Does clutch hitting exist?

Question

I've been reading a lot about how mathematically there's no such thing as clutch hitting or clutch hitters.

I'm not really a stat guy, so I can't tell you if the #'s add up or not, but I'd rather have Jeter in a tight situation than A-Rod, even though A-Rod might put up bigger #'s during the regular season.

Answer 1

david ortiz last season.....he hit a lot of walk off homeruns....lots of clutch hits....basically anything in extra innings or in the 9th...or in playoff sitatuions are considered clutch...i'm not too sure about consistent clutch hitters....but there are a lot of clutch hits....and walk off endings...

Answer 2

There is no stat that officially defines clutch hitting, but there are stats that can show if a player is clutch. Last year, whenever they would talk about how clutch Albert Pujols is, they kept showing that he had something like 27 RBI's in the 7th inning or later that either tied the game or gave the Cardinals the lead. Another good one would be batting average with RISP (runners in scoring position) and 2 outs. There are stats for everything, all you need to do is find and organize them!

Answer 3

There IS such a thing as clutch hitting. David Ortiz is the definition of clutch. Last year he had like 7 walk off hits. He's the one guy nobody wants to face with the game on the line.

Answer 4

Clutch HITS exist. This is obvious. Every now and again someone comes up with the key hit, the big blow, the game-breaker or the tide-turner. No statistical analysis will deny that, nor have interest in doing so.

The ability to BE a clutch hitter, however, has proven sufficiently elusive as to be considered negligible. Some players have good seasons in (pre-defined) clutch situations, but no one has ever demonstrated a consistent pattern at it, or been reliably predictable at excelling in clutch situations.

Clutch hits, Yes.

Clutch hitting ability, not exactly No, but so far indistinguishable from the noise, and so the notion of clutch hitters is so far insupportable.

Answer 5

well the stats do back it up jeter is leading the majors with almost a .500 Batting average with runners in scoring, thats pretty clutch

Answer 6

Any hit that gives your team a lead in the 8th or 9th inning is a clutch hit. There is no stat that counts these type of hits, but these are obviously the most important type of hits in baseball.

Answer 7

To me clutch hitting is easily measurable. Just look at the players batting average with runners in scoring position. Its actually pretty amazing some guys will have like a .278 batting average but with runners in scoring position they bat .386, while other guys are the exact opposite.

Answer 8

i agree with you arod and jeter are amazing players but jeter has done it in the clutch more than alex well i take derek jeter because hes done it in the playoffs but alex rodriguez is also clutch this year in the 9th ining 3 or more hr and more than 15 rbi so thats good to

Answer 9

YEA clutch does matter! i m a Yankees fan i live NJ. Personally i would like if jetter leads off The 9th! so u could probably get A-rod up with a couple on like jetter n abreu

Answer 10

There is no such thing as clutch hitter

there are how ever, clutch players.