May
1
2012

Mets Were Incredibly Clutch In April

I just finished reading Mark Simon’s “In-Depth” column on ESPN New York. He does a great job highlighting which Mets performed the best in April.

He had a little something that really caught my attention at the end where he wrote that the Mets had a .286 batting average and a .389 on-base percentage in Late & Close situations in April. Those were 28 and 29 points higher than the NL teams with the next-best numbers.

Here is what he posted along with an accompanying chart from Baseball Reference:

You know, this really doesn’t surprise me. After Nieuwenhuis came up with that two-run single with the bases loaded to tie the game, I remember thinking how more frequently we seem to be coming through in these clutch situations compared to the last three seasons. It’s made the first month of this season very fun to watch and pretty exciting too.

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About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

16 Comments + Add Comment

  • I just posted they hit 242 with RISP collectively… How is that CLUTCH??? also, 2-20 with bases loaded… now, i give them this, they’re 9-2 with games decided by 2 runs or less, so they’re getting it done somehow, that kid Kirk is a ball players, maybe his CLUTCHNESS canrub on some other players that are not as clutch… ;-)

    • Alex, considering a hit with a RISP can occur in an 17-8 game as well as a hit with the bases loaded could as well don’t you think that high leverage and late and close would be a better measure of clutch in terms of your definition? Also, BA RISP wouldn’t even account for a solo HR in the bottom of the 9th to win the game as there is no RISP.

      • This.

    • Your way says a 2-run single in the first inning of 12-0 win is the equivalent or same as a 2-run single in the ninth inning of 3-2 win.

      Late and close is a better barometer of clutch than just batting average with RISP alone.

      • Agreed, as far as MOST people’s definition of “clutch” using a combination of Late and Close and High Leverage would get you a decent idea of “clutch”.

  • It was an enjoyable April indeed.

  • They seemed more gritty than clutch to me.

    • LOL, agreed.

  • Hey at this rate the Mets are on pace for a 91 win season. Lets hope May is as kind as April. We a lot of divisional games in May.

    • With this stupid format we got a lot of divisional games EVERY month.

      • You know what I checked, and you’re right we do. I also misspoke because we actually played more divisional games in April than we will in May. I blame Beltran for this.

        • They will need a strong May because June will be Brutal with divisional games plus 6 with Yanks and 3 with Rays, 3 with Cards and 3 with LA.

  • I don’t know that they wore down any pitchers seems more to me like they simply beat up on some bad Relievers who more importantly walked us to two wins!

    • Well part of the philosophy of the Yankees and Redsox was that middle relief is awful so the quicker you can get to them and get the starter out the better your offense will be.

      • Well I disagree the key to the Yankees is they go for better starters who go longer into games and try to bypass USING middle relief.
        Thier approach at the plate doesn’t seem to be any different early than it is late.
        They take their cuts when they get the right count, and walk when the pitcher is too scared to pound the zone on them

        Unfortunatly for the Yankees they have not done what they used to in recent years and lost out on getting the top pitching prospects when they were available!
        And few have been available other than Lee who took the lesser offer to go to Philly because of how his wife was treated at Yankee Stadim.

  • Only one from 2007,s all-time choke crew remains.

NL East Standings

TeamWLPct.GB
Braves4228.600 -
Nationals3435.4937.5
Phillies3437.4798.5
Mets2540.38514.5
Marlins2247.31919.5

Last updated: 06/18/2013

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