Romance is a fickle thing; much like a rubber band, the further you try get away from someone who loves you, the more drawn they are to you.
Statistical analysis is a useful tool in the proverbial tool belt of sports writers everywhere. It lets one show the reader that everything may not necessarily be what it seems and paints a different picture than what appears before you during the game. Your casual fan who just enjoys watching the game and following the team may not be all about the statistical analysis that goes into a sport, lest it be on a positive note for the ballclub they cheer on.