[Malleus Dei]

DennisS: "Oh, and lay off the aggressive attacks on others."

As the number one victim of aggressive personal attacks on this site I find that comment hysterical. I address the issues - in this case massive ignorance and the willingness to believe in a cherished myth - and never go after anyone personally until they personally attack me, so MYOB.

Back to the subject: clutch hitting is a myth, a mirage, a fantasy.

ESPN's Rob Neyer (Bill James' long-time research assistant) on the subject:

"You know what else? I think that this obsession sports fans have with "clutch hitters" and "money players" is yet another manifestation of what I will call our "need for explanation." We humans simply aren't content with thoughtless gods like Dame Fortune and The Great Unknowable. They scare us. Give us the willies, the creepy-crawlies.

So we invent mythical creatures like "the clutch hitter," in hopes that maybe the dreaded Imps of Ramdomland will leave us alone, at least while we're watching the ballgame in the presumed safety of our own homes."

Don't believe the myths; believe what the facts and the numbers show. Charlie Lau once said that he never knew anything about baseball until he stop believing the myths that had been carefully handed down and started paying attention to see what the real facts were.