Clutch rule option?

[teepack]

That would be my understanding of it. If it truly is an RBI adjuster, then I would guess it would look at that very ratio.

[bleacher_creature]

Now that makes some sense, whether one likes the method or not. I can see this as a way to try to measure RBI ability (which IS a true baseball talent/skill) prior to when situational stats were recorded and kept.

Making the clutch factor kick in only with 2 out RISP makes sense too since: a) this is a big time productivity situation, and b) it's better than making a factor for all RISP situations.

It's important to remember that board game playability DOES influence this game we are playing on computers.

Wait...I did a search and just found this from a 1999 Hal Richman interview posted at somworld.com:

[quote:cda5c31e64]GA - Can you explain what is the Clutch Formula?

HR - Well, I can't get into the exact formula, but I can tell you its more than the Runners In Scoring Position Average is. If there was enough ABs produced with 2 outs and runners in scoring position (RISP), batters hit between 12 and 20 points below their regular average. There is pressure on the batter to produce in those situations. But enough ABs can't be generated. We look at average and RBIs. They are weighted differently, but anything under 100 ABs we consider to be very little. Its more than a RBI adjustment. I really think that the clutch is an excellent formula.[/quote:cda5c31e64]

Thus spake Hal Richman.

[bleacher_creature]

Here is my original e-mail asking the question to Glenn Guzzo, whose [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879462809/sr=8-1/qid=1141666140/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9685521-8806324?%5Fencoding=UTF8]book on Strat-O-Matic[/url] can be purchased at Amazon.

[quote:73b3b79dbf]Hi Glenn,

Over at the funnest website on the planet, TSN/SOM, we are having a
discussion about clutch ratings:

[url]http://forums-beta.sportingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=67206[/url]

Some players think that the clutch factor is just a way to control RBIs. I
believe someone used Ichiro's 2005 card as a good example of a player who
tears it up with RISP, and RISP/2 out, but has negative clutch symbols.

The discussion centers around playing specialized leagues WITHOUT the clutch rating. This sounds insane to me, and I know there is more to Mr. Richman's calculations than what meets the eye.

I believe someone like you may be able to shed light on how the clutch
ratings work.

-Sean[/quote:73b3b79dbf]

The response:

[quote:73b3b79dbf]Hello, Sean -- I'll use this in the next Talk Show. For now, briefly: Clutch ratings are an RBI adjustment, using most of a player's AB for the formula rather than just RISP/2.

A byproduct: The clutch ratings help gamers use regular players in realistic lineup positions (sort of what the closer ratings do for relief pitchers).Prior to clutch, I once won a pennant by letting 1981 Carney Lansford (4 HR, 52 RBIs) hit cleanup on a low-power team. He had hit .336 in '81 and his card was rich in two-star singles. Today, that card probably would be poor enough in the clutch that Lansford would bat elsewhere in the lineup, as he did in the real '81.

Glenn
[/quote:73b3b79dbf]

The [url=http://www.strat-o-matic.com/sphere.html]Talk Show link [/url]is at the SOM Strat-O-Sphere page.

edit: Upon re-reading, this part makes a lot of sense to me: [i:73b3b79dbf]"The clutch ratings help gamers use regular players in realistic lineup positions."[/i:73b3b79dbf]

Take Ichiro again. I live in Seattle where every once in awhile people have wondered how he would do in the #2 or #3 hole. However, the sense is that Ichiro hits lead-off because that's what Ichiro wants.

He has never hit #3. It might work out in terms of RBI production, it might not. I say he doesn't get the +clutch until he shows he is a true RBI producer.

Anyway, if you look at Richman's comments further up in this thread, the formula is not as simple as RBIs either.