"Contact play shoulda been on, that way you make the defence throw the ball home"

He would have been DOA. The infield was playing in (he was standing on the grass), and the first thing Pedroia did was take a look at him.  Doesn't make sense to run into an out at home with none out.  

It makes more sense to potentially run into an out at 2nd with a really hot hitter at the plater.