02-11-2009, 05:27 PM
<!--quoteo(post=17364:date=Feb 11 2009, 01:14 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 11 2009, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=17361:date=Feb 11 2009, 02:03 PM:name=hPOD)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hPOD @ Feb 11 2009, 02:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=17360:date=Feb 11 2009, 01:58 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 11 2009, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=17357:date=Feb 11 2009, 01:46 PM:name=hPOD)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hPOD @ Feb 11 2009, 01:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=17199:date=Feb 10 2009, 08:26 PM:name=PcB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PcB @ Feb 10 2009, 08:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's no such thing as "clutch" There are better hitters in the playoffs, but those guys tend to be the better hitters in the regular season as well.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Tell that to A-Rod. He's great in the regular season but never seems all that great in the playoffs.
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.279/.361/.483 in the postseason isn't too shabby. Sure, it isn't .306/.389/.578 (his career numbers). But you're also facing the best teams' very best pitchers in the postseason. It makes sense that there's a drop in numbers.
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Wow, I have to admit I didn't bother checking his playoff numbers, and that shows they aren't as bad as I thought, but everytime I've watched him in the playoffs he's seemed as "unclutch" as it's gets. My opinion of him is rather low at the moment, so that may have attributed to this as my example.
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I think part of it is that A-Rod, like a lot of power hitters, strikes out a lot. When you strike out in key situations -- especially in the playoffs -- I think it tends to get magnified in peoples' heads. A lot of people thought Sosa wasn't clutch -- and I think it was because of the strikeouts. When you swing and miss, it seems like a bigger failure than if you ground out or fly out.
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And that's because it usually is. Runs are so much harder to come by in the playoffs. You've gotta put the ball in play, move runners over. Also it's a high pressure situation on the defense too. Look at Durham, look at Buckner, look at Alex Gonzalez(and he was the best SS in the league all year, got screwed of the GG), look at our game 2 this year. A lot of guys are really nervous out there and I think that might even hurt you on defense more than offense. It definitely did for me when I played.
Tell that to A-Rod. He's great in the regular season but never seems all that great in the playoffs.
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.279/.361/.483 in the postseason isn't too shabby. Sure, it isn't .306/.389/.578 (his career numbers). But you're also facing the best teams' very best pitchers in the postseason. It makes sense that there's a drop in numbers.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Wow, I have to admit I didn't bother checking his playoff numbers, and that shows they aren't as bad as I thought, but everytime I've watched him in the playoffs he's seemed as "unclutch" as it's gets. My opinion of him is rather low at the moment, so that may have attributed to this as my example.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think part of it is that A-Rod, like a lot of power hitters, strikes out a lot. When you strike out in key situations -- especially in the playoffs -- I think it tends to get magnified in peoples' heads. A lot of people thought Sosa wasn't clutch -- and I think it was because of the strikeouts. When you swing and miss, it seems like a bigger failure than if you ground out or fly out.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And that's because it usually is. Runs are so much harder to come by in the playoffs. You've gotta put the ball in play, move runners over. Also it's a high pressure situation on the defense too. Look at Durham, look at Buckner, look at Alex Gonzalez(and he was the best SS in the league all year, got screwed of the GG), look at our game 2 this year. A lot of guys are really nervous out there and I think that might even hurt you on defense more than offense. It definitely did for me when I played.
@TheBlogfines