Pedroia, Eckstein & Cano
Yankee fans hate Dustin Pedroia. Yes, they hate Curt Schilling more. But the vitriol they can muster for a player whose playing ability they routinely put down is pretty surprising. Dare to compare Pedroia to Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano and watch their blood boil.
A comment from reader MJ at WasWatching:
The Dustin Pedroia comparison reminds me of the guy that sang the praises of David Eckstein in the previous thread. Guys that get their uniforms dirty, but otherwise stink, are the most annoying players on earth to argue with guys like Mad Dog Russo. Pedroia and Eckstein have three WS rings between them but have nothing else to really offer their teams. I hate Pedroia and Eckstein.
Dustin Pedroia finished 2007 with a .317 batting average, a .380 on base percentage, and an OPS+ of 112. David Eckstein’s career average in those categories is .286, .351, 89. Cano’s 2007 ended with .306, .353, and an OPS+ of 120.
No doubt Cano has a higher ceiling than Pedroia. But no matter how many times Pedroia is labeled scrappy he wasn’t Eckstein in 2007. And if you believe Pedroia offered nothing to last years championship team you’re an idiot. MJ is an anonymous poster at WasWatching. I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t want my name associated with that comment either.
Want a good laugh? Johnny Damon’s 2007 OPS+ was 97. They’re paying him 13 million a year. Pedroia makes 457,000. Suckers. Also, Melky Cabrera? OPS+ of 89.
