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The Matchup: Dustin Pedroia vs Larry Fitzgerald
Size: Pedroia checks in at a stout 5'9", 180 lbs. Fitzgerald out-sizes the Boston second-baseman with his 6'3", 217 lb frame. Advantage Fitzgerald.
Speed: Pedroia is probably quicker and slyer. He could maneuver his way out of a McDonald's fun house better than Fitz. That's the type of speed that pays off in a fight. Not straight-away hail mary speed. For the purposes of this fight.... Advantage Pedroia.
Power: I've seen Dustin blast homers over the monster like no one's business. He's got some underrated power in that frame. Still, he's up against a 6-inch deficit and is giving up 37 pounds. That's too significant. Fitz probably lifts all the time for football, too. I can't turn him down. Advantage Fitzgerald.
Smarts: Baseball is a thinking man's game. But receivers need to know all those routes, man. They need the smarts, too. However, Pedroia can see the future. His "Laser Show" comment is proof. He told us Papi would be fine. And Papi was fine. I might be biased, but Dustin Pedroia seems to know the solutions when needed. Gotta give the category to him. Advantage Pedroia.
Intangibles: I don't really know how big a role the intangibles play in this fight, but mindset has to be a factor. And plain and simply, if a football player is against a baseball player, there's a discrepancy. Football players have a much more aggressive demeanor. And everyone around the league hates the Red Sox. So Fitzgerald will probably get some more calls, too. I think he has the intangibles on lockdown. Advantage Fitzgerald.
Toughness: Dude. Pedroia. Amazing grit. Amazing toughness. You're going to need to knock this man out cold to win the fight. He's an extremely tough out. Advantage Pedroia.
The Decision: The categories were tied, 3-3. So I mean, Pedroia is right there with Larry. This is an extremely tough one to call for me. I love Dustin. But I think Fitzgerald would win this fight if it actually happened. Can't ignore the huge size and power advantage. It brings a tear to my eye, but I've got to be impartial here. Can't just pick dudes because they're Bostonians. And you'd all give me shit if I did that, anyway. So there you have it. Larry Fitzgerald wins a split decision over Pedroia.
Agree? Disagree? Let your voice be heard. Either way, Fitzgerald is marching on to face Albert Pujols in the second round. That will be a dandy. Tomorrow, though, we have another strange matchup when Pedro Martinez drops the gloves with Laurence Maroney.
I think I may have to disagree on the toughness going to Pedroia. Granted he is making a miraculous recovery and fielding ground balls on his knees with a broken foot but I think Fitzy has this. Larry Fitzgerald is just a straight up beast. The thing that amazes me about Larry is when you think he's going to go down he's going to break a tackle then turn on the jets and head for the endzone...case and point was in the Super Bowl with the Steelers he caught a pass up the middle burned everyone and kept accelerating through the endzone.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Probably a little bit of a Boston bias there by me saying that. I don't watch Fitzgerald every day like I watch Pedroia. But I was still able to overcome my Boston bias to give Fitz the win. Because as much as I'd love to just run Pedroia straight through this tourney cuz he's the fucking man, I can't do that and stay credible. Realistically he'd never win this fight.
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