ESPN just aired a show titled 2006 Major League Baseball’s ‘In the Clutch’.  It was a show about players that performed the best under pressure or what is commonly referred to as ‘in the clutch’ during the 2006 season.  Three players were nominated by position.  The winners were selected by coaches, players and sports writers.

The players selected the best ‘Clutch” player by position were:

·      First Base – Albert Puljois

·      Second Base – Chase Utley

·      Shortstop – Derrick Jetter

·      Third Base – David Wright

·      Catcher - Joe Mauer

·      Left Field – Carl Crawford

·      Center Field – Carlos Beltrain

·      Right Field – Jermaine Dye

·      Designated Hitter – David Ortiz

·      Pitcher – Johan Santana

·      Closer – Joe Nathan

At the beginning of the show the commentator explained that, after years of research, there is not a definitive way to measure ‘clutch hitting’ or ‘clutch pitching’.  Which is surprising considering that baseball is the sport of stats.  No other sport keeps as many different stats as baseball

Thus the selections were subjectively done.  During the show they had some of the nominees’ team mates, opposing players, their coaches, opposing coaches and sports reporters explain why they felt these particular players were so successful under pressure. The following were the most commonly mentioned traits for Clutch Hitters:

·      “You have to want to be” – up at the plate

·      “Need to be focused” 

·      ‘No fear!” – confident

The nominees also explained why they felt they were successful. I particularly liked what Big Papi, David Ortiz from the Boston Red Sox, who was voted THE Best Clutch Hitter, said.  “I’m not afraid.   I just try to hit the ball hard.”

To quote some of the other players; Frank Thomas, Oakland’s designated hitter stated, “You can’t be afraid to be in that situation’ referring to situations like the bottom of the ninth, two outs and runners in scoring position.  Chase Utley of the Phillies said; “When I put that uniform on, its game on” … he expects to be ready.  And when Joe Mauer was asked about his clutch hitting he said; “I just try to have a good at bat”.   Carl Crawford “treat it as any other at bat’, Jeff Francoer of the Atlanta Braves , “I want to be there” and a teammate of Carlos Beltran feels that “he  (Carlos) knows he can get it done!”.

Marriano Rivera, the NY Yankees closer, was selected THE best ‘Clutch Pitcher’.  While they did not spend as much time with the pitchers as they did with the hitters, the two traits mentioned were:

·    Throws the ball with a purpose.

·    Challenges the hitters

A team mate of Johan Santana said ‘he wants the ball” and the Tigers Kenny Rogers, who pitched the game of his life, beating the Yankees in the third game of this years American League playoffs’ because “I wanted this game”.  This is the same Kenny Rogers that was winless against the Yankees in 13 years and winless in his nine career post season appearances.

Notice that none of the reasons for success mentioned have anything to do with the physical part – the mechanics - of the game.  No mention of bat speed, arm slot, keeping hands back, etc.  Rather, they are all statements concerning the mental part of the game.  Staying focused, being sure of themselves, accepting the pressure of the situation.. 

So what’s going through your mind, when you get up with the bases loaded, bottom of the seventh, with the winner run on third?  Or when your team is up by one run, the coach hands you the ball to get the last three outs?  Do any of these statements sound familiar?   “I gotta get a hit”!   I hope I don’t strike out!  I wish it wasn’t my turn to hit.  This guys the best hitter, I can’t get him out!!  I haven’t got a hit off this guy yet!”

Don’t think for one minute that these statements don’t go through some high school players mind.  They do.  Now they may not say it out load or even admit to it.  These thoughts do go through their mind and they do give themselves away.  And how is that?  They reveal their thoughts through body language, their facial expressions, and their actions. 

Let me tell you two quick stories to show you what I mean.  A few years ago a local American Legion team was heading to the state playoffs.  They had to win one more game in the Regionals.  The problem was that the regular season games are seven innings long but in the play offs, the games are 9 innings long.  So after playing 5 games in a row, going into this last game, the game everyone knew they had to win, the pitchers were stretched to their limits.  Before the game, the coach held a team meeting, explained the situation and essentially asked for some one to ‘take the ball’.  Thinking that one of the senior pitchers, one of the team leaders,  would volunteer.  Well no one did.

Thus the game started with an infielder pitching.  Well when the game reached the fifth inning and the team down by 5 runs and the infielder that was pitching was getting hit hard,  one of the leaders came up to the coach and ‘asked for the ball’.

