clutch, shmlutch
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:00 amI'm a big DISbeliever in the value of SOM clutch. It rarely affects an at-bat, and therefore even MORE rarely affects a game-changing at-bat.
Here's a recent 2009 championship team where EVERY SINGLE STARTER* had negative clutch (*except the "vs. left" half -- Quintero -- of a catcher platoon).
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=308220
The team was 2nd in the league in BA and 2nd in OBP (it was hurt in SLG by a low HR total, something unaffected by clutch). As for park effects, the team had the 2nd best "road" W/L record.
Overwhelming negative clutch ... Didn't hurt much, did it?
Here's a recent 2009 championship team where EVERY SINGLE STARTER* had negative clutch (*except the "vs. left" half -- Quintero -- of a catcher platoon).
http://fantasygames.sportingnews.com/stratomatic/team/team_other.html?user_id=308220
The team was 2nd in the league in BA and 2nd in OBP (it was hurt in SLG by a low HR total, something unaffected by clutch). As for park effects, the team had the 2nd best "road" W/L record.
Overwhelming negative clutch ... Didn't hurt much, did it?