Thanks for the common sense David. Better than some of the overheated rhetoric on Deadspin.com and other sites (not to mention 'EEI) re. how the Sox are failing and have become the Yankees. It's good to see statistically (the BABIP stats) what my eyes are telling me - that the Sox are making good contact - the balls just aren't falling in.

The DPs have been killers though.

Nice work David. In other words, they are flashing the same DALDAC that they did against the Yankees (Dumb Ass Luck Disguised as Clutchiness).

Of course, sinkerballers Westbrook and Carmona have something to do with that, too. But I also wonder how much the Indians' somewhat unorthodox lineup helps them. In the classic lineup, there are big boppers surrounded by role players. You can pitch around the big guys and let the little guys hit the ball, which is why people like Brian Doyle have amazing Octobers. But you can't do that with the Indians. If the 6-hole hitter makes the last out, that means the next inning has Loften hitting leadoff and Sizemore batting "cleanup" - not a bad lineup, really. Nine straight .270/20/75 hitters might actually be more difficult to pitch to than the speedster / bunter / doubles guy / monster / second-best monster / everybody else lineup.