Quote:
Originally posted by twins15
There are factors I would say that made them win the WS. Luck, playing very good ball at the right time, etc.
Yes there is a difference between the Rivera's and Weaver's. A little something I like to call talent difference. 
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Yes, I agree, there's a huge difference between the Rivera's and Weaver's of the world...I didn't clarify enough. What I meant by bringing up their names is that I'd have to think intangibles or intestinal fortitude or whatever would have to come into play when discussing them.
Is it clutchness? Mariano Rivera, for example, has been otherworldly in the postseason in the Yankees' recent run (except for one rather obvious mistake!). I don't have the numbers handy, but rest assured they're significantly better in the postseason. Someone like Kenny Rogers, in his stint in pinstripes, was noticeably worse. I understand the caveat of sample size applies, but
something has to account for these variances. I'm not saying that there's any way to measure it, but I think clutch ability and all of the requisite nonsense does exist. I'm not even positive one can discern it, though, except for the most obvious cases (Rivera, Weaver, etc., and those certainly have their flaws, too).
As for your explanation about the recent World Series winners - "luck, playing good ball at the right time, etc". Isn't playing good ball at the right time exactly what clutch ability purports to be?
Enjoyable discussion, thanks.
Craig