When does DD push the panic button..??

[Kimmi]

I totally agree, but if you believe as I do, and you just said you did, that emotion plays a part in the game, can't one assume some players react to emotional situations (such as super clutch moments) in a differing yet somewhat consistent manner?

Of course.

But not in the sense that they can raise their game to an otherworldly level.

IMO, it boils down to 'clutch hitters' being good and smart hitters overall. What they do in clutch situations is similar to what they do on the whole.

[Bellhorn04]

I totally agree, but if you believe as I do, and you just said you did, that emotion plays a part in the game, can't one assume some players react to emotional situations (such as super clutch moments) in a differing yet somewhat consistent manner?

I have argued myself that David Ortiz was a clutch hitter. But I would also admit that it's very hard to prove. David had plenty of playoff series where he didn't do very much, and I'm sure he was just as psyched in those series as he was in the ones where he hit well.

The thing about hitting is that you're at the mercy of the pitcher and the defense to a large degree. They always have a big advantage over you.

[a700hitter]

Of course.

But not in the sense that they can raise their game to an otherworldly level.

IMO, it boils down to 'clutch hitters' being good and smart hitters overall. What they do in clutch situations is similar to what they do on the whole.

But if a great player has his emotions under control and his opponent is losing his battle with emotion thus negatively affecting his performance the results for the player with his emotions under control will look other worldly.

[Kimmi]

But if a great player has his emotions under control and his opponent is losing his battle with emotion thus negatively affecting his performance the results for the player with his emotions under control will look other worldly.

We don't need to rehash the whole 'clutch' argument.

I'll leave it at that.

[notin]

I have argued myself that David Ortiz was a clutch hitter. But I would also admit that it's very hard to prove. David had plenty of playoff series where he didn't do very much, and I'm sure he was just as psyched in those series as he was in the ones where he hit well.

The thing about hitting is that you're at the mercy of the pitcher and the defense to a large degree. They always have a big advantage over you.

The thing is to me, this aspect of both the clutch argument and the closer argument step all over each other.

In clutch arguments, the hitter is credited with responding to pressure. In closer arguments, the requirement is always stated as a pitcher who can handle the pressure.

There is pressure on both the hitter and the pitcher in high leverage situations. At some point, this cancels each other out, which is probably why most hitters and pitchers play to their career norms in these situations, and this becomes more noticeable as sample sizes grow...

[jung]

The thing is to me, this aspect of both the clutch argument and the closer argument step all over each other.

In clutch arguments, the hitter is credited with responding to pressure. In closer arguments, the requirement is always stated as a pitcher who can handle the pressure.

There is pressure on both the hitter and the pitcher in high leverage situations. At some point, this cancels each other out, which is probably why most hitters and pitchers play to their career norms in these situations, and this becomes more noticeable as sample sizes grow...

Actually the issue is intensity and focus more than pressure and a pitcher in the 9th inning is trying to maintain intensity and focus for an entire half inning. A hitter is trying to maintain it for a single AB in the 9th inning.

Yes the need for a pitcher to maintain intensity and focus across an inning full of guys that are trying to optimize intensity and focus over single AB's is a "pressure" on the pitcher. But the genesis of that pressure is the intensity and focus of individual hitters in AB's vs the intensity and focus the closer has to maintain over the entire inning.

[devildavid]

I have argued myself that David Ortiz was a clutch hitter. But I would also admit that it's very hard to prove. David had plenty of playoff series where he didn't do very much, and I'm sure he was just as psyched in those series as he was in the ones where he hit well.

The thing about hitting is that you're at the mercy of the pitcher and the defense to a large degree. They always have a big advantage over you.

David Ortiz was a smart hitter. His hitting IQ was off the charts.

[Bellhorn04]

David Ortiz was a smart hitter. His hitting IQ was off the charts.

No question about that.