Dustin Pedroia added some more hardware to his collection of post-season awards today. The Boston Red Sox second baseman won the 2008 American League Most Valuable Player. The 2007 AL Rookie of the Year adds the '08 MVP to his 2008 Gold Glove award and Silver Slugger award. But the MVP award tops the list of what was a break-out season for Pedroia.
The diminutive (5'9" 180lb) slugger put up huge offensive numbers for the Red Sox. He ranked first in the American League in runs (118) and doubles (54) and was second in the league in batting average (.326). He also socked 17 home runs, drove in 83 runs, and had a .376 on base percentage. Pedroia also played stellar defense at second base.
With 16 first place votes and 317 points overall, Pedroia comfortably defeated Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (257) and Boston's first baseman Kevin Youkilis (201). Pedroia is also the first second baseman to win the American League's MVP since the Chicago White Sox Nellie Fox won the award in 1959.
The award was well deserved for Pedroia. He's a hard-nosed, tough player who goes all out on every play. Have you ever seen the guy not run out a routine ground ball? He provides a spark at the top of the Red Sox lineup, batting in the second position. In fact, manager Terry Francona moved Pedroia all over the lineup, even batting him clean-up for a period of time while Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Mike Lowell were injured. He's a grinder at the plate, taking pitches, fouling off pitches--he never gives away an at-bat. And not only does he have the offensive statistics and solid glove in the middle of the infield to merit the award, but Pedroia, in only his second year, has emerged as one of the leaders of a veteran ball club. Pedroia's presence in the clubhouse, dugout, and on the field, was, in a word, invaluable. That makes Dustin Pedroia deserving of the MVP award.
The diminutive (5'9" 180lb) slugger put up huge offensive numbers for the Red Sox. He ranked first in the American League in runs (118) and doubles (54) and was second in the league in batting average (.326). He also socked 17 home runs, drove in 83 runs, and had a .376 on base percentage. Pedroia also played stellar defense at second base.
With 16 first place votes and 317 points overall, Pedroia comfortably defeated Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (257) and Boston's first baseman Kevin Youkilis (201). Pedroia is also the first second baseman to win the American League's MVP since the Chicago White Sox Nellie Fox won the award in 1959.
The award was well deserved for Pedroia. He's a hard-nosed, tough player who goes all out on every play. Have you ever seen the guy not run out a routine ground ball? He provides a spark at the top of the Red Sox lineup, batting in the second position. In fact, manager Terry Francona moved Pedroia all over the lineup, even batting him clean-up for a period of time while Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Mike Lowell were injured. He's a grinder at the plate, taking pitches, fouling off pitches--he never gives away an at-bat. And not only does he have the offensive statistics and solid glove in the middle of the infield to merit the award, but Pedroia, in only his second year, has emerged as one of the leaders of a veteran ball club. Pedroia's presence in the clubhouse, dugout, and on the field, was, in a word, invaluable. That makes Dustin Pedroia deserving of the MVP award.
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