Clutch

The clutch results on the roster page has been a fun addition. Mostly I cringe at the high percentage of clutch outs my teams usually get. But I've been a bit more conscious about developing teams somewhat based on clutch ratings lately, trying to get a feel on whether it really matters in SOM. Mostly there aren't a lot of clutch opportunities. But are those opportunities actually important? Are they "clutch" situations?

Here's a couple of small ball teams, with similar lineups having some high clutch hitters (Team 1: Collins and Heilmann at the top, Cobb at 4, Wagner at 6; Team 2: Heilmann and Cobb at top, Wagner at 6, Collins at 9) and similar overall outcomes (90+ wins -- yeah, my two good teams out of all the clunkers! ), but very different clutch results.

Team 1, the most clutch hits I've gotten for a team: 18 hits, 4 outs. This team is 24-16 in one-run games.
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/misc/818705

Team 2, a more typical result for this lineup: 5 hits, 4 outs. This team is 29-12 in one-run games.
http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/misc/818807

I'm coming to the conclusion that I think most everybody else has (I'm a slow learner), that clutch doesn't really matter much in SOM. It's fun to consider and to create teams with it in mind. But my teams aren't winning or losing more or less based on clutch performance.

Yes, this is a small sample size, using cherry-picked teams. So the conclusion may not be correct. Mostly, I wanted to show a team that actually got a lot of clutch hits.

Both teams were ALL + clutch, AND 1's defensively.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/811678

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/817237

First team won it all, 2nd lost in the semi's.

My 2 cents... If you are playing small ball where every run / out counts, gimme an all + clutch team.

here was my attempt at a mostly +clutch team. they won the championship last night.

http://onlinegames.strat-o-matic.com/team/817922