Anatomy of a hot streak
Dustin Pedroia has vaulted to the forefront of the American League Most Valuable Player race with some astoundingly hot hitting recently - he's batting .480 over the last two weeks, with five homers in 59 at-bats, and there are various other small sample sizes that are just as impressive (he's batting .615 thus far in September, for instance).
But what's truly remarkable is that Pedroia's actually been a non-stop offensive force since the early days of summer.
On June 13, Pedroia was batting .260, with a .311 on-base percentage and a .676 OPS. The batting average was his low-water mark of the season, excluding the first few games. (Silly full-disclosure: He was hitting .182 three games into the schedule. Slacker.)
The next day, Pedroia had two hits in a 6-4 victory over Cincinnati, raising his average to .262. Save for the rare 0 for 4, his average has done nothing but rocket skyward since then.
Check out these crazy numbers: In 69 games - almost half the season so far - and 297 at-bats since June 13, Pedroia has 119 hits, including 13 of his 17 homers. His batting average since that date?
.401.
Again:
Four-oh-one.
You probably know the rest: He's leading the AL in hitting (.333), hits (191), and runs (110) his slugging percentage is now over .500 (.505), and his OPS is all the way up to .883.
And that, sports fans, is how you become an MVP candidate: for 2 1/2 months, you punish the baseball like it was one of your detractors.
Pedroia is actually 119 for his last 295 (.403) beginning with his 6th-inning at bat on June 14th.
Actually, in his last 69 games (beginning with the game on June 13), he's hitting .399 (120 hits in 301 ABs).
But take out that first game (he went 1 for 4 in it), and he's up to .401 over the past 68 games. Over 24 games (106 ABs) from June 14 to July 9 he hit.453, and over his past 20 games he's hitting .443. Dude's insane.
I am sure that the MLB voters will find a way to not hand DP the MVP - he will not care as long as the Sox win another World Series.
Dont forget he is also the best defensive 2nd baseman in baseball - DP is doing it all- a five tool MVP
Chris, Sean and Dragondarklighter:
From the 6th inning on June 14th, through the 1st inning on July 21st, the now legendary Dustin Pedroia went 60 for 129. .469! That's right: .469 in 129 at bats. I doubt that even Wade Boggs ever went 60 for 129.
Here is another tid bit for you stat nuts out there...
Sine that June 13 1-for-4 game, he's been in 69 games.
In those 69 games...
- He never had back-to-back games with an 0-for.
- He has a hit in 62 of them
- Of those 62, more than half - 35 - are multi-hit games
CF Writing in Extra Bases. Could you replace the Amazing Amalie as my favorite EB blogger? Only time will tell.
dustin is having the same exact year that derek jeter had in 2006 except he doesn't lead the league in VORP or win shares the way jeter did. as they should... the writers will vote for a power hitter.
It sure is nice to see the bats on fire but i would like to see a lil more hustle out of Mr Ortiz - - his knee is fine he should be running out plays just like everyone else on the team. whenever he is on first and someone hits a double play grounder his picture never even come onto the screen - - he gives up halfway to second and the same applies to when he is batting - - he only riuns part way to first base when it is a sure out ! ! Looks like a lil bit of the Manny bad attitude to me
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