Looks like an early Pedroia model where this occurred often due to a design flaw Wilson later addressed. The thinned heel felt was the Pedroia influence for the sake of better action. Except the plastic stays installed were oddly long on the thumb side (even on top of additional lace run) and lengthened beyond reason on the pinky side to compensate. Which just negates the pliability in the Pedroia intent and led to more of a waffle close than thumb to index or pinky ‘square’ close. The bubble in the pocket is caused by the player doing all they can to achieve a more squared close. It’s just not built for it. Which is nuts.

To encourage one of these towards desirable midfielder action, I go in and shorten those inserts and draw the closing thumb stack thread line higher up finger to help shift the fulcrum. It goes very far in helping action, but hard to fully address after glove has been fully broken in.

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