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Clutch Hitting

• Clutch hitting exists as a fact. Players either do or do not succeed in pressure situations.

• Clutch hitting does not exist as a particular player skill, meaning that the players who perform better in the clutch than at their normal level in a given year are no more likely to do so in the following year.

• Consider the leaders in late and close batting situations. Studies have shown there is typically little correlation between the leaders from year to year. Much less than leaders in batting average.

• Top 20 batters in close and late from 2003-2005. J.T. made the top 20 each year and Ken Harvey appeared twice. No one else repeated.

• A lot of what we view as clutch hitting is random fluctuation.

• Would a player unable to perform under pressure make it to the majors?

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