04/25/24
December 04, 2007
Mr. Clutch: There is a strain of journalism as hero worship, a strain that asks us to believe that sports are tests of character, that those who come through at key moments of the game have reached down deep inside themselves and found the strength and courage to succeed. I don't want to get into that. I am willing to look at the data and see what they have to tell us, but I want to keep at arms' length any judgments about the character of the athletes. Sports talk show hosts may be comfortable doing that, but that's their job, it's not mine. This discussion has been fouled up for a long time, and my only goal is to straighten it out just a little bit. An article by Bill James from the upcoming Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2008.
Hmmm... A win in April is technically the same, but what if your team is five games out at the beginning of September and you go on a tear that helps put them over the top. Matt Holliday and Jimmy Rollins basically both did that this year. I don't remember the exact numbers, but ISTR that both of them played above their already-high level down the stretch. Adding to the complexity - what if you were injured or in the minors in April? 60% of the Rockies April starting rotation was out for the season by August. They filled in the gaps with two rookies. (I know pitching isn't part of the article, but I'm just pointing out the April-September difference.)
posted by drumdance at 05:10 PM on December 04, 2007
'Luther says maybe the Catholic Church wasn't so bad after all.'
posted by tieguy at 09:09 PM on December 04, 2007
I don't think the calendar should have any bearing on the definition of clutch. After all, a win in April counts for the same thing in the standings as a win in September, although the win in September seems more important. Some people believe that performance in one specific month is more important than all of the other months combined. Cross-reference: Alex Rodriguez/Derek Jeter, October, insane Yankee fans In the same vein, I can't believe he lists a bunch of players in the article but completely ignores Derek "Captain Clutchy McAwesome" Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
posted by grum@work at 11:12 PM on December 05, 2007
Could the award for clutch hitting be sponsored by the South Bend Clutch Company? OK, I'm being facetious. I would like to have seen Mr. James's weighting of the elements he has included in his definition of clutch situations. I don't think the calendar should have any bearing on the definition of clutch. After all, a win in April counts for the same thing in the standings as a win in September, although the win in September seems more important. If a standard of measurement can be agreed upon, then rating the best and worst in the clutch will have a great deal of value. It will also lay to rest a lot of arguments about the relative worth of certain players.