A clutch hitter is a baseball player who is seemingly adept at getting a hit in high-pressure situations, i.e. in the clutch. This usually refers to getting a hit (particularly a home run) when the player's team is trailing late in a game and needs to score to tie or take the lead, especially if there are already two outs in the inning and/or the batter already has two strikes. That said, a clutch hit can occur at any point in the game if the circumstances are similarly high-stakes. Establishing a reputation as a clutch hitter is desirable for a player. Although clutch hits are recorded no differently than any other hit for statistical purposes, the notion that a player is more likely to produce clutch hits compared to other players can be advantageous in contract negotiations (especially in the modern free agency system).[1]
The question of whether clutch hitting is a genuine skill possessed by certain players, or if a player is actually no more likely to produce a hit in a clutch situation than at any other point in the game, is frequently debated.
Some baseball analysts, including Bill James, Pete Palmer and Dick Cramer,[1] and the editors of Baseball Prospectus,[2] have concluded that clutch hitting is a myth. That is, while clutch hits fitting the above definition certainly occur, "there is virtually no evidence that any player or group of players possesses an ability to outperform his established level of ability in clutch situations, however defined."[2] In his 1984 Baseball Abstract, James framed the question of clutch hitting this way: "How is it that a player who possesses the reflexes and the batting stroke and the knowledge and the experience to be a .262 hitter in other circumstances magically becomes a .300 hitter when the game is on the line? How does that happen? What is the process? What are the effects? Until we can answer those questions, I see little point in talking about clutch ability."[3]
Clutch hitters
Most studies on the subject compare performances across seasons in categories of statistics considered "clutch" (getting a hit with runners in scoring position, getting a hit late in a close game, etc.). If clutch hitting were an identifiable skill, one would expect that players considered "clutch" would perform well in the relevant statistics season-to-season, i.e. the correlation coefficient between players' performances over multiple years would be high. But Cramer's study[1] found that clutch hitting statistics between seasons for the same ostensibly clutch player varied widely; in fact, the variance was akin to what one would expect if the numbers had been selected randomly. Since Cramer published his results, others have similarly searched for evidence that clutch hitting is a skill, but these studies have only tended to confirm Cramer's findings: the notion that certain players are consistently able to raise their level of play in high-stakes situations is an illusion.
Despite this, the idea of clutch hitters persists across baseball, from casual fans to managers to the players themselves. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter criticized analysts who deny that clutch hitting is a skill, saying: "You can take those stat guys and throw them out the window." Other proponents cite Alex Rodriguez's perceived struggles in clutch situations over his career as anecdotal evidence that even some otherwise great statistical hitters like Rodriguez (a three-time AL MVP) become different players with a different playing ability in the clutch (in the case of Rodriguez, for the worse).
Jeter, for one, provides an example of the discrepancy between the perception and reality of clutch hitting. Though widely considered a clutch hitter (and so nicknamed "Mr. November"), Jeter's career batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage (BA/OBP/SLG) are .317/.388/.462, while the same statistics over Jeter's career postseason play (when the stakes are higher) are .309/.377/.469, so either slightly worse or not meaningfully better. Similarly, Jeter first earned the moniker "Mr. November" after a walk-off home run to win Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, but his overall offensive statistics for that series (.148/.179/.259) were in fact relatively poor.
Also, there may occasionally be a confusion between correlation and causation in the case of clutch hits. For example, if a batter who is otherwise struggling is suddenly able to get a hit with the bases loaded, it may be that the bases became loaded due to bad pitching, and so the batter's hitting ability may not have improved "in the clutch," so much as the pitching became worse.
This is not to say that it is impossible for a player's psychological handling of high-pressure situations to impact (positively or negatively) their performance, i.e. confidence in one's clutch hitting ability begetting clutch hits or a lack of confidence begetting "choking." However, there is scant statistical evidence that this is widespread or that certain players are inherently more adept at clutch hitting in the long term relative to their normal hitting ability.
^ abcadmin. "Do Clutch Hitters Exist? – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved 2020-09-12.
^ ab"Baseball Prospectus Basics: The Concept of Clutch". Baseball Prospectus. 2004-03-10. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
^Singh, Simon (2013-10-29). The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets. ISBN9781620402795.
