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Farrell: Pedroia 'maybe overdoing' things

DETROIT -- At least so far, this has not been one of Dustin Pedroia's best postseasons. His offense has been inconsistent and even his typically flawless defense showed a crack in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday.

"He's wanting to do a lot right now. That's who he is as a player. Maybe he's overdoing it a little bit at times," said manager John Farrell.

In Game 4, Pedroia bobbled what could have been a double-play ball in what wound up as a five-run, second-inning rally for the Tigers.

"Last night, I thought, just in talking with him today, there was a thought that [Jose] Iglesias might look to push-bunt right there with a first-and-third, one-out situation," Farrell said. "He squares a ball up. The way the ball came up, it was almost like a stone skimming off some water. It was a different hop. He's trying to guard against a charge where he's got to crash. He squared a ball up. Not a time to be handcuffed."

Pedroia did come up with two key hits in the comeback in Game 2. Aside from that, he is 1-for-11 in the series.

"Just got to try to grind, man," Pedroia said. "These guys, they've got great stuff. They're keeping the balls on the corners, so I've got to try to find a way to put some good swings on it."

At this point, Farrell will stick with Pedroia as his No. 3 hitter. After all, most of Boston's hitters have struggled in the ALCS.

"I haven't thought about moving him out. There's just been a willingness to expand a little bit too much," Farrell said. "It's working inside the limits of each individual. That's an extremely fine line, particularly going back to the atmosphere and the environment in which we're in right now."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne.
Read More: Boston Red Sox, Dustin Pedroia