It was the first game of the season and already Bill Simmons is talking about Ortiz's "clutchosity" and A-Rod's lack of "super-clutchitude".

I get that he's a Red Sox fan. I understand and respect that, but man, sometimes, his double standard really bugs the heck out of me. Here's an example. In the Opening Day game against Texas, Boston was already up 3-0 in the fifth when Ortiz hits a two-run home run. That garners this reaction:

12:30 -- Big Papi, high and deep, toward the right field corner ... OFF THE FOUL POLE! 5-0, Red Sox. That was a moonshot. I'm really enjoying myself. Just opened a Miller Lite and everything...My buddy Hench and I exchange giddy e-mails about the Loretta/Papi ABs -- just two pros doing their thing and getting the job done. I'm talking about Loretta and Papi.

However, on the same day, we have A-Rod coming to bat with the bases loaded and the Yankees up 3-0 (in the fifth inning) against Oakland. All of a sudden, we're looking at someone getting garbage time stats and piling on numbers:

And if you don't think we're in "Cheap Grand Slam" territory for A-Rod right now, you obviously don't know the man very well. Is there any way I can wager on this? (emphasis mine)

Wait, what just happened? What was the difference here? Second versus fifth inning? Millwood versus Zito? Okay, the bases were loaded but Sheff had just struck out and what Yankees fan hasn't seen the inning-ending DP with the bases loaded? How is this homer un which gave the Yankees the win different than the Ortiz home run that gave the Red Sox the win? Is it because it wasn't late enough in the game? Please.

After this article, Steve L. over at WasWatching put up a post looking at clutch hitting in the Torre era using some data from Baseball Prospectus' Baseball By The Numbers. A-Rod actuallys comes in higher than Jeter, although in far fewer at bats. Also, from the same book, an excerpt on ESPN outlining Ortiz' candidacy as the "Greatest Clutch Hitter in Red Sox History" comes up with this:

When we analyze play-by-play data, David Ortiz does rate as a clutch hitter overall, but most of the damage was limited to just two seasons, 2000 and 2005. Take those two years away, and his lifetime clutch rating is essentially zero. He didn't rate as a clutch hitter in 2004 -- at least not during the regular season -- or in 2002. It isn't a bad track record, but if clutch hitting really exists, one would expect more consistency out of the "greatest clutch hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox."


Also, Bill, I'm begging you, let the AL MVP debate go. Ortiz lost. He should have lost. He is a DH and you're right, he has to be far and away a better hitter than someone who is a full-time player. In 2005, that simply wasn't the case as he was (arguably) on the same level as A-Rod. Heck, even if the Red Sox started trotting him out there at first, he would have been a full-time player but still would have been only comparable to A-Rod - not better. Listen, I don't mind Ortiz at all. He looks like he loves the game and from watching him on NESN and Red Sox DVDs (I used to live with a die-hard Red Sox fan), he seems like a genuinely fun person. But he is what he is - a great hitter and while he shouldn't be punished for excelling at his one task, we also shouldn't seek to compare him to players who are also excel at that task while also wearing down their bodies playing defense through a 162 game season.

Finally, what is it that Jorge Posada did to you?

7. The Wuss, Jorge Posada, C

On the bright side, that leads to Posada getting plunked in the back on an 0-2 pitch by Brad Halsey and doing wussy Jorge Posada things.

"Jorge's not happy," Singleton tells us. "He's staring the pitcher down right now."

(Yup, there's comedy, there's high comedy, there's transcendent comedy ... and then there's Jorge Posada trying to stare someone down.)

When did Jorge become a wuss? Did I miss something here? Did he start a fight with someone with full catcher gear on while I had my back turned? Oh right, he was the guy that hit the Red Sox hard enough that Pedro had to resort to threaten to bean him in the head. The same guy who stands in the box with no gloves on, ready to hit, and has been one of the best hitting catchers in the league for almost a decade. The same guy who, when his ten-day old son was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis (and had to undergo five major surgeries to correct the condition) started the Jorge Posada Foundation to provide financial assistance for children who are affected by Craniosynostosis. Right...big wuss there.

Okay, I'm done ranting. Don't take this as a knock against Simmon's writing. He's very funny when he sticks to the 80's, movies and pop culture and again, I get that he's a Red Sox fan. I just thought it was necessary for a counterpoint.