From: tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Lies, Damn Lies, & Statistics (was Re: The Monthly Cecil Fielder Thread
Date: 4 Sep 92 03:17:56 GMT
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853

In article <1992Sep4.021228.20379@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca> 91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca (Roger Maynard) writes:
>
>Naw...I don't really "bank" on any statistics.  Years ago I used to 
>participate in a sport where I saw people (even myself) rise to a level
>of accomplishment beyond what they would normally be thought capable of.
>This did not happen often of course.  When it did we called it Zen.  
>Baseball hitters talk about the ball being as big as a beachball.  This
>is the true essence of sport (for me anyway).

I agree.  Once you get good enough at a sport, it will come.
Sometimes only in flashes, sometimes for an entire game.  But it is
the reason for playing.

>The statistics measure the
>ordinary.  Many of us could care less about keeping track of the ordinary.
>We watch sports for the extraordinary event, the exceptional moment.

No denying that clutch hits and clutch performances exist.

>For me, Reggie Jackson is probably the greatest player I ever saw because
>he did rise to the occasion (when he wasn't consuming outs) and deliver
>the drama that makes sport so exciting.  Jack Morris IS a great pitcher.

But now you are not only saying that some players are clutch
*performers*, but you are also purporting to know which ones they are.
How?  From personal observation?

As a Red Sox fan, I can assure you that Roger Clemens is *the*
clutchest pitcher in the game.  Bases loaded with only one out?  No
sweat!  If Clemens has the lead, he simply isn't going to give it up.
You can look for that DP with confidence.  (Can you see why I try
never to miss one of his starts?)

You can't capture the fleeting moment through statistics.  Which is
why mentioning things like win-loss record and RBIs is stupid.  As
statistics they are worthless.  And that one RBI that was so important
to you will be lost in the mess.  That win where the pitcher battled
tough hitting every minute looks just like that win where he was
staked to a 10 run lead and coasted.

>If the stats tell us different then it could be that the stats are not
>telling us the whole story...If Detroit is down 4-1 in the bottom of the
>ninth of the seventh game with 2 out and the bases loaded who the hell 
>do you want to see at the plate?

Speaking from experience (for Boston, since I clearly can't follow
*two* teams that closely), I would have to go with Mo Vaughn.  I've
seen him come through in key situations so often this year.  And he
hasn't even spent the entire season in the majors!  (In Boston, this
has nothing to do with your ability.)  Of course, Vaughn also happens
to have the best HR rate on the team.  So I'd pick him even if I were
going on statistics.

If I were in Detroit, who would I pick?  I honestly don't know.
Probably Whitaker.  Fielder has been helpless against good pitching
this year, while Whitaker has been consistent for the last 20!

Cheers,
-Valentine
-- 
Make outs, not walks!					tedward@cs.cornell.edu
Clemens four Cy Young!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball