The Scouts Didn’t See This Coming
Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis both homered Sunday in Boston’s 15-4 loss. That gives Pedroia 13 on the season and Youkilis 23. Considering both were billed as grinders who would get on base but not provide much power coming through the minors, it’s surprising to see them with a shot (albeit slim in Pedroia’s case) at 20 and 30 home runs, respectively.
The Red Sox have had plenty of players that scouts have loved lately, but I think it’s fair to say Youkilis and Pedroia don’t fall into that category, so I guess you can score one for the sabermetricians in their ongoing, bitter and completely non-existent blood feud with scouts. (We’re past all that, right?)
I’m more interested in where they rank in the wide open AL MVP race. Pedroia and Youkilis are No. 1 and No. 3 in the race for the batting title. Youkilis has a higher OBP and SLG than Josh Hamilton, while Pedroia has more home runs than every other second baseman in the AL besides Ian Kinsler and two fewer extra-base hits than Alex Rodriguez.
I don’t think either player is deserving of the award, but because of the way the BBWAA trims down the field (player must usually play for a contender and be strong in the Triple Crown categories), they’re in the group of eight or so players who seem like favorites at this juncture.
With no one running away with the race, either could win the MVP with a particularly strong finish.