His name is "Destroyah" for a reason

via d.yimg.com

The man is just on fire. There is not much more you can say about Dustin Pedroia.

After going 12 for 17 in his last four games (including back-to-back 4 for 4 games), Pedroia is hitting .327 on the season. That puts him atop the American League in average, three points ahead of the Rangers' Milton Bradley.

It's just remarkable how Pedroia has been hitting the ball lately. After last season, everyone expected a drop-off. No one thought he could replicate what he did in 2007 (except me ... I'll take all the credit in the world on this one). Wrong. Dead wrong. The man has shown power with 15 home runs (not bad for a guy who doesn't even crack 5'8") and he obviously knows how to get on base.

Consider this quote by the White Sox's manager Ozzie Guillen:

“I must be the worst manager ever in the history of baseball right now, walking a guy that just came from being on top of Big Brown to beat the White Sox,” Guillen said. “Right now, he’s on a roll. I get opportunities to walk him to face Big Papi, I will do it, whoever hits in front of him. This guy right now is on fire. No matter what you throw there, he’s going to get it.”

Fire can't even touch Pedroia. Look at what he's done as of late:

Last 28 days: .386 batting average
Second half of the season: .358 batting average
August: .378 batting average
Batting fourth: 1.000 batting average (5 for 5 ... just kind of a funny stat)
Against the White Sox: .480 batting average

The man is a freak. Some may say he's not even better than the Rangers' Ian Kinsler, but I say the Rangers aren't even in the playoff race. The Red Sox are trailing the Rays right now and Pedroia is hitting when he needs to. Now all he has to do is keep up the pace and carry the Red Sox into the playoffs.

Two more months of "Destroyin" ... that's what we want.