Working without stats and objective evidence is the usual path in my academics. But trying to fit that into analyzing a baseball team is difficult.

One key to this team's success is chemistry (not the Barry Bonds type) attitude and believing in themselves. In the world of advanced analytical analysis how do we factor in that X factor?

It feels like we could statistically replace the production of a few of these guys but the end result would be a 90 loss team as we predicted.

It seems so 1970s to say something like "I like the chemistry and have a feeling in my gut these guys can win".

Young hungry talented players pulling for each other to succeed, mix in a couple of veterans, and a manager they will run through a wall for is what we are watching. Other players in the league have seen it and commented on what the Sox got going.