Yeah, Right

Writing in The Athletic this week, Steve Buckley explains why he voted for Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia for the Hall of Fame. Heaven help us all. Keep in mind that Pedroia, whose career was cut short by injuries, managed 1805 hits, 725 RBIs and 922 runs in what basically was an eleven-year career. Did I mention that Buckley used to write a column for the Boston Herald or that he tried to buttress his case for Pedroia by invoking Tony Conigliaro, another Red Sox player with an injury-shortened career? He did. I have absolutely nothing against Pedroia as a player. In fact, I think if women ever make it as MLB players, it’ll be in the Pedroia mold, compact and powerful. But those stats just aren’t worthy of Cooperstown. Not that it will keep East Coast voters from trying their best to get him in. Pedroia had a 51.9 WAR per baseball-reference.com, by the way. Compare that to Mark Buehrle’s 59.1. I wonder if Buckley voted for Buehrle, too. I wonder if Buckley knows who Buehrle is.