First-pitch swinging

[soxtalker]

I just got back from the game, and I was extremely frustrated by the constant first-strike swinging for most batters (Frank Thomas being a notable exception). Maybe it is because I'm just finishing the book Moneyball which emphasizes the statistical approach to baseball. But I've known for awhile that it is a good idea to work the pitch count. Was tonight an aberration, or do the Sox hitters tend to swing early in the count?

[34 Inch Stick]

Unlike today, Lowe usually is throwing a very high percentage of strikes. It looked like they were following a scouting report today.