Dykstra: Get Into Scoring Position

The other day I wrote about Albert Pujols winning another MVP award. He's got the numbers and the build that scream "monster hitter." Today, I am going in another direction, but sticking with the MVP talk. I'm looking at the American League Most Valuable Player, Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox.

I'm sure people have underestimated Dustin his whole life, just because of his size. I know what that's like. There were opposing managers, pitchers and even broadcasters who didn't believe that I could get the job done, simply because I wasn't a big guy.

However, I used that to my advantage. It put the element of surprise in my favor. But it also made me learn to do all the little things correctly in order to stay ahead: drag bunt for a base hit, use a tell from the pitcher to get an extra jump on second -- you get the idea.

Pedroia can definitely relate to what I am talking about. People look at him and believe that he doesn't have much power, but anyone who has ever seen the man swing a bat should think again. He takes a big cut and has hit some big home runs as well. Although he has only 27 regular season homers in his career, he has five in the postseason in only 103 at-bats. Seems like Pedroia knows when to rise to the occasion, as he has a flair for the dramatic. Remind you of anyone?