Got an email today from MLB. Asking me to vote for Clutch Performer of the Year. Berkman, Pujols, Morneau, K-Rod, Sabathia and Lee are the nominees. 2008 Late and Close OPS numbers for the batters Berkman - 1.270 OPS Pujols - 1.044 OPS Morneau - .802 OPS Sept/Oct numbers for pitchers K-Rod - .90 ERA, .711 OPS against, 9 saves Sabathia - 2.11 ERA, .578 OPS against, 2-2 WL Lee - 3.08 ERA, .723 OPS against, 3-1 WL It is certainly difficult to quantify "clutch". However, looking at numbers should at least give us an idea whether our perceptions are true (or somewhat true). Justin Morneau is touted as a very clutch player. There are a few folk in here who use this as reason for him to be atop the MVP list. Apparently MLB and/or writers agree. However, his numbers do not bear this out at all. In Sept/Oct this year he had an OPS of .696. That is bad. How do you quantify clutch? Of this list, I would choose Sabathia as being most clutch. I just randomly chose Sept/Oct stats for pitchers. Not sure if that is the best to choose. Maybe 2nd half would have been better. Either way, I think there is no arguing how "clutch" Sabathia was from the day he was traded to the NL. ...
Anytime
