Both C Dioner Navarro and Garza tried to shoo away a bothersome pigeon that landed between the...

kurby — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:42:40 -0000

Both C Dioner Navarro and Garza tried to shoo away a bothersome pigeon that landed between the mound and plate in the second inning.

RISP hitting and "clutch" hitting, statistically irrelevant, but is it?

kurby — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:20:52 -0000

First let me start by saying that I am a new fan to baseball. When ever I submerge my self in any interest, I attempt to read and learn everything I can about it. I must say that I have learned so much about baseball that I couldn't even fathom before I looked into it. From what I have read and seen, "clutch" hitting is overrated and not statistically reliable. I have seen the facts and the numbers and I believe it. Each at bat is essentially the same (with minor flunctuations for situations) and so your ability to get a hit and drive in runs is the same. However, there is that part of sports that numbers just can't quantify. Its that human element. I think sometimes those sabermetrics die hards forget that this game is played by PEOPLE and not machines.

What I'm wondering, is even for those who are die hard numbers and sabermetrics people, how much do you actually believe in clutch hitting (aside from numbers)? It seems like clutch hitting and RISP is our big problem. Well obviously it has been. Is it something we can't do anything about? Do we just have to wait for the stats to even themselves out?

Heres some numbers:

Rays: OPS/Runs .748/468

Angels OPS/Runs .721/474

Angels have also been scoring runs when they need to, which leads to the best record in baseball.

Is RISP hitting just luck and something that should even out eventually, or is there more to it?

SB Nation User Blog: kurby

Both C Dioner Navarro and Garza tried to shoo away a bothersome pigeon that landed between the...

RISP hitting and "clutch" hitting, statistically irrelevant, but is it?