Dodgers’ “Unclutchness” Kept Them Out of The World Series

The Dodgers have most of what it takes to enter, or even win, the World Series. But they need to be more "clutch."

FanGraphs had them ranked first in National League teams in raw hitting ability for 2009. But they were behind the Phillies in batting "win probability." Meaning that the Phillies had fewer hits, but hit more when it counted. Sound familiar from the NCLS?

FanGraphs also had the Dodgers ranked first in Major League baseball in raw pitching. But the Dodgers' "clutch" value was a MINUS 1.84, putting them seventh in pitching "win probability."

That meant that the Dodgers  lost two more games than their raw statistics would suggest because their hurlers pitch well in games that the batters were likely to win anyway, and poorly in close ones.

The Gia...

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