The Great Clutch Project

by tangotiger on Mar 24, 2008 12:22 PM PDT Comment 71 comments

Time to put up or shut up:
http://www.tangotiger.net/clutch/

"So, you think you know who is the clutch hitter on your team? You think you know who you want at bat with the game on the line? Well, let's find out.

Go through your favorite team's roster, and select the one GREAT clutch hitter, the one guy you want at bat, when the game is on the line. One selection will do. If you like, you can go through each player, and note how good or bad a clutch hitter he is.

I will go through the same list of players, and simply select the best hitter on the team, period. We'll come into conflict in a few places, like with the Cardinals (Pujols), and Angels (Vlad). In that case, we'll go to our number 2 guys. "

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I was going to vote on this

and then realized that with the game on the line the only person I want at the plate is someone not in a Mariner uniform. I have confidence in nobody, which I guess is the side effect form having your best hitter only sport an .800 OPS.

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Jamie Burke.

That man is a beast.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Mar 24, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It seems to me that Ichiro

would be a good guy to have up in that situation.

"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Mar 24, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

depends

fact is, Ibanez is our best hitter (eww), but he can also be neutered in a clutch situation by the other team bringing in a LOOGY, which doesn't apply to Ichiro.

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok, with men on

I'm taking Ichiro

2 down, bases empty, down by one, bottom of the ninth, RHP on the hill, I'm taking Raul (shudders)

"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Mar 24, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm taking Mike Hargrove

For The Filibuster!

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and looking up his numbers

they're actually better in clutch situations

"You know, as that was coming out of my mouth, I knew that it was wrong."

by JI on Mar 24, 2008 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

82.4% of LL readers had the same first thought

Ichiro is our man, but default only.

And to think 10 years ago we had Griffey, Edgar, and A-Rod.

by Wilder83 on Mar 24, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I think Yuni is our clutch hitter

Is something wrong with:

a) me
b) the team
c) all of the above?

by Jordan of Boise on Mar 24, 2008 12:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You read Jeff's writeup

He was found as the 5th most "clutch" hitter on some website, though I don't remember what it was.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Mar 24, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yuni was clutch in '07

but he was equally unclutch in '06. Furthermore, it's supposed to be the single batter you'd want at the plate with the game on the line. Not who you think overperforms their true talent level the best in the clutch.

Yuni might raise his game to a .775 OPS in the clutch (he doesn't), but he'd still be a worse hitter than normal Ibanez.

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

all of the above

and i put the same thing, so i will add myself to that list as well

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

From my large sample of viewing

I found he has hit more in more clutch situations than the others as well.

I'm Gomez and I write about many things.

by Gomez on Mar 24, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I already know

what Pirata Morado's ballot looks like.

by Robert on Mar 24, 2008 12:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Alan Parsons Project

by Graham on Mar 24, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't that some sort of hovercraft?

by ningwers on Mar 24, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If by "hovercraft"

you mean "crappy wanky prog band", then yes.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Mar 24, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Arizona, especially

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

, though the dry air hurts his movement

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

from batters

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

causing them consternation

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

in some cases, constapation

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

leading to great difficulty

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

in avoiding embarrasment

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

at the plate

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and in the dugout

by Mere Tantalisers on Mar 24, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

where their peers are unforgiving

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

for they are insecure

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And carry blue blankets

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

about their own ability

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and level of grit

by sirbrianwilson on Mar 24, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to produce offense

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

at a major league level

by Robert on Mar 24, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

richie sexson is terrible

shit

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except for Ichiro,

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

against Erik Bedard

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

which is no easy task

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

because he is really good

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

at hiding his delivery

by Mere Tantalisers on Mar 24, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

from batters.

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dammit

by Graham on Mar 24, 2008 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I laughed.

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see what you've done here...

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

its been brought around, the thread width is maxed out, and the period has been placed.

by Mere Tantalisers on Mar 24, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats never stopped anyone around here

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DING

we have a meme.

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

from batters

by Graham on Mar 24, 2008 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

who is really good

by Mere Tantalisers on Mar 24, 2008 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're going to participate

please follow Tango's directions.

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ichiro is obvious

I think my other votes (for "Good") would probably surprise a lot of people:

Vidro
Beltre
Betancourt
Ibanez

Of these, Betancourt seems the biggest stretch - he did pretty well there last year, but his approach at the plate might suggest that his 'clutchness' last year isn't sustainable.

But I'd take Vidro, Beltre, or Ibanez (against a RH pitcher).

Wlad, Morse and Clement are all in the next tier.

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 12:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't really see what's surprising

about selecting five-ninths of the starting lineup.

by Jeff on Mar 24, 2008 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps not

But Vidro would probably be at the top of that list. Or Beltre.

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would say that if betancourt's clutch

is unsustainable, that you wouldn't be able to say much for Vidro. His 2007 can't be considered sustainable either, can it?...

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it isn't sustainable

but at least Vidro works the count, which is useful.

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

very true

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although...

The risk of GIDP is really, really high.

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it surprises me that you'd want anyone up

I have more blind faith in Jeff Clement than anyone to come through in the clutch. Morse even.

by Matthew on Mar 24, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, from what I've heard

Mike Morse is going to be an all-star and MVP candidate this year, so maybe that's not such a bad thing

by thenatural on Mar 24, 2008 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, me too

Well, maybe Ichiro, but Clement would be the top of my list if I had any belief at all in clutch hitting.

by Graham on Mar 24, 2008 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought...

he was referring to picking a song for my brother.

by ppl4life on Mar 24, 2008 3:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

With all seriousness...

I bet a dollar his song is going to be Boom by P.O.D.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Mar 24, 2008 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah...

he has pretty much chosen to go with his song from last year in Seattle...

Blood, Milk and Sky -- White Zombie

by ppl4life on Mar 24, 2008 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I didn't know he got a choice.

That's great. I can finally start Sherrill Flipping people soon.

...and now I'm here

by Librocrat on Mar 24, 2008 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Side Note #2...

(side note #1 is listed above via my screename)

I didn't want to post a single diary towards it, but I didn't see anyone parlaying for Reed Johnson in LF instead of Raul!?!

by ppl4life on Mar 24, 2008 3:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's there

In here, actually.

Ill Ligitamus Non Carberendum

by PositivePaul on Mar 24, 2008 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, now I understand your screen name.

Such a wonderful service. It has saved my parents thousands of dollars.

And tell your brother to re-sign with us when he hits free agency. After all, we like bringing fan favorite LOOGYs back (Norm Charlton, Arthur Rhodes).

by Wilder83 on Mar 24, 2008 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Many people have said...

that the Mariners, if doing well, might have to trade two more guys to Baltimore to get my brother back at the trade deadline. Which I am sure would kill all of you guys.

Glad to see someone knows the service. We market it, although not much lately. It has helped us as well, and it helps make a little extra money here and there.

by ppl4life on Mar 25, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs