Once again, FenwayNation will offer its readers a monthly reading of "The Mood Of The Nation" through our exclusive Dalton Jones Industrial Average. Named for the all-time Red Sox pinch-hit leader, the average is a composite index of four key metrics: starting pitching, relief pitching, total offense and total defense. The editors of FenwayNation have selected a panel of readers from throughout the world to weigh in every month on the state of the Carmine Hose. The Index number—and its fluctuation up or down—has proven to be an accurate bellwether of actual performance.We have received our initial 2012 preseason reading from our Dalton Jones Panel, and the results show a "raw score" of 65.1* (the maximum possible score is 100.0). This number will be normalized and set to 100.0 as the benchmark reading for the remainder of the year. Readings higher or lower than the benchmark will be reported once a month through September. For comparative purposes, the initial "raw score" collected before last season was a much more optimistic 77.6—12.5 points higher than this year's score. This year's individual raw scores were: starting pitching—62.3; relief pitching—57.8; total offense—74.5; total defense—65.9.
*revised from initial calculation