Red Sox Pedroia unlikely choice for A.L. MVP

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- He has been called scrappy by longtime observers, a jockey by an admiring opposing manager and American League Rookie of the Year by all of baseball.The diminutive Dustin Pedroia, though, might add another moniker and more hardware to his mantle this offseason. The gritty Red Sox second baseman has not only captured the heart and imagination of Boston, but in his second full season in the Show, Pedroia has become a viable candidate for the league's Most Valuable Player award.Say it again, with feeling -- Dustin Pedroia, the 25-year-old, 5-9, 180-pound (soaking wet and with rocks in his pockets), is an MVP candidate. "Oh yeah, for the simple fact that you lose Manny (Ramirez) and you need somebody to fill that three-hole (in the batting order) and he has not flinched," said a big league scout. "Not only that, but he has embraced that role. He has great numbers. I wonder, 'Where would that team be without him?' "Pedroia leads the A.L. in batting average (.328), runs scored (112), hits (196) and is tied for the league lead with 47 doubles.He also has 17 home runs and has driven in 78 runs while stealing 17 bases and maintaining a .991 fielding percentage.No wonder the loquacious, if not always tactful, Ozzie Guillen referred to the mighty mite Pedroia as a "jockey" when the Chicago White Sox manager said he could not believe he intentionally walked him.Still think I'm pulling the local-kid-makes-good card (Pedroia is a Sacramento native) and imbibing in wishful thinking? "If I had to vote today," said one Baseball Writers' Association of America member, who does have a vote for A.L. MVP, "I'd probably go with Dustin Pedroia."So there you have it. It's official. Kinda.And with a little more than two weeks left in the regular season, and with another pseudo-candidate -- Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton -- in town for a four-game set against the A's, what better time to debate candidacies.Full disclosure: I have a vote for the A.L. Cy Young Award, so while we are asked not to disclose our choices until after the awards are announced, no confidentiality agreements are broken here in throwing around some names.Guys such as Hamilton, who is leading the A.L. with 124 RBIs. And Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodrmguez and his record-tying 57 saves. And White Sox slugger Carlos Quentin, the league leader in homers with 36. And Pedroia's teammate and rising New England folk legend Kevin Youkilis, who kept the Red Sox afloat midseason.But when breaking down "MVP," it comes down to how "valuable" an individual player is to his team and whether said squad is in contention.Which basically eliminates Hamilton, because his numbers are not that far above everyone else's and his Rangers are a non-factor. Where is Texas with him? A distant second place. Without him? Third place, so what? And silly Quentin all but eliminated himself because he's done for the year after breaking his right wrist in a fit of frustration.Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau might sneak into the conversation."To me," said A's manager Bob Geren, "from a team standpoint, you have to ask yourself, 'Where would you be without him?' "And that is how Pedroia, the sixth Rookie of the Year in franchise history, becomes Boston's 11th MVP.(Contact Paul Gutierrez at pgutierrez@sacbee.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)