The absolutely indispensable website,
FanGraphs,
offers up a fascinating analysis of just why the Red Sox are 2013 World Series Champions. Don't worry, you don't need a pocket protector to visit
FanGraphs—their articles can be comprehended by non-geeks as well. Today,
Tony Blengino deftly shows how
Ben Cherington and company elegantly tailored the 2013 roster to fit the ballpark. Knowing the quirkiness of Fenway—which exaggerates run-scoring on fly balls second only to Coors Field—Boston got guys who disproportionately
hit fly balls. Several of the new guys—
Mike Napoli,
Jonny Gomes,
Mike Carp,
Stephen Drew—combined with
Jarrod Saltalamacchia,
Daniel Nava,
Will Middlebrooks, and
David Ortiz to produce
well above average fly-ball frequencies. Then there's what Belngino calls
The Pedroia Factor—the 'team-first' ethos that attracted similar players to Boston (and later resulted in
Ryan Dempster leaving his $13.25 million on the table when he retired). All of these factors helped
The Carmine Hose to glory in 2013—and has set them up well for a long run of success in the future.
