I don't get it. Dustin Pedroia is always getting more credit than he deserves.

 

Case in Point Number One: The 2008 MVP Award

Either the media hates Derek Jeter (which isn't true), or they're obsessed with Dustin Pedroia. It makes no sense why they would strip Jeter of the MVP award in 2006 and give Pedroia the award in 2008. Their numbers were eerily similar, as were the differences in their numbers with Justin Morneau.

First, take a look at the 2006 numbers, when Jeter didn't win the award.

Player Runs Hits HR RBI SB BAvg OBP
Derek Jeter
 118 214 14 97 34 .343 .417
Justin Morneau 97 190 34 130 3 .321 .375


Second, take a look at the numbers in 2008, when Pedroia won the award.

Player Runs Hits HR RBI SB BAvg OBP
Dustin Pedroia
 118 213 17 83 20 .326 .376
Justin Morneau 97 187 23 129 0 .300 .374


Now, look at the differences in the numbers between Morneau and Jeter/Pedroia.

Player
 Runs Hits HR RBI SB BAvg OBP
Jeter v. Morneau
 +21 +24 -20 -33 +31 +.022 +.042
Pedroia v. Morneau +21 +26 -6 -46 +20 +.026 +.002


There is a clear inconsistency here. Both Jeter and Pedroia had relatively close numbers when compared to Morneau, and Jeter had in fact better numbers, but Pedroia is the one who won the MVP award. Eerie...eerie indeed.

 

Case in Point Number Two: The 2009 All-Star Game

Dustin Pedroia does not deserve to be in St. Louis. He's constantly put in the top tier of second basemen, but he's barely a top-10 second baseman. It's a stacked position, and he's not in the upper echelon.

Player Runs Hits HR RBI SB BAvg OPS
Aaron Hill
 59 107 20 59 3 .299 .841
Chase Utley
 56 84 18 55 8 .301 .985
Brandon Phillips
 41 74 11 53 11 .268 .797
Ian Kinsler
 59 82 19 51 16 .253 .825
Ben Zobrist 43 63 16 46 8 .281 .998
Robinson Cano
 52 99 13 43 4 .302 .819
Brian Roberts
 62 91 8 40 17 .278 .788
Clint Barmes
 42 75 10 40 6 .276 .797
Freddy Sanchez
 42 96 6 33 5 .316 .832
Dustin Pedroia
 59 93 3 36 14 .290 .761

 

Case in Point Number Three: The Nation Sensation

Dustin Pedroia plays great defense. Yes he does. But he is not even the best defensive second baseman is the American League. Fernando Vina, Mr. Roids himself, says Pedroia saves so many runs for the Red Sox. Duh. What second baseman doesn't?

The best defensive second baseman is and continues to be Placido Polanco of the Detroit Tigers. This year, he's committed fewer errors and has made better plays. Polanco continues to get absolutely no defensive credit, and we can thank Mr. Pedroia for that.

 

Disclaimer: Yes, Pedroia is a good player. I admit that. So Sox fans, before you clobber me in disgust, I give Pedroia props. He has talent, and I have described him before as a player that is actively saving the game of baseball in the steroid era. He's better than average. But the best? No way. He's overhyped—but that's what you get with your own nation.