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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
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(Newser) – 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.”

Graphic looks at how Alex Rodriguez has fared in the postseason.
Graphic looks at how Alex Rodriguez has fared in the postseason.
New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez waits to bat against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.
New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez waits to bat against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Alex Rodriguez dropping his bat after hitting a seventh inning solo home run to break a scoreless tie against the Boston Red Sox in the Yankees' 5-3 win, Aug. 9, 2009.
Alex Rodriguez dropping his bat after hitting a seventh inning solo home run to break a scoreless tie against the Boston Red Sox in the Yankees' 5-3 win, Aug. 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Forderon
Oct 7, 2009 10:39 AM CDT
Actually, there's no such thing as a "clutch" player. Stop believing all that old-timey conventional wisdom.
hamsammichs
Oct 7, 2009 7:04 AM CDT
He's a cheat and a liar. I could give a fuck if he is clutch or not. Jeter is clutch because he is quicker than hell with an incredible baseball IQ. A-Roid is a mediocre player with big arms. Oh and Alkaseltzersammich... I never noticed you were part of the sammich club!
alkaseltzersammich
Oct 7, 2009 6:44 AM CDT
I agree with you. I wasn't being absurd. Roids won't give you the intangibles to perform in clutch situations. Meaning they won't enhance your reflexes or mental acuity. But they sure as hell will make you strong like bull.

 
New York Yankees • Alex Rodriguez • baseball • baseball history

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