There has been a lot of talk this season about how Dustin Pedroia is in a season long slump. Anyone who has been this assertion has not crunched the numbers between his first 73 games last year and his first 73 game this year

Thru 73 games
Year AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP AVG
2008 294 42 79 18 6 32 19 28 7 .313 .269
2009 292 54 84 21 2 30 35 22 12 5 .364 .288
Projected 2009 vs full 2008
2008 653 118 213 54 2 17 83 50 52 20 1 .376 .326
2009 643 118 185 46 4 68 81 48 28 11 .371 .288

Pedroia's stats have not decreased in any category except home runs, RBI, and Caught Stealing, but Pedroia has also attemped nearly 3 times as many steals as last year. He is ahead of his 2008 pace is runs, 2B, BB and SB. Pedroia has been a strong second half player so his projected 2009 totals will probably be understated but are pretty close to pace with his 2008 numbers, aside from the power.

When you crunch the numbers Pedroia is having a better season through 73 games than he had through 73 games in 2008 when he was MVP of the American League.

Fantasy Advice
If you are in a fantasy league I would target Pedroia as a strong buy low candidate. The only second basemen I like more than Pedroia the rest of the way are Chase Utley, Ian Kinsler, Brian Roberts, Aaron Hill and Ben Zobrist. If the Red Sox can acquire Matt Holliday or Adrian Gonzalez before the trading deadline that will push Pedroia's value even higher. If you want to acquire Pedroia you need to get it done before the All-Star break.