Underrated Pedroia is second to none

His indefatigable preparation has helped transform Dustin Pedroia into an All-Star second baseman. (G. Lowrance Newman/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dustin Pedroia has a 26-game road hitting streak and couldn't care less.

He merely shrugged about it as he signed a box of baseballs near his locker yesterday afternoon. "I just want to get to the ballpark, prepare to play, play the game, win, and go back to the hotel or go home," he said. "I'm so not concerned with personal things like that. My mother actually called me to tell me I was on some kind of streak or something, and I just said, 'Great, Ma.' I guess people think it's a big deal and important and I guess it sounds good, but really, not even close to something I think about."

We suppose this is what makes Pedroia so good.

He goes out every day, takes his big swings for a little guy - which makes scouts and baseball people cringe - hits over .300 with lots of extra-base hits, gets on base, grinds out at-bats, plays a stellar second base, and hears everyone explain why he shouldn't be so successful. That's OK. Pedroia is going to keep doing it his way and filing away the names of some of the doubters he's encountered.

The Red Sox' All-Star second baseman had a game off last night, a rarity. Usually in these cases, circumstances dictate that he play at some point. And he was half-expecting that last night, though for the first time in a long time he wasn't resisting the opportunity to sit back and relax.

"I think Terry [Francona] picked a good time to rest me," said Pedroia. "With tomorrow being a day off, I think this will do my body some good. I've been going pretty hard, and this allows me to rest up a little bit. I love playing, so this feels a little different to get here so early, go through my regular routine, and then not suit up for the game. But I think I actually need it."

Pedroia is the first to arrive at the ballpark, at about 1 p.m. for a 7 o'clock game. He does a variety of things - from getting medical treatment if he has an injury to preparing physically and mentally. He'll sit for quite a while and watch video of himself, watch video of the pitcher he's going to face, then go to the batting cage, where he hits, hits, and hits some more. He practices everything, from situational hitting to his batting stance. He also has fun, ragging on teammates, playing practical jokes, and once in a while allowing himself a game of cards. But for the most part, Pedroia has become the poster child for how to prepare on the road.

"I'm not on these trips to go sightseeing," he said. "I'm here to play and win. I do whatever I can to put myself in that position. When I'm on the road, there's one purpose - baseball. I don't care about doing anything else. When the game is over, I'll think about getting a bite to eat or something. But this is my job. You're not a baseball player for very long in life, so I'm going to make sure that I'm doing everything I can. I have a routine. I stick with it. For me, getting to the ballpark early gets me acclimated to the stadium I'm going to play in that night or that series, and gets me prepared to go out and face the pitcher. If I didn't do it this way, I just wouldn't feel as if I was ready to play."

Other than yesterday, Pedroia rarely admits to needing a rest.

Does he ever feel tired?

"Sometimes your body is beat up," Pedroia said. "Mentally, you have to try to find a way to overcome that. There have been times this year when I've been banged up and gone out and played. That's just a part of our job. A lot of people don't know when you're not feeling well, and you don't want them to know, either."

Manny Ramírez, are you reading this? Could we transplant Pedroia's demeanor into Ramírez's mind-set? What would you get if you combined the two? You'd have the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.

If his teammates don't look upon Pedroia as an example of how it should be done away from Fenway, then they should sit up and take notice.

"I think everybody has their certain routines," said Pedroia. "I don't even know what I'm hitting on the road, but I don't know whether anyone tries to do what I do. I just know what I do works for me. I have to be as prepared as possible to feel comfortable going into the game. That's just me."

That should be everybody.

Don't know how you're doing on the road, Dustin? Well, how about hitting .335 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 266 at-bats compared with .295 with three homers and 26 RBIs at home? Your road hitting streak is the best for a Red Sox player since Tris Speaker hit in 29 straight in 1913. You're one game away from tying Florida's Luis Castillo for the best road hitting streak since 1960, when Johnny Temple hit in 33 straight for the Indians.

During the streak, Pedroia is hitting .435 (50 for 115). That's how good he's been for a team that is 26-33 on the road after last night's 8-2 win.

Maybe it's the challenge. Knowing that the team struggles away from Fenway likely makes Pedroia more amped. Last night he rested, though he said, "I hope I can get in there at some point and help us win a game." Pedroia means it, too. He's obsessed with winning. Obsessed with being the best.

So don't dwell on that 26-game road hitting streak. It doesn't mean a thing to him.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.

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