Having stolen a grand total of 11 stolen bases over 3 minor league seasons (270 games), it didn't look like Dustin Pedroia would be much of a base-path burner in his big league career. In his first full pro season (2007), Dusty lived up to that billing and checked in with 7 thefts and 1 caught stealing; respectable, but not great for a middle infielder on the smallish side.

Apparently attempting to cast off that "slow for a little man" description we pegged him with some weeks ago, Dusty today reached a mini-milestone in his short career, having swiped his 10th bag of the year. It's not an overwhelming number, but consider the fact that it was just a short while ago that Nomar Garciaparra (single season career high of 22 SBs) was our most viable speed threat. Now consider that the 1-2 hitters of this year's team have a combined 45 steals on the season (and that's with Ellsbury having just 2 SBs in the past 30 games). And finally, consider that the Sox currently have 4 players capable of cracking double-digits, including 2 who have had multiple 20+ seasons in the past (Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo) and one who looks like a perennial 40+ guy (Ellsbury).

Finishing the season with around a dozen steals certainly won't make Dusty an MVP candidate, but considering this is the first year he's seriously gotten himself into shape prior to a season, who's to say he can't have double-digit steals every year?