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Originally Posted by Vryllyn
Joe,
How does Clutch Abilites and Veteran Leadership help you win in Baseball? To me, Clutch Hitting is more of a hit or miss. If a pitcher, chooses the wrong location to pitch the ball and it just happens to go into a hitters strength. Then that would be more of a bad pitch to a hitter's strength. Thus, leading to a possible hit for the batter due the fact it's in his strength. I understand Clutch abilities in Football. Someone like Joe Montana or Brett Favre who can handle the pressure of a 4th Quarter comeback. But looking at the Yankees, they had lots of experience in World Series play, but then you have Soriano who just slumped throughout the series.
Veteran Leadership? What if you have a player who has played, let's say, 13 years, above average player but totally problem off the field but he is the only Veteran on a young team. Wouldn't you
be afraid to have that influence in the club house? Even if his "veteran leadership" could help the team. I just don't see some one like Barry Bond's "Veteran Leadership" helping the Giants. He doesn't play hard at all. He doesn't hustle. His defense has gone down the tubes. But has a good arm, but he has been in the league for a while.
I just don't see how the two apply to Baseball. Football, yes. Baseball, no.
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Soriano was a young player. He is the perfect example of why I would take a veteran player in the playoffs every time. He simply choked.
Clutch hitting can and is affected by the pitcher. Let me ask you this, wouldn't you be affraid to see Jeter come to the plate in game seven of the World Series, bottom of the ninth, Yankee's down by a run, two outs, runners on first and second? I know I would and so would the pitcher. The pressure of having to face a guy like Derek is undoubtedly part of what goes in to making the pitcher miss his spot and serve up a meatball to Derek. So yes, it does go both ways. We see this effect with Bonds all the time.
There are certain players that are 'clubhouse cancers' but in most instances veteran players are not your problems in the clubhouse. Even if they are disruptive it is usually just because of their intensity and the fact that they want to win so bad. That is not a bad example to set for their fellow teamates. Furthermore, veterans will set an example without even knowing it. Other players pick up on their work ethic. If they have been in the league for 13 years chances are they have a great work ethic that has kept them in the league. This sets a great example for the other players on the team.
A guy like Bonds is a leader. Other players see how hard he works and that rubs off. Bonds has an amazing training routine, there is no other way to explain the terrific physical shape that he is in at his age. If more players on that team would follow his example the Giants would have walked away with the West this year.