Suggestion: Pressure Performance

[SamP]

I think it would be very cool to see one of the skill traits reflect some type of pressure performance ability. Then you could rely on big moment players like you could in real life. A rating of 10 (out of 20) could reflect no change or otherwise no real response to pressure situations and under 10 could reflect a negative performance in pressure situations (for players like Alex Rodriguez or Carlos Beltran) and above would reflect a positive performance in tense situations (for players like David Ortiz or Vlad Guerrero).

This would allow endurance ratings to be less influential/severe. Often both Major League relief pitchers and starts could probably pitch just as long as one another but one is better suited for one role because of how they pitch in different situations. Earlier in this 2008 Major League season we saw the Oakland Athletics tentative to start Justin Duscherer because of how well he pitched in tight situations.

This could also divide closers from other relief pitchers. Many will remember a couple of years ago Derrick Turnbow was set as a closer because of how well he could mix up his stuff but he failed miserably, probably because he could not pitch in pressure situations. Meanwhile he might do better in another short relief role, like a 7th inning role.

The reason this should be a skill and not a personality trait (even though it could apply to both pitchers and hitters) is because it should be a dynamic trait, whereas the personality traits are static.