I have an extensive backlog of things I would like to write about and Mark Shanahan’s profile of Eric Van in the Boston Globe is near the top of the list. Shanahan’s subheading describes Van as “an eccentric genius who’s obsessed with statistics” and who this season is “on the Red Sox payroll.”

What follows is a compelling biography of a very interesting guy, a nerdy Renaissance man with a sleeping disorder and interests as varied as the baseball players whose numbers he crunches. Science fiction, physics, music (especially Mission of Burma), computing, psychology and neuroscience, and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer (see the accompanying sidebar) are all passions of this odd character.

What makes his story even more intriguing is that the Red Sox hired him based on his posts at Sons of Sam Horn, the incomparable online forum where Boston fans congregate and discuss their favorite ballclub’s every move.

Eric Christensen, founder of Sons of Sam Horn, says there are other statheads on the site, but none more prescient or persuasive than Van. “Eric comes up with theories that are backed up with tables and charts,” said Christensen. “He’s very difficult to argue with because he’s got his bases covered.”

The article has already generated an extensive thread at SOSH and at Baseball Think Factory’s Sox Therapy, where Van’s perceived arrogance makes him a more controversial figure. The great thing about both threads is that Van himself is participating in the conversation, detractors be damned.

If Alan Schwarz’ The Numbers Game didn’t provide enough evidence to convince you that baseball stat freaks are some of the most interesting people around, Van’s story is certainly another persuasive example. Like him or hate him, Van seems to be the Neal Cassady of the Sabermetric Age.