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Clutch Hitting: Fact or Fiction? (February 2, 2004)

Posted 6:40 p.m., February 4, 2004 (#54) - Steve B
From the opening comment by Ryan:

"The author notes that the "clutch" hitters are mostly singles hitters and the "chokers" are mostly power hitters."

I wonder if this is because singles hitters hit fewer flyballs?

I have noticed that there are significant variations between OBP and BA in different base-out states. I assume that this is mostly due to different defensive positioning by infielders when a runner is on base, particularly in doubleplay situations. Playing for the DP sems to allow more singles through the infield, and flyball hitters don't take as much advantage from this. I'm wondering if there is a sampling bias in the study, if "clutch" situations contain lots of DP situations while non-clutch situations contain fewer.

I'm not arguing that "clutch" ability doesn't exist, just that I'm not sure it has been identified here.

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