2014 Bill James Projections - Dustin Pedroia

©Kayla Chadwick 2012

2011 projection: 158 games, .297 BA, .372 OBP, .462 SLG, 17 HR, 77 RBI
2011: 159 games, .307 BA, .387 OBP, .474 SLG, 21 HR, 91 RBI
2012 projection: 143 games, .299 BA, .378 OBP, .469 SLG, 17 HR, 73 RBI
2012: 141 games, .290 BA, .347 OBP, .449 SLG, 15 HR, 65 RBI
2013 projection: 156 games, .296 BA, .367 OBP, .459 SLG, 17 HR, 76 RBI
2013: 160 games, .301 BA, .372 OBP, .415 SLG, 9 HR, 84 RBI

2014 projection: 157 games, .298 BA, .371 OBP, .443 SLG, 14 HR, 77 RBI

Dustin Pedroia has been remarkably consistent throughout his career - both from day to day, and season to season. Pedroia has to be practically begged to take a day off, even when injured. Sometimes the bumps and bruises collected by Pedroia are unnecessary: indeed, he tore the ligament in his left thumb on this season's Opening Day, sliding headfirst into first base while the Red Sox had a comfortable lead over the Yankees.

But if he played it safe and sane, he just wouldn't be the Dustin Pedroia Red Sox fans know and love. Though the injury undoubtedly affected his power numbers in 2013, it's obvious that having Pedroia at 90% is far superior to trying to fill his spot with anyone else.

Pedroia has had surgery to repair his thumb, and reportedly should be ready for Opening Day. Barring any sort of injury (something you can never really rule out with Pedroia's style of play), I would hazard a guess that the 2014 projections will be relatively accurate.