Who's on Second?

[Cocos Disciples]

Actually his OBP was one of the reasons he was brought here. The guy walked a lot.

[example1]

I don't think Pedroia and Bellhorn are a good comparison.

 

The most strike-outs Pedroia has had in one season at any level after highschool was 27. He does swing from his heels, which apparently is how he drives the ball.

 

Why do you guys complain that nobody has taught him not to do that? That seems to me like a perfectly reasonable tweak for a 23 year old first year major leaguer to be working on. Obviously it hasn't kept him from succeeding at every minor league level and throughout an illusturious college career. A guy who is as smart and talented as Dustin must be will certainly make adjustments and be a different player at 26 than he is at 23.

 

Give him a break.

[seabeachfred]

I don't think Pedroia and Bellhorn are a good comparison.

 

The most strike-outs Pedroia has had in one season at any level after highschool was 27. He does swing from his heels, which apparently is how he drives the ball.

 

Why do you guys complain that nobody has taught him not to do that? That seems to me like a perfectly reasonable tweak for a 23 year old first year major leaguer to be working on. Obviously it hasn't kept him from succeeding at every minor league level and throughout an illusturious college career. A guy who is as smart and talented as Dustin must be will certainly make adjustments and be a different player at 26 than he is at 23.

 

Give him a break.

 

Yea EX!!!!! Maybe we can start a Pro-Dustin club around here. I'm astounded so many posters are ready to diss this guy because of his slow start last August. To those of us who saw him he hit into some tough luck but also showed an ability to get some key clutch hits. I really believe this guy is going to be a solid player for us for a long time.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[example1]

Yea EX!!!!! Maybe we can start a Pro-Dustin club around here. I'm astounded so many posters are ready to diss this guy because of his slow start last August. To those of us who saw him he hit into some tough luck but also showed an ability to get some key clutch hits. I really believe this guy is going to be a solid player for us for a long time.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

I do too, but to be fair (at least to someone like a700) I don't think so many people are jumping on what he didn't do last year, as much as they see a guy with a lower ceiling. Physically alone he looks like he could never hit over 20 HR so they question the choice to make the absolute decision that THIS is the guy of the future. How can we say there isn't another 2B out there (via FA, Draft, trade, etc.,) who can't do better.

 

I am pretty attached to Pedroia because I love the type of player he is. He's not the only one like that, we've all played with someone like him in the past. He's scrappy, reliable, extremely talented and very smart. I think the Sox should set aside one or two positions on the team where they take a high OBP guy with plus defensive and clubhouse abilities. Those two players, in my mind, are Youkilis and Pedroia. I think they can both be around affordably for the next 5 years or so and each can still get on base at a .370+ clip.

[seabeachfred]

I do too, but to be fair (at least to someone like a700) I don't think so many people are jumping on what he didn't do last year, as much as they see a guy with a lower ceiling. Physically alone he looks like he could never hit over 20 HR so they question the choice to make the absolute decision that THIS is the guy of the future. How can we say there isn't another 2B out there (via FA, Draft, trade, etc.,) who can't do better.

 

I am pretty attached to Pedroia because I love the type of player he is. He's not the only one like that, we've all played with someone like him in the past. He's scrappy, reliable, extremely talented and very smart. I think the Sox should set aside one or two positions on the team where they take a high OBP guy with plus defensive and clubhouse abilities. Those two players, in my mind, are Youkilis and Pedroia. I think they can both be around affordably for the next 5 years or so and each can still get on base at a .370+ clip.

 

EX, maybe it is my 30 years experience as a baseball coach. I have had Dustin Pedroia types on my teams, though none of them were apparently as talented as DP because only one made it to the top, and these type of scrappy players always seem to become over-achievers. They find a way to succeed, they find a way to better than the sum of their parts, they find a way to become winning ballplayers. I see Dustin around for a lot longer than five years, though.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[a700hitter]

EX' date=' maybe it is my 30 years experience as a baseball coach. I have had Dustin Pedroia types on my teams, though none of them were apparently as talented as DP because only one made it to the top, and these type of scrappy players always seem to become over-achievers. They find a way to succeed, they find a way to better than the sum of their parts, they find a way to become winning ballplayers. I see Dustin around for a lot longer than five years, though.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:[/quote']

How many of the scrappy types have become stars in the majors. Scrappy guys are luck if they start for 3 or 4 years and ride the bench for another 3 or 4. That's if they are lucky and work really hard.

