Mite Dustin Pedroia wins the battle of three MVPs

There were three Most Valuable Players on Target Field on Wednesday, and this time the most valuable of those gentlemen was Dustin Pedroia, the Boston second baseman.

Pedroia's overall excellence was crucial in a 6-3 Boston victory that put the Twins at one up, one down in the new yard.

The American League's MVP from 2008 offered these contributions: an RBI double in the first, a home run that broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth and an over-the-head catch of a pop fly that prevented an early Twins rally against John Lackey, the expensive addition to Boston's rotation.

The Twins' MVPs did not have the same success: Joe Mauer (2009) had a scratch RBI single and an intentional walk in five plate appearances. Justin Morneau (2006) had a game-turning opportunity after Mauer's walk and popped out to leave the bases loaded.

There might have been an excuse for the M&M lads. First, it's going to take some time for our heroes to adjust to being wet when playing at home. And second, Mauer might have been exhausted from the trips to the mound required to consult with Kevin Slowey.

Tony Soprano was more willing to take suggestions from Dr. Melfi than Slowey seemed to be with his catcher. Slowey asked for new signals so often in the first couple of innings that you got the impression Mauer was going out to say, "Hey, Slow-man, you got to throw something."

Slowey's main problem came from the dynamic mite, Pedroia -- 5 feet 9 in the record book and 5-7 in reality.

The Red Sox selected him in the second round of the 2004 draft. He was a tremendous player at Arizona State, yet there was skepticism that a player so small -- even one playing in the middle of the infield -- could be worth a second-round selection.

The skepticism increased in 2006, when the Red Sox used him late in the season at shortstop and second base. He batted .191 in that 31-game trial.

The Red Sox were not dissuaded from their high opinion of Pedroia. He was the second baseman to open 2007. He batted .182 in April. Amateur scouts were shaking their heads and saying, "This guy can't ..."

And before we could get out "play," Pedroia batted .415 in May. At season's end, he received 24 of 28 first-place votes to become Rookie of the Year. A year later, he was the MVP.

This made him the fourth American League second baseman to win an MVP award. He also was the second American Leaguer (joining Cal Ripken Jr.) to be Rookie of the Year one season and the MVP the next.

More important is this fact: He's led the American League in runs scored with 118 in 2008 and with 115 last season.

"I could tell you great things about him all day," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He's a tremendous player, obviously. He's a good teammate. We're fortunate to have the chance to watch him every day and to be around him as a person."

Lackey left the Angels to sign with Boston during the offseason. He was asked what he has learned in a few weeks around Pedroia that he didn't know previously.

"He's pretty funny," Lackey said. "I didn't know that."

The rest Lackey knew from experience: "He's a great competitor ... never gives away an at-bat. You're going to have to work to get him out."

Apparently, Pedroia's humor includes praising himself to teammates. The home run was his fourth this season in eight games, causing a Boston reporter to ask: "Have you told anyone [in the clubhouse] that you're on pace for 81 home runs?"

Pedoria said that "so far" he has been keeping quiet about his long-ball exploits. The latest home run came when Slowey fell behind 2-0, came with a fastball and Pedroia pulled it to left field.

"I got another good pitch to hit and was able to get it out," Pedroia said. "It works that way. They come in bunches."

Meaning, Pedroia will hit a few home runs -- 32 the past two seasons -- and find them in small clusters.

"I'm not going to be a home run hitter," he said. "That's not the way I hit."

He hits the way he fields and runs: relentlessly.

Patrick Reusse can be heard noon-4 weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP. • preusse@startribune.com