Sox trending

Boston.com

Surprisingly enough, the Red Sox played tonight and I'm actually not about to launch into a vitriolic tirade.  As ugly as it was, I'll take it.  Win's a win.  I'm already at the point where I truly never expect them to win, so if they do it's just gravy.  But what's probably the most unbelievable thing about this team is how many trends they've already fallen into.

In Clay Buchholz's 7 starts this year, the Sox have scored 58 runs - an average of 8.29 per game.  That's how a 4-1 pitcher lives with an 8.31 ERA and 1.97 WHIP.  How and why do they only score for Buck, and why is it always so much?  Where is that the rest of the time?  The Sox have played a different team in each of his starts, so it's not like they have any team's number and Clay just keeps getting starts against them.  It's a mindfuck, but it is a trend that has now persisted for the whole season.  He actually broke his epic 5 ER streak tonight by only allowing 3 earned over 6 1/3, so, congrats on snapping that trend, for now.

ESPN fantasy baseball

The Sox only know how to win by absolutely mangling the opposition.  They're 6-3 in games decided by 6 runs or more.  Nine blowout games out of 32 is certainly a noticeable trend, though it's sort of amazing to think that they've won the games they have.  Almost looks like they're a .500 team at a glance.  Almost.

baseball-reference.com

Whenever Will Middlebrooks gets a hit, it's a god damned bullet.  The kid had another big rip tonight with the bases juiced to bring in 2.  He sadly ended his own historic streak of consecutive games with an extra-base hit to start a career at 5 after an 0-4 the other night, but for what it's worth, the streak tied Enos Slaughter, who did it in 1938.  Entering the major leagues by being associated with a guy named Slaughter has to be a good sign.  He should be the real deal at the plate.  The field's kind of another story for now, but like Billy Bean said, "Defense, doesn't, matter!"  Kid's already got 11 RBIs and triple the bombs of one Albert Pujols, and he's been in the league about 15 minutes.  Don't know why this kid hasn't gotten really a speck of national attention like Harper has.  Hopefully the trend here is to keep ridin' the rookie and tell Youk to accept one of their classic phantom 60-day injury deals.  The Lackey, if you will.

ESPN fantasy baseball

BTW my life is staring at charts and graphs all day, which is why I'm a fantasy force to be reckoned with.