Is Cooperstown on the horizon for Pedroia?

BOSTON – When the Red Sox took Dustin Pedroia in the second round of the 2004 draft – with their first pick and the 65th overall – many observers scoffed. Why take an undersized, somewhat chunky middle infielder so high?

“Yeah, I hear that all the time,” said Pedroia, generously listed at 5-foot-9. “But I was drafted in the second round. I expected to get to the major leagues and be a great player. But there was only a certain amount of people that expected that, and those are the people that drafted me and thought I was going to be who I am.”

Now in his 12th season, Pedroia has proved doubters wrong. The American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 when he helped the Red Sox to a World Series title. AL MVP the following year. Another World Series title in 2013. Four All-Star teams. Four Gold Gloves, the most ever by a Red Sox infielder, and a Silver Slugger. He brought a career .301 average into this season, along with an .811 OPS and a .991 fielding percentage at second base, the best in AL history.

The little engine that could – and has – has been the heart and soul of the Red Sox and the team’s de facto captain for years. He is now the longest tenured and oldest player on the roster. Pedroia, who will be 34 on Aug. 17, is 8 years older than Xander Bogaerts, his double-play partner, and 10 years older than rookie outfielder Andrew Benintendi, the youngest on the team.

His accomplishments have been impressive. His intangibles even more so. Which is why the Red Sox were eager to sign him to an eight-year, $110 million extension in 2013 which will keep him in a Red Sox uniform through 2021, his age 37 season.

He has often drawn comparisons in Boston to former Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr, the oldest living Hall of Famer, whose retired No. 1 looks down on Pedroia from Fenway Park’s right field façade. But will Pedroia’s accomplishments be enough to allow him to join Doerr in Cooperstown? With five (or more) seasons to play (if he stays healthy), there are about 10 years – or more -- before that question can be answered. But it’s open for consideration.

That is, unless you’re Dustin Pedroia.

“I don’t know, I don’t really think about it,” Pedroia said. “I just try to play, take every day and play like I have my whole life. It’d be different someone saying something like that compared to the negatives they usually say to a guy of my size and stuff like that. No, that would be the highest of compliments.

“(But,) that’s not why I play. I enjoy playing baseball. I play to win. I play for my teammates. You play to impact people’s lives. If it’s not your kids, it’s another kid that watches you and maybe wants to be like you and things like that. That’s why I play it.”

While Pedroia is not ready to talk about a potential Hall of Fame candidacy, others are.

“Yes, yes he is. Not just because of the player he’s been and who he is today but what he does to prepare,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “From the first day of spring training every year I’ve been here, he sets the tone with the pace in which he practices -- it’s full speed.

"And when your best player, one of your best players, sets that, guys fall in line. So, he’s been a leader by example and as he’s gotten along in his career he’s become more of a sounding board for younger guys. He’s experienced all sides of the game here in Boston, which is unique in its own right. But I think, most importantly, Pedey’s a guy you envision wearing one uniform his entire career.”

But, what about those outside Fenway? Occasionally, Hall of Famers can be the toughest judges of those who might join their group.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Dustin’s,” said Hall of Famer pitcher Jim Palmer. “He hits quality pitches, and those are the guys that are really annoying…He’s annoying good, or really borderline great. And he’s had great years.

“Stay healthy, that’s the key, because at age 33 he hasn’t lost anything.”

Pedroia’s resume is not yet complete, which could sway the jury.

“He has that potential, that consideration,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “I know he’s been one of the most consistent, quality performers here. He’s been a real constant here for them. He’s brought a lot to their culture. How you quantify that -- if people just look at pure stats -- I don’t know. I’m sure he can rank up there with some just by longevity. But, if you consider some other very worthwhile things that you can’t quantify, then he definitely would be. Hall of Fame competitor, Hall of Fame efforter. His substance has always been his style, not his style being his substance.”

“Right now he’s a Hall of Famer to me,” said Orioles center fielder Adam Jones. “I know a lot of people always used to talk about his stature. The best thing about him is he doesn’t give two craps about that. He knows he’s a big dog and stature doesn’t make you a big dog. How you play and how you perform, how you treat this game, how you treat others, that makes you a big dog. And he is on that list.

“All those factors nowadays, as you’re seeing, are all components into getting into the Hall of Fame. Now they’re judging you on your character as you see with some of the guys like (Barry) Bonds, (Roger) Clemens, (Mark) McGwire, and all them. So, to me, I think he’s a Hall of Famer. What he’s accomplished on the field and what he’s accomplished off the field just solidifies it for me.

“(But,) I’m not a Hall of Fame voter. I don’t even know what they look at when they vote for the Hall of Fame.”

In a very unscientific survey of 25 Hall of Fame voters, 15 were unsure of Pedroia’s Hall worthiness, with six voting yes or leaning that way, and four giving a nay vote.

“My gut tells me that Pedroia is a Hall of Famer,” said one voter. “Depending on how long he continues to play, there may be some analytical or "threshold" numbers on which he falls just on the cusp, but playing in Boston and contributing to the titles that he did, I think will put him over the top if there is any question.”

“I think right now it's 50/50 and will be a race to the finish line,” said a voter in the not sure/not yet camp. “I think he's going to need to cross that 3,000 (hits) barrier. You look at the baseball-reference "Similarity Scores" at age 32, and of the top 10, Craig Biggio (No. 3) and Paul Molitor (No. 10) are the only two of the 10 who made it into the Hall of Fame, or who are close. I think in Pedroia's favor is his all-around game, defense, intangibles and, of course, the two World Series rings in 2007 and 2011. It's going to be very interesting to see how the next five years of his career unfold. I think that will tell the tale of his Cooperstown worthiness.”

“I would say right now he’s a borderline candidate leaning toward no,” said another, “but he could still boost his case.”

“Pedroia started off his career with a bang but his production dipped…The (Robinson) Cano comparisons would likely hurt him, although Pedroia’s case stands on its own merits.

“He has a shot at the Hall, but he still needs to put up a few more good seasons.”