MLB Bullets Comes Through In The Clutch

Where have all the hitters gone? Long time passing. Where have all the hitters gone? Long time ago.

• David Ortiz's game-tying grand slam in game two has revived the debate over whether there is such a thing as an ability to hit better in the clutch. Barry Svrluga summarizes the debate that has gone on for years. On one side, you have statistics and on the other side you have anecdotes.
• Benjamin Hoffman looks at the numbers and says that David Ortiz isn't a "clutch" hitter, he's a very good and very consistent hitter who is placed in "clutch" situations a lot. He points out that no one mentions that with the Red Sox trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning of game one (and with the Tigers pitchers hurling a no-hitter), Ortiz flied out. But in both cases, a home run would have tied the game in the eighth inning. One time he came through and one time he didn't.
• Albert Chen says that there is statistical evidence to support the idea that some hitters do better in clutch situations. But from reading his example, all I conclude is that Albert Chen doesn't understand what "statistical evidence" means.
• Jay Jaffe, unsurprisingly, knocks down the "statistical evidence" for clutch ability. But he says that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy clutch performances when he sees one.
• It's an ESPN Insider article, but Keith Law dismantles the "clutch hitter" argument. ($) I'll try to summarize. First, no one can agree with what "clutch" is. Players get different results depending on where you draw the "clutch" line. You can argue the same player is "clutch" or "un-clutch." Secondly, by arguing that some players rise to the occasion and improve their game in "clutch" situations, you're arguing that these players are actually not giving their all in "non-clutch" situations. And he doesn't like the "myth-making" that elevates some players above others.
• It has nothing to do with clutch, but Joe Posnanski points out that the four runs on the Ortiz grand slam were charged to four different pitchers. If you want to know why games last so long these days, that's why.
• The Tigers may trail the Red Sox two games to one, but Tim Rohan in the New York Times says the good news for Detroit is that Justin Verlander is back to his old filthy self. Still wasn't good enough to win game three.
• Jack Moore agrees, saying that Verlander has the best fastball on the planet once again.
• Verlander also said that Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino "is looking to get hit," That's not a threat, it's a statement of fact. One day I see Victorino working as a bartender in Boston in a bar owned by a former Red Sox pitcher with a pseudo-intellectual waitress.
• Brian Costa and Daniel Barbarisi in the Wall Street Journal point out that the Tigers are able to put strong hitters in the field with questionable defensive skills because their pitchers strike out so many batters. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• Ken Rosenthal writes that if the Red Sox (or anyone else) has a problem with Jhonny Peralta playing in the ALCS, they should take their complaint to the commissioner and the players' association, not the Tigers. Peralta has served his sentence.
• Jeff Passan traces how GM Dave Dombrowski transformed the Tigers from a 119-loss team in 2003 to the perennial powerhouse they are today. It's a lot more than just Miguel Cabrera.
• Jon Paul Morosi points out that the Cardinals are using a record number of rookie pitchers in the NLCS. Not only that, but they're really good and have the Cardinals out to a three games to one lead.
• Rob Neyer notices that one rookie pitcher who isn't pitching for the Cardinals is Shelby Miller. It's not just a luxury of riches, but rather that Miller seemed to lose something off his fastball down the stretch this season. Neyer is worried.
• Grant Brisbee calls the Cardinals outfield defense "a salmonella outbreak with six legs." He does note that a lot of really successful teams sacrificed outfield defense for hitting.
• Yasiel Puig flipped his bat and raised his arms after hitting a home run in game three. Except that it wasn't a home run. He still managed to run all the way to third base on the play, where he raised his arms in celebration again. As one wag on Twitter wrote, Puig was the first player to celebrate a home run and a triple in the same at-bat. You can imagine the Cardinals were displeased and they were, but they were much more reasonable than the Braves would have been. In any case, Jayson Stark says Puig has a gift for seizing the spotlight.
• Don Mattingly thinks the Cardinals have a double-standard when it comes to Puig.
• Bill Shaikin says that play encapsulates Puig: great but raw talent and unbridled enthusiasm.
• Eno Sarris calls Puig "a roller coaster." Complete with gifs and graphs.
• Howard Megdal thinks fans shouldn't forget about Andre Ethier. He's filling in the hole in center field left by Matt Kemp.
• A guy dressed in a bear suit climbed on the Dodgers dugout and tried to lead a cheer. He was removed by security and has been banned from Dodger Stadium for six months. His goal is make the Dodgers have a mascot. Have you considered starting a petition drive?
• Jonah Keri examines one thing we have learned so far about each of the four remaining playoff teams.
• Tom Verducci says this postseason is reminding him of the two deadball eras. And he wrote that before the Red Sox beat the Tigers 1-0 in game three. Also, he questions the "neighborhood play" the Dodgers turned at second base in game three. He also asks what happens to the "neighborhood play" when replay starts next season.
• Sad news. Major league umpire Wally Bell has passed away at the age of 48. He was part of the crew that worked the Cardinals-Pirates NLDS.
• On the Cal Ripken front, he says he's "not lobbying for any managing job." He's apparently insisting that the Nationals call him first. This is so eighth grade. Maybe he can pass a note to the Nationals in class with boxes to check if they like him or don't like him.
• Manny Machado had his surgery, and he's now expected to miss the full six months of the four-to-six months. He's expected to miss all of spring training and the start of the season.
• Adam Jones's six-year, $85 million contract looks good for the Orioles so far.
• The Reds are not expected to sign Cuban defector Alexander Guerrero. They had shown interest in him earlier.
• There's no news (and no urgency) in the Reds managerial search.
• Manager Walt Weiss signed a three-year extension with the Rockies.
• Brian McCann could land a $100 million contract in free agency. Andrew Marchand thinks that may mean the Yankees can't afford both Robinson Cano and McCann, even if Alex Rodriguez's suspension is upheld. I don't know who else would give McCann $100 million though.
• Speaking of A-Rod, one of his lawyers had to be physically restrained from punching one of Tony Bosch's lawyers. Reportedly. This is coming from a New York tabloid though.
• Marlins manager Mike Redmond wants his team to do the little things better. Aaron Gleeman thinks they ought to worry more about doing some of the big things better.
• In the defamation suit that that Albert Pujols has filed against Jack Clark, Clark's lawyers have challenged Pujols to take a polygraph test. He's also claiming that Pujols is using a false name. Pujols' lawyers have called the challenge and the claim "ridiculous." He's right. This is childish grandstanding.
• Finally, remember how MLB announced last season that we were going to start having wireless phones to the bullpen? Well, they're still working out the kinks. Can you hear me now?