erik Bedard has yet to make his first start for the Red Sox since being acquired from Seattle over the weekend, but such minor details don’t get in the way of the Herald’s Gerry Callahan declaring the Norwalk, CT native, “belongs in Boston about as much as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie belongs on an Abercrombie & Fitch billboard.”

Bedard doesn’t like the media. He doesn’t like crowds. He doesn’t like attention. He doesn’t like day games. Some people wonder if he even likes baseball.

His disdain for the press is legendary. Once Bedard supposedly told the assembled media that he would answer five questions. When a reporter asked if he was serious, Bedard responded, “That’s one.” He allegedly answered four more before walking away.

Bedard did not come down with an injury at the deadline this year, but he did not make it easy for the Mariners to deal him. All the scouts were watching closely when he made his final start Friday night. It was the 157th start of Bedard’s career and probably the worst. He lasted 11?3 innings, his shortest outing ever, and gave up four walks and five runs in an 8-0 loss to Tampa Bay. Seattle radio guy Mike Salk said yesterday on WEEI that Bedard’s final outing began with three straight wild pitches to the backstop in the bullpen.

“There’s definitely a belief out here that he tanked it so he wouldn’t have to go anywhere,” Salk said.

Let’s be fair: No one is alleging that Bedard fondled a waitress or crashed his Ferrari into another motorist while going 100 mph, leaving the other driver partially paralyzed. Bedard hasn’t stomped on the face of a defenseless opponent. That’s another new guy in town. That’s Our Albert, and it’s been, like, months since he assaulted a teammate. And doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance, especially guys with lots of talent?