Now ask your self why he would ask for the ball then.  The answer is simple.  Consequences or better yet fear of the possible consequences.  By accepting the challenge before the game he would have to accept the results.  And one of those results is losing the game.  So by accepting the results, in his mind, he would have to take the blame for losing the game.  If they lose it would be his fault.  And people do not like to be at fault – to be blamed.  Imagine the finger pointing from his team mates, the coaches or next days’ newspaper article. 

And that’s why, when the team was down by 5 runs with only 4 more innings to go, he asked for the ball.  In his mind,  they were not going to win.   Thus, no pressure, no consequences.  And by asking for the ball there was a guarantee.  A guarantee that if they lost it certainly wouldn’t be his fault.

The second story is about a lefty that was a pretty good pitcher on my High School team.  He was good because he took lessons from an ex-major league player.  Now if he was having a lesson that day, he would ask me if he could take it easy during practice so that he would be all right for his lesson.  He would then remind everyone during practice why he was taking it easy that day.  And every time I asked him in practice how his arm felt, it was always great!!

At the practice before each of our games,  he would  ask who was starting.  If it wasn’t him he would always make some comment to his team mates about how he wished it was him.  There was always some specific reason why he so badly wanted to face that team.  During the games he didn’t pitch in, if things weren’t going well, he always had the answers.  And if I told him he was starting he would tell anyone in ‘earshot’ how bad we were going to win.

This is the same player who never pitched a complete game and in fact, never made it beyond the forth inning in his 2 years of varsity High School baseball.  By the second or third inning, between pitches, he would always look towards the bench – towards the coaching staff.  No matter what the score was or if he had just given up a hit or some runs.  After each inning he would ask me if he was going to pitch the next inning.  Even if he struck out the side or got them out 1,2,3.  And if I asked him how his arm was it was always ‘getting a little sore’. 

Okay, so why is it that a pitcher, that was pretty good, could not finish a game?  Because he didn’t want to be out there.  Okay, I hear you!  You’re asking how did we know he didn’t want to be there?  Because as I stated earlier ‘They reveal their thoughts through body language, their facial expressions, and their actions’.  The look of despair on his face when he looked over to the bench between pitches. His eyes would light up when he was told he was done, especially if at that point we were winning.  Over night his arm got sore.  Or was it just a coincidence that it always got sore during a game!! 

And why didn’t he want to be there?  Consequences.  Blame.  Fear of failure!!  Once he started looking over, we knew he was done.  He wanted out. And remember I said, players usually don’t admit thinking negative statements like ‘This guys the best hitter, I can’t get him out!!  I haven’t got a hit off this guy yet!”  But what you will hear from them is excuses.  Pitchers will blame the umpires, the bad mound or the ball was wet and it slipped out of my hand when he hit the home run. When infielders throw the ball away it was because they have a sore arm or the first baseman should have had it.  You see – excuses deflect potential criticism.  Or as I heard my lefty say to a team mate one time after we lost a close game; “Hey it wasn’t my fault the coach took me out of the game!”

So the question is, What’s the difference between the clutch player’s statements and the ones I mention?  Yes, you’re right.  The clutch players statements are positive and the other are negative.  But the real answer is that the clutch player looks at the pressure situation as an opportunity to succeed, not an opportunity to fail.  They sincerely want  to be there.  Let me repeat that.  They sincerely want  to be there.  They walk the talk!  They are not afraid or worried about the end results. They don’t want to be taken out of the game.  Their focus is on ‘It’s just another at bat, Challenge the hitter, or hit the ball hard’, instead of being the hero or goat.  They know there are no guarantees.  Clutch situations are part of the game.  They know that no one expects them to be successful 100% of the time.  The only expectation is to be ready, prepared, focused 100% of the time.

Fact is that, usually a player that has a lot of success also has a lot of failure.  Look at Babe Ruth.  He struck out 1,330 times on his way to hitting 714 home runs.  He struck out 15% of the time he was up.  That’s a lot of failure.  But what is he known for?  His successes – his home runs - were only 6% of his at bats.  Yet, to this day, he is still known as the ‘Sultan of Swat”.  And there’s’ Ricky Henderson.  In 1882 he led the league in steals with 130 but was also caught 42 times.  He failed 32% of the time.

 So, even though Big Papi was voted the BEST Clutch Hitter in 2006, I’m sure if they did a study they would find that he has a high failure rate.  We just don’t here about it.  You see, the problem is that, when you watch ESPN, they usually show his home run and not when he strikes out.

So as a high school player, if you want guarantees that you will be successful, go play against an 8 year old girl’s softball team.  It’s a safe bet that when you are in a clutch situation in that game, you will probable be successful.