Is Energy/Chemistry Worth a Damn?

[PcB]

<!--quoteo(post=41852:date=Jun 3 2009, 04:41 PM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Jun 3 2009, 04:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=41794:date=Jun 3 2009, 12:41 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Jun 3 2009, 12:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->To quote Bill James: How is it that a player who possesses the reflexes and the batting stroke and the knowledge and the experience to be a .260 hitter in other circumstances magically becomes a .300 hitter when the game is on the line? How does that happen? What is the process? What are the effects? Until we can answer those questions, I see little point in talking about clutch ability.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Did you not read this:

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Don't mistake clutchness for making a shitty player suddenly channel Babe Ruth when the game is on the line. Clutchness is relative and players that would perform well in any situation are those that I am referring to when I speak of clutchness.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Now to address your other comment...I always play at a high level when it comes to bean bags. I'm one of the best that I know. And when the game is on the line and it is down to me, I never buckle under pressure. That is being clutch. Some players can shut down an opponent every time like Trevor Hoffman or some players freak out when the pressure is on like LaTroy Hawkins.

You are fooling yourself if you believe that just because someone has the ability they will use it to it's full potential all the time.

You've obviously never had to deal with your own adrenaline or emotions when pressure rises. There's no other way to know what it feels like to have to perform under duress unless you've actually done so.

Clutchness is ones ability to not fold, to keep performing under pressure, to not make mistakes under pressure and to pull through with a big performance under pressure. It isn't "turning it up a notch" or whatever. It is the ability to adapt to your overwhelming emotions and rush of adrenaline, endorphins, etc. If you don't think that the pressure of a situation doesn't affect a players immediate ability in that situation then you're crazy or you've never been in a tight situation yourself.

But "clutchness" won't make Jason Bere become Sandy Koufax. If a player is already a good player then they will perform better than average players in any situation. But a good player that isn't affect by high amounts of pressure is better than a good player who simply cannot handle pressure. It isn't the devine, romantic ability that Hollywood movies have made it or the lore of baseball past has made it. But it is a trait that some people are born with and some people are not. Or a trait that people have developed and mastered or some people have not. To say otherwise is lunacy.
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So... you're saying what I said to you yesterday? Thanks for giving me credit on this one...