You have players like Derek Jeter who are labeled "clutch" by everyone, but look at Jeter's stats. If he hits in the .290s, that's a "down" year for him. Then look at his postseason stats and you see that they're virtually identical to his career stats. Is he really "clutch" or is it just because he's one of the best pure hitters in the game? If you're a great player, generally speaking, you will be great in "clutch" situations too. When there appears to be a disparity, you can attribute that to data fluctuations due to small sample sizes.

 

On the other hand you have average players who get the reputations as being "clutch" (Crede for example) but realistically, that's your positive memories lying to you. Nearly all the time, if you look up their stats, they're not as impressive as you think they are.

 

Very true. As I like to say, "there is no such thing as clutch, but there is such thing as lack of clutch". The guys known as "clutch" are almost always good players who also hit like good players in big spots. There are FAR more guys who choke in the clutch (or who are poor players who also don't hit in the clutch) than there are guys who are better players in big spots.

 

As for Thome, his lack of clutch reputation is pretty humerous. One thing I've noticed especially about him is if you get him an at bat late in the game against a right handed relief pitcher (like last night, or on opening day), he seems to be a cold blooded killer. And I guess that's obvious since he kills RHP in general, but he seems to ESPECIALLY kill RHP who are relievers. Combine that with him being a little better against LHP recently (or so it seems), and here we are.

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by whitesoxfan101

And he still has the second prettiest left handed swing in baseball.

And he still has the second prettiest left handed swing in baseball.

 

 

yep, nothing will ever beat Griffey.

yep, nothing will ever beat Griffey.

 

Hamilton's swing is meshed in there too

Wll Clark had a GREAT swing

Dan Pasqua had a swing to die for...

Dan Pasqua had a bong to smoke...

 

fixed for accuracy

Adrian Gonzalez's swing is right up at the top.

Jim is hitting .350/.487/.667/1.154 w/ 5 HR, 18 RBI and 17BB/16K over his last 20 games.

 

Just an idea of how huge Jim's bombs have been this year:

DATE  HR SITUATION RESULT INN LEAD/TIED

4/07: 3R   DOWN     LEAD  8th *

4/12: 2R   TIED     LEAD  6th **

4/19: 1R   AHEAD     --   8th

4/22: 1R   AHEAD    up4   3rd

5/12: 2R   TIED     LEAD  1st ***

5/12: 2R   DOWN     LEAD  5th ****

5/18: 2R   DOWN     TIED  8th *****

5/25: 3R   AHEAD     --   3rd

6/01: 3R   TIED     LEAD  8th ******
 

SPRAY CHART:

LF: 1

LC: 4

CF: 1

RC: 2

RF: 1
 

SPLITS:

RISP:       45 PA, .286/.422/.714/1.137, 4 HR 24 RBI

RISP 2 OUT: 19 PA, .375/.474/.875/1.349, 2 HR 13 RBI

CLOSE/LATE: 21 PA, .250/.286/.750/1.036, 3 HR 10 RBI

HIGH LVRGE: 30 PA, .296/.367/.778/1.144, 4 HR 15 RBI

 

To piggy back on this thought... SportsCenter mentioned that in his career Thome has 23 homers in the 8th inning or later which ended up being game winners.

When he was 16 and lightning struck a tree in his backyard.

 

 

Wasn't he in a movie or something?

Adrian Gonzalez's swing is right up at the top.

And don't forget Bonds.

 

Why is it that it's always LH hitters who sport that fluid motion? I don't recall seeing that from the right side.

And don't forget Bonds.

 

Why is it that it's always LH hitters who sport that fluid motion? I don't recall seeing that from the right side.

A lefty turns, and steps naturally into the trot around the bases. A righty swings and has to flip the bat before they run.

 

Griffey would swing, freeze, pose to stare at his HR, and then start jogging. It just wouldn't work if he was right-handed.

Thome keeps on chugging at 38. What a monster.

He really needs to be gone.