Star Dust

Pedroia completes fairy-tale season by being named AL Rookie of the Year

November 13, 2007|Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff

For a player who thrives on the doubt of others - remember that .172 batting average on May 1, his too-big swing, and his small stature? - Dustin Pedroia might not have that as motivation for much longer. In the wake of a stellar season, both offensively and defensively, the Red Sox second baseman won the American League Rookie of the Year award, handed out yesterday by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

He had spent the night before the announcement moving into a new house in Chandler, Ariz. A long night, to be sure. But eased, perhaps, by yesterday's announcement that he had taken the award by a large margin, over Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young (132 points to 56).

Not that Pedroia ever has been one for individual accomplishments.

It's good for his family, he said. Good for his wife. For him? He has that World Series victory to hold onto.

"It's just been, it's kind of been a dream come true this whole year," Pedroia said. "In your first year in the big leagues, you want to establish yourself as a good player. The only thing I cared about was trying to help the team win. That was our ultimate goal.

"We set out to try to win the American League East and try to win the World Series. We accomplished both of those things.

"If you're dedicated to team goals, individual goals will come later. You're going to play your best baseball doing everything you can to help your team win."

But it wasn't always easy for Pedroia. He struggled through April, batting .172 as the calls for Alex Cora to replace him in the infield grew louder.

But Pedroia took off after that, raising his batting average to .317 for the season, 10th highest in the American League and best all-time for a qualifying rookie second baseman.

Pedroia earned 24 of 28 first-place votes to beat out Young, with Kansas City's Brian Bannister coming in third (36). In the National League, Milwaukee third baseman Ryan Braun beat out Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the closest race since the current system was instituted in 1980. Braun got 17 first-place votes to Tulowitzki's 15, and took the award by just 2 points.

Fellow Red Sox Daisuke Matsuzaka placed fourth with 12 points and Hideki Okajima sixth with three.

"We're very proud of Dustin for what he has accomplished and how he has conducted himself in a Red Sox uniform, so it's especially gratifying to see him recognized today with such a prestigious honor," general manager Theo Epstein wrote in an e-mail.

"From his first day in the organization, he's been a great example for all with his work ethic, fearlessness, and respect for his teammates and the game. He gets the most out of his considerable abilities and does so with one thought in mind: winning championships for the Boston Red Sox."