Dalton Jones Average Plummets 22.2 In August

FenwayNation's Dalton Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) experienced another major drop in August—shedding 22.2 points down to 70.0. The Index now stands a full 30 points below the normalized benchmark level of 100.0. In August, DJIA Panel members gave the highest confidence ratings to the team's defense, followed by the offense and relief pitching. As we have seen almost every month this year, starting pitching got the most negative rating—at a record low 35.0.

FenwayNation offers its readers this 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 initial 2012 preseason reading from our panel was normalized and set to 100.0 as the benchmark reading for the remainder of the year. 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, over the years,  to be an accurate bellwether of actual performance.