Lay Off A-Rod: 'Clutch' Is Just Luck

Or, more accurately, maybe there's no such thing
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 7, 2009 11:55 AM CDT
Lay Off A-Rod: 'Clutch' Is Just Luck
Graphic looks at how Alex Rodriguez has fared in the postseason.

Alex Rodriguez may be one of the greatest hitters of all time, but fans have always derided him for not being “clutch” enough, for not winning it all, for not being a “real Yankee” like DiMaggio or Berra or Mantle or Jackson. But stat geeks have long argued that “clutch hitting” is all a matter of luck, and the postseason too small a sample size to judge, writes Allen Barra of the Wall Street Journal.

Some of the best hitters in history have ugly postseason numbers; Ted Williams hit just .200 in his lone World Series. Rodriguez’s numbers, gruesome as they are, match up favorably to the aforementioned DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, and Jackson at similar points in their careers. So why weren’t they called chokers? “Those guys had a total of 21 World Series rings,” says Rob Neyer. “Their teams had better pitching, and they won.” (More Alex Rodriguez stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X