[example1]

How many of the scrappy types have become stars in the majors. Scrappy guys are luck if they start for 3 or 4 years and ride the bench for another 3 or 4. That's if they are lucky and work really hard.

 

Well, it is very hard to quantify 'scrappy' statistically, so its hard to go back and say historically 'this guy was scrappy' 'that guy was scrappy'. I can think of guys who had that reputation, shortstops like Phil Rizzouto and Pee Wee Reese were both mainstays for their clubs, and there have been plenty of small, non-power hitting middle infielders who have had long term positions on winning teams.

 

I don't disagree with you, but baseball has had hundreds if not thousands of characters over the years. There's room for Dustin Pedroia in the mix someplace.

[a700hitter]

Well, it is very hard to quantify 'scrappy' statistically, so its hard to go back and say historically 'this guy was scrappy' 'that guy was scrappy'. I can think of guys who had that reputation, shortstops like Phil Rizzouto and Pee Wee Reese were both mainstays for their clubs, and there have been plenty of small, non-power hitting middle infielders who have had long term positions on winning teams.

 

I don't disagree with you, but baseball has had hundreds if not thousands of characters over the years. There's room for Dustin Pedroia in the mix someplace.

Just because a guy doesn't have Home Run hitting power doesn't make him fall into the category of scrappy. Harold "Pee Wee" Reese may not have hit a lot of HRs, but he had good power for a middle infielder in his day. He hit 20-30 doubles and a good number of triples. He was a pretty good run producer as well. Reese regularly stole 20-30 bases each year. Rizzuto was very fast although he wasn't allowed to do a lot of stealing in the Yankee lineup. Both of these guys had tremendous quickness in the field and great range. Rizzuto won an MVP when the league had DiMaggio and Williams. Reese wasn't a scrappy SSon the Dodgers. He was the captain. These guys may have been small, but they were supremely talented. I would liken Pedroia more to a Billy Martin. Martin was scrappy.

[BSN07]

I think Pedroia will get passed his slow start last season when he got his call up, and be a good #9 hitter with good D. Who cares about HR from 2B, what did Loretta hit last yr like 5?

[seabeachfred]

How many of the scrappy types have become stars in the majors. Scrappy guys are luck if they start for 3 or 4 years and ride the bench for another 3 or 4. That's if they are lucky and work really hard.

 

Laugh if you will but I think Pedroia could become a second baseman Phil Rizzuto with more power. Look, I can see where your concern it; the guy didn't exactly tear up the pea patch last summer when he was brought up, but he hit in tough luck and was yanked in and out of the lineup. He has been successful elsewhere and it is just my opinion you are severely underestimating the guy. Like you, though, I have my concerns about our team, but they center in the closer's role and whether Coco Crisp and Jason Varitek will make decent comebacks to get us into the Playoffs. None of us know for sure how this thing is going to turn out, but I think a little optimism on all our parts would be great for the soul.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[seabeachfred]

Just because a guy doesn't have Home Run hitting power doesn't make him fall into the category of scrappy. Harold "Pee Wee" Reese may not have hit a lot of HRs' date=' but he had good power for a middle infielder in his day. He hit 20-30 doubles and a good number of triples. He was a pretty good run producer as well. Reese regularly stole 20-30 bases each year. Rizzuto was very fast although he wasn't allowed to do a lot of stealing in the Yankee lineup. Both of these guys had tremendous quickness in the field and great range. Rizzuto won an MVP when the league had DiMaggio and Williams. Reese wasn't a scrappy SSon the Dodgers. He was the captain. These guys may have been small, but they were supremely talented. I would liken Pedroia more to a Billy Martin. Martin was scrappy.[/quote']

 

Good points made 700, and since I saw Reese and Rizzuto countless times as a kid living in Queens I might add something to this dialogue. Rizzuto hit over 300 twice, 307 in 1941 and his MVP season's 324 in 1950. He has no power whatsoever, decent range, a good arm and a team player extraordinaire. Pedroia has that with some power. He may or may not show it but I would certainly be willing to bet he will. As for Reese, he hit over 300 only once, 309 in 1954 and never hit more than 16 homers a season (1949), but he was greater than the sum of his parts. He was a complete ballplayer and tough as hell in the clutch. Foolhardy it would be for me to say that Pedroia will become one of them but I think I could say he could. I just believe this young man has what it takes to be a standout for us. Anyway, if he reads this he might want to hire me part time as his publicity agent.