March 01, 2023
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A clutch hitter is a baseball player who is seemingly adept at getting a hit in high pressure situations i e in the clutch This usually refers to getting a hit particularly a home run when the player s team is trailing late in a game and needs to score to tie or take the lead especially if there are already two outs in the inning and or the batter already has two strikes That said a clutch hit can occur at any point in the game if the circumstances are similarly high stakes Establishing a reputation as a clutch hitter is desirable for a player Although clutch hits are recorded no differently than any other hit for statistical purposes the notion that a player is more likely to produce clutch hits compared to other players can be advantageous in contract negotiations especially in the modern free agency system 1 Contents 1 Does clutch hitting exist 2 Clutch hitters 3 References 4 NotesDoes clutch hitting exist EditThe question of whether clutch hitting is a genuine skill possessed by certain players or if a player is actually no more likely to produce a hit in a clutch situation than at any other point in the game is frequently debated Some baseball analysts including Bill James Pete Palmer and Dick Cramer 1 and the editors of Baseball Prospectus 2 have concluded that clutch hitting is a myth That is while clutch hits fitting the above definition certainly occur there is virtually no evidence that any player or group of players possesses an ability to outperform his established level of ability in clutch situations however defined 2 In his 1984 Baseball Abstract James framed the question of clutch hitting this way How is it that a player who possesses the reflexes and the batting stroke and the knowledge and the experience to be a 262 hitter in other circumstances magically becomes a 300 hitter when the game is on the line How does that happen What is the process What are the effects Until we can answer those questions I see little point in talking about clutch ability 3 Clutch hitters EditMost studies on the subject compare performances across seasons in categories of statistics considered clutch getting a hit with runners in scoring position getting a hit late in a close game etc If clutch hitting were an identifiable skill one would expect that players considered clutch would perform well in the relevant statistics season to season i e the correlation coefficient between players performances over multiple years would be high But Cramer s study 1 found that clutch hitting statistics between seasons for the same ostensibly clutch player varied widely in fact the variance was akin to what one would expect if the numbers had been selected randomly Since Cramer published his results others have similarly searched for evidence that clutch hitting is a skill but these studies have only tended to confirm Cramer s findings the notion that certain players are consistently able to raise their level of play in high stakes situations is an illusion Despite this the idea of clutch hitters persists across baseball from casual fans to managers to the players themselves In an interview with Sports Illustrated New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter criticized analysts who deny that clutch hitting is a skill saying You can take those stat guys and throw them out the window Other proponents cite Alex Rodriguez s perceived struggles in clutch situations over his career as anecdotal evidence that even some otherwise great statistical hitters like Rodriguez a three time AL MVP become different players with a different playing ability in the clutch in the case of Rodriguez for the worse Jeter for one provides an example of the discrepancy between the perception and reality of clutch hitting Though widely considered a clutch hitter and so nicknamed Mr November Jeter s career batting average on base percentage and slugging percentage BA OBP SLG are 317 388 462 while the same statistics over Jeter s career postseason play when the stakes are higher are 309 377 469 so either slightly worse or not meaningfully better Similarly Jeter first earned the moniker Mr November after a walk off home run to win Game 4 of the 2001 World Series but his overall offensive statistics for that series 148 179 259 were in fact relatively poor Also there may occasionally be a confusion between correlation and causation in the case of clutch hits For example if a batter who is otherwise struggling is suddenly able to get a hit with the bases loaded it may be that the bases became loaded due to bad pitching and so the batter s hitting ability may not have improved in the clutch so much as the pitching became worse This is not to say that it is impossible for a player s psychological handling of high pressure situations to impact positively or negatively their performance i e confidence in one s clutch hitting ability begetting clutch hits or a lack of confidence begetting choking However there is scant statistical evidence that this is widespread or that certain players are inherently more adept at clutch hitting in the long term relative to their normal hitting ability References Edit Baseball portalRichard D Cramer Do Clutch Hitters Exist SABR Baseball Research Journal 1977 Silver Nate Is David Ortiz a Clutch Hitter in Jonah Keri Ed Baseball Between the Numbers New York Basic Books 2006 14 35 Verducci Tom Does Clutch Hitting Truly Exist Sports Illustrated April 5 2004 60 62 Notes Edit a b c admin Do Clutch Hitters Exist Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved 2020 09 12 a b Baseball Prospectus Basics The Concept of Clutch Baseball Prospectus 2004 03 10 Retrieved 2020 09 12 Singh Simon 2013 10 29 The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets ISBN 9781620402795 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clutch hitter amp oldid 1055577938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
