Medium pocket pairs

[michaelp]

I have recently begun raising medium pockets pairs (8-T) in middle and late position with no raise in front (as per Lee Jones).

First question is confirming the why. I presume for value?

The big problem for me is, I now realise I have little idea what I am doing post flop when I get 5-6 loose passives along for the ride. Usually you are lucky to gain complete positional advantage, unless you are the button.

Then apart from flopping a set I can't see what flops I can get excited about, overcards have me drawing thin with the likelyhood of at least one player having connected, undercards create straight draw possibilities.

It seems to me I need to be super hand reader to take this hand forward, taking into the account the full gamet of each player tendancies in there current position and at that point in time. Are there any rules of thumb available?