There are other factors, depending on how you define “clutch.” If it’s just BA/RISP, almost all batters look “clutch” because those baserunners got there somehow, and that typically means the batter is facing a bad pitcher, or a pitcher who’s having a bad day, or is front of a shaky defense, or something, and whatever that is it generally works in the batter’s favor. On TV you often will see a stat showing a batter’s (higher) BAwRISP vs his normal BA, but what you won’t see is how that compares to all batters’ stats: most batters have a higher BA/RISP vs normal BA. And so a batter with a high regular average, like Jeter, is going to have an even higher BA/RISP, and that’s going to look “clutch” because you’re unconsciously comparing it to the ordinary BA of an ordinary batter. Add to that selective memory (Jeter might be “Mr. November” because of one key hit and “the flip” defense, but he actually wasn’t a very good hitter overall in that 2001 postseason) and it’s easy to fool yourself.

There are other ways to define “clutch” of course, “close and late” being one of the other popular ones. There’s been a lot of research done on this, especially in the past two or three years. See The Book by Tango (et al) for more. It’s possible that clutch really describes a talent possessed by certain players, but if it exists it is small.

On the other hand, it’s certainly true that clutch situations exist, and that certain players may find themselves in those situations more often than others, and that they may deliver in those situations (or not). So as a descriptive record, rather than a predictable talent, it’s possible to talk about players’ records of hitting in clutch situations. You can see this over at Fangraphs, (see the glossary for their definition of “clutchiness”).

Anyone that has ever done public speaking has probably encountered that.

But, clutch, in the sense that a player can somehow magically elevate their performance in key situations? Doesn’t happen. Can’t happen, unless the player dogs it in non-key situations.

At the high school level a lot of guys will freak out in important situations, and mess up. They won’t be “clutch” because they can’t deal with pressure. At the collge level you will have fewer. By the time you get to the MLB level all the players who have problems with important situations, by and large, will have been weeded out.

Also: How does your race affect the matter?

Anyway. Enough of this.

I once won $200 playing blackjack in Vegas. Does that mean it was a wise investment?