Aaron Gleeman on Derek Jeter’s vaunted reputation as “Mr. Clutch” in the postseason:
The situations one would want to look at in trying to determine the Clutchness of a player would seem to me to be the following:
– Runners in scoring position
– Runners in scoring position with two outs
– Close and late
The first two are self-explanatory. “Close and late” is defined as “results in the 7th inning or later with the batting team either ahead by one run, tied or with the potential tying run at least on deck.”
In other words, how does someone do when the game is on the line? When the going gets tough and the tough get going. When the s— hits the fan. When the men are separated from the boys. When (insert your own cliche here).
Here are Derek Jeter’s post-season numbers [batting/OBP/slugging] in those situations from 2000-2003, combined…
Runners in scoring position: .214/.421/.357
Runners in scoring position with two outs: .188/.381/.375
Close and late: .176/.263/.323
(emphasis added).
One thought on “The Facts Do Not Conform To The Theory”
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Part of what makes Jeter ‘clutch’ is not just hitting. It’s many situations that don’t make the stat sheet. That play in the 2001 division series when Jeremy Giambi was tagged out will be listed as an assist, but that doesn’t show just how important it was.
There’s also the fact that out of the 13 post-season home runs he has hit, 9 of them either gave the Yankees a lead or tied the game.
That home run he hit off Pedro in game 3 of the ALCS was the only home run that Pedro gave up to a right handed batter the entire season. It tied the game.
I’ll admit that as a Yankees fan, the gushing over Jeter sometimes goes too far, but for anybody to argue that he isn’t a clutch guy in the playoffs is denying reality.