Nine to Know: Red Sox Stats Pack – The Power of Three Edition

The Bill Chuck Files overflow each day with stats, factoids, and observations that are sometimes relevant, sometimes irrelevant, and sometimes simply intriguing. At the start of each Sox series, I will share some of these in my “Nine to Know,” and I hope you will do the same.

I was thinking about a quote from the good-hitting Willie Shakespeare as Ben Cherington spun his magic last week.

Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. – William Shakespeare

As Ben was selling, he was also preparing for next season by paraphrasing the Bard (not Daniel): Better three months too soon than a month too late. As sad as it was to see some players go, it was imperative to get major league tested/ready players in order to avoid a repeat of this season’s failed prospects in 2015.

Now Cherington has three months to get ready for the post season and judging by what we’ve seen so far, he’s going to need every minute of it.

Nine to Know: The “power of three” leaders for the Sox
(In this case, I use the vernacular so “three” equals 3 or 3+)

Red Sox 49-62 (22-31 on the road, 43-28 .606 when scoring at least three runs) @St. Louis Cardinals 59-51 (31-24 at home, 51-21 .708 when scoring at leastruns)

1. Dustin Pedroia leads the Sox with nine three-hit games. Jacoby Ellsbury led the team with 17 last season.
2. Xander Bogaerts leads the team with 10 three-strikeout games. Mike Napoli led the team with 21 last season.
3. David Ortiz leads the Sox with 11 three-RBI games this season. Big Papi led the team last year with 14.
4. Dustin Pedroia leads the team with two three-runs scored games. Jacob Ellsbury led the team last year with five.
5. David Ortiz leads the Sox with two three-walk games. Mike Napoli led the team last season with four.
6. David Ortiz leads the Sox with four three-run-homers; he led the team with six last year. Felix Doubront leads the team allowing two three-run homers; Jon Lester led the team with three last season.
7. Jake Peavy and Clay Buchholz lead the team with seven three-walk games. Ryan Dempster led the tam with 14 last season.
8. Koji Uehara leads Sox relievers with six three-strikeout games. Koji also led the team last season, also with six.
9. Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Felix Doubront each have allowed three steals once this season. John Lackey allowed three steals in five games last season.

I’ll be back Frday as the Sox faceoff against the powerful Angels in Anaheim.