Another take on clutch

[Bull]

Since it seems to be a little quiet around here, I thought I would give guys a chance to speak their minds and yell at my stupidity. So here goes:

 

I know we don't believe in clutch, and some discussion has been given to anti-clutch (ie nobody gets better in pressure situations, but some may get worse).

 

If we could define clutch as the ability to not get worse in pressure situations, I think we can avoid arguments over semantics. (pipe dream, I know)

 

In looking at why some hitters might not get worse in pressure situations, I think we have to look at the pitchers. Pitching hurts. Throwing too many breaking balls hurts more. Swelling, icing, rest. It is stress. You want to minimize stress while not giving up quality. Baseball pitchers talk about "mistake hitters" and pitchers "going after a hitter". Is it possible pitchers "save something" for the best hitters or the more important situations? I know I've seen Zambrano (bad example) add 4 mph to his own demise. Is it possible pitchers put more torque on breaking pitches in pressure situations?

 

Is it furthermore possible that some hitters feast off average pitching and flail at great pitching? Is it finally possible that when pitchers notch it up, anticlutch hitters (who put up great overall statistics) are completely overmatched?

 

Sorry to bring this up again, but its not like there's anything better to talk about right now.

Edited March 22, 2012 by Bull

[jersey cubs fan]

Seems to me that a pitcher who is adding a little something more, either in terms of MPH or "torque" as you say, is just as suspectible to doing worse himself than overpowering the hitter. If you throw your breaking pitch one way all game it's probably not good to try overthrowing it when the results really really matter.

[woodchip2153]

Didn't The Book find that there are clutch hitters (a small increase in wOBA, IIRC less than 1%), but it's almost impossible to determine which hitters are clutch and which are lucky that year due to the small sample sizes.

[bukie]

Didn't The Book find that there are clutch hitters (a small increase in wOBA, IIRC less than 1%), but it's almost impossible to determine which hitters are clutch and which are lucky that year due to the small sample sizes.

It's also impossible to predict since it fluctuates so wildly from season to season.

[Soul]

It's like Higgs Boson. It might exist, but we can't find it.