Israel Matzav

Congratulations Dustin Pedroia

Pedroia was a landslide winner with 132 points. He was chosen first on 24 of the 28 ballots and was the only player named on every ballot. Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young was a distant second with 56 points. Kansas City pitcher Brian Bannister was third with 36 points and Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka finished fourth with 12.

Sox reliever Hideki Okajima [stats] was sixth with three third-place votes (3 points).

Pedroia established a major-league record for rookie second basemen with his batting average, plus he led all rookies in doubles with 39 and placed second in on-base percentage at .380. He was also third in runs with 86.

Pedroia’s final numbers at the plate were considerably more eye-opening considering he struggled right out of the gate, hitting just .182 in April before finding his stroke the next month with a season-high monthly average of .415. Hitting down in the order in the beginning of the year, Pedroia was the Sox’ leadoff batter by season’s end.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:56 PM