Unfortunately, Once is absolutely right about Pedroia, and I only wish the Yanks had 5 of him. He is exactly the type of winning player who would have fit in beautifully on the dynasty teams, or any team for that matter. The difference between his season and Cano’s is likely equal to or greater than the difference between the two teams in the standings in 2008.

The reason why his long swing doesn’t matter at this point is his total command of the strike zone.

If he doesn’t lose bat speed prematurely for some reason, his walk rate is going to increase in the next couple of seasons, which will make him a poor man’s Joe Morgan (if there is such a thing), without the terribly cliched game analysis.

Let’s face it, if Pedroia played for the Yanks, he’d be Jeter’s heir apparent, and he’d be the toast of the town, and all Yankees fans who hate him would love him to death.

Cheer up, fans; he’s a free agent after 2012.
Cheer down, fans; the Red Sox know how valuable he is and will never let him sign with the Yanks.

Yeah well, there’s a huge difference between “he’s not a hall of famer” and “he’ll be out of the league by the time he’s 30″ which is what Steve predicted.

So at least he’s changed his tune from “the league will own him soon enough” to “he may be an all-star and win awards”.

I look forward to ten more years of “That *$*#& Pedroia!”

OnceIWasAYankeeFan – how many right-handed batters less than 5′ 10″ tall who swung from the heels are in the Hall of Fame today?
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Given that there are 228 players who’ve been inducted, and there have been over 16,000 who’ve played MLB, I would say not many…

MJ, not saying Joe is infallible, but after seeing him a couple of seasons, couldn’t you see that as possible? He squares up pitches thrown just about anywhere, he’s like a mini-Vladi.

Where you are wrong, Steve, is on the whole “big swing, it must be exploitable” thing. Quite simply, why hasn’t it been exploited yet? The answer is obvious: As most attentive people have noticed, Pedroia has a remarkable ability to get the bat through the hitting zone, whatever supposed ‘flaws’ he is supposed to have. He squares up more balls than almost anyone in the league. Its not luck, and its not a lack of adequate scouting. If he was so mediocre, he wouldn’t have recovered from his poor start to accomplish what he has to date.

Or put another way, how many more strong seasons does he have to put up before you’ll decide he’s legit?

OnceIWasAYankeeFan – how many right-handed batters less than 5′ 10″ tall who swung from the heels are in the Hall of Fame today?

That’s my point. I’m not saying that DP cannot be an all-star and win awards. I’m just saying that I don’t see him having a long career in the majors. Age and scouting always catch up to a player. And, when the player has an approach that can be exploited (meaning the big swing) and limited physical gifts (such as being very small) it seems like that age/scouting catch-up happens even quicker. But, again, that’s just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

Joe Posnanski wrote on his blog during the summer
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Oh, well in that case, if Posnanski wrote it, then it MUST be true!

Yeah, Steve, but after his RoY, wasn’t the league supposed to “catch up to him” and reduce him to whatever state of mediocrity he deserves?

Instead, he wins a Silver Slugger & MVP (admittedly in a season where no big slugger had overwhelming traditional stats), and became just the third major league second baseman ever to put up 100 runs, 200 hits, 50 doubles, and 20 steals in a season.

So do you think that the third time will be the charm for the league? Or maybe you should think about what Joe Posnanski wrote on his blog during the summer – he said that twenty years from now, when you ask pitchers who was the guy they just couldn’t seem to get out, he predicted that more would say “Pedroia” than anyone else.

~~Oh, and Steve, on what do you possibly base your projection other than childish jealousy and blind hatred?~~

I just don’t see a very short right-handed hitter with a swing like his surviving long in the big leagues, that’s all.

Well I’m glad you finally brought this up so that I can comment.

Toast before he is 30? In your dreams.

Let’s add it up:
WS ring, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and MVP – and the first 2B MVP in the league in nearly 50 years.

Robbie Cano: One Silver Slugger. One benching for indifference.

Now, who is the superior BASEBALL PLAYER?

I want you to hate him, it means he’s doing something right to infuriate you. And if you feel better to make cracks about his height or anything else, hey, have at it. That’s the garbage that’s motivated the man all his life. But its time you respected him.

Oh, and Steve, on what do you possibly base your projection other than childish jealousy and blind hatred?

We can only hope.