When Manny left Boston everyone looked to Jason Bay to see if he would be able to fill his shoes. Comparing the two outright, it looks like the better hitter is playing elsewhere…
Bay:
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS
+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+
29 132 118 24 36 7 2 4 29 9 1 30 2 0 3 3 3 0 .305 .356 .500 .856
Manny:
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS
+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+
32 140 113 22 46 7 0 10 29 21 10 21 3 0 3 4 2 0 .407 .500 .735 1.235
But getting Manny out of Boston wasn't just about one player because you can never replace a player like Manny's numbers in the lineup with one guy. He's a once in a generation player, he's THAT good.
What you can do though is hope other guys will rise to the occasion. What about these stats for a player since Manny left?
G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS
+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+
30 147 133 37 52 13 1 8 28 12 1 9 0 0 2 4 6 0 .391 .435 .684 1.119
That's right, Pedroia's numbers are even better since Manny was bounced. In his last 8 games, he's had 5 games where he has had at least 3 or more hits. In two of those games he had 4 hits (back to back, first time a Sox player has done it since I was a 1 years old, back in 1981 when Wade Boggs did it).
People are saying Pedroia is the front runner to win the MVP. And he should. Bay has done a serviceable job, and Boston loves him. But Pedroia has really picked it up in the 2nd half of the season and pulled the Sox out of major trouble time and time again. Tampa Bay Rays Evan Longoria was easily on pace to win it comfortably, and Pedroia will have some competition from Carlos Quentin and A-Rod, but if the Sox manage to steal the AL East from the Rays (funny I am even writing that at this point in the season, isn't it?) I think Pedroia has to get the nod.
Pedroia's defensive stats are as impressive as his offense numbers, and he's pushing his team into the playoffs. That's an MVP to me.