bighurt4444 Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Guys, I know this sounds a little funny, but could this major stumble at the end of the year actually help the White Sox in the playoffs? Here's my thinking: Right now it is very obvious that the Sox are playing very tight. They are, to me, looking over their shoulder and know what the implications would be if they lost this division. They know it may go down as the biggest choke job in baseball history. That is a lot of pressure! In my opinion, going down as one of the biggest chokers in baseball is a lot more pressure than the possibility of losing a first round playoff series. Teams every year have to lose playoffs series and even get swept in the playoffs, but its not every year that a team blows a 15 game division lead. My thought is that if the Sox bounce back and win this division, they will be very relieved and will then play much more loose and care free once the playoffs start. This is the most pressure the Sox will feel all year! If they can survive this and win the division, I truly think the Sox will win at least one series in the playoffs, and maybe more. I also think that if the Sox do blow the division, but still make the playoffs, they will lose quickly in the first round. The blowing of the division lead will still be on their mind and they won't be ready to get over it that fast. That is why I think it is very important to get it together, step up to the pressure, and win this division. If they can do that, they can make some noise in the playoffs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAfan Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 I think the hitters are incredibly tight. But the pitching has had to pitch in tight games all year. So they are used to pressure. What I'd like to see is a "blow out the cylinders" game (anyone see the original Flight of the Phoenix?) with an all-lefty lineup just to loosen things up. Maybe we can do it in the last game if we've clinched. Pods Harris Gload Everett Borchard Pierzynski Perez Uribe Blum Whatever comes down the road, now that I've had my little beef-with-Ozzie post, I want to keep it positive. We gotta believe that this Sox team is going to break the streak and win in the postseason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ginger Kid Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(bighurt4444 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 07:01 AM) Guys, I know this sounds a little funny, but could this major stumble at the end of the year actually help the White Sox in the playoffs? In a word...NO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighurt4444 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 10:49 AM) In a word...NO Can we get a little insight on your "no" comment? If the Sox breezed through the division and won it by 15 games, these players would have no idea what the pressure in the playoffs was going to feel like. At this point, I think all these players that have very little playoff experience are learning really fast what playoff-like games are going to feel like. At this point, every game is huge. I think that there is indeed some benefit to having these types of games before the playoffs start. Would I have loved the Sox to win the division by 15 games, of course. Would they have loved to win it by 15 games, of course. But it is what it is, and I think these players are getting some much needed experience in big games. So to simply answer this question in one word is just not well thought out enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ginger Kid Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(bighurt4444 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 10:00 AM) Can we get a little insight on your "no" comment? If the Sox breezed through the division and won it by 15 games, these players would have no idea what the pressure in the playoffs was going to feel like. At this point, I think all these players that have very little playoff experience are learning really fast what playoff-like games are going to feel like. At this point, every game is huge. I think that there is indeed some benefit to having these types of games before the playoffs start. Would I have loved the Sox to win the division by 15 games, of course. Would they have loved to win it by 15 games, of course. But it is what it is, and I think these players are getting some much needed experience in big games. So to simply answer this question in one word is just not well thought out enough. Then allow me to elaborate. There is no value in losing, IMO. Losing wears on an individual's confidence. The more times Aaron Rowand leaves runners on base the more confident he becomes that he can drive them home? Does that make sense? I think you and others are trying to find the silver lining in losing to the Tigers. Good luck with that. I find no value in losing to the Tigers when the division title is so close you can almost taste it. I don't think losing to the Tigers will make you more confident going up against the likes of the Angels, Yankees or Red Sox next Tuesday. If anything, losing to the Tigers in a big game with loads of pressure makes me wonder, "Gee, how will they play against the Yankees with even MORE pressure on them?" If you're looking for how the sox play in playoff type games then look to last week's series with Cleveland. That was a playoff series right there. And I"m sad to say we dropped 2 of 3 at home. That probably won't get it done next week either. I don't want the Sox to learn anything from losing - I want them to win and keep winning and not stop until they're on a grandstand in Grant park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighurt4444 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 11:13 AM) Then allow me to elaborate. There is no value in losing, IMO. Losing wears on an individual's confidence. The more times Aaron Rowand leaves runners on base the more confident he becomes that he can drive them home? Does that make sense? I think you and others are trying to find the silver lining in losing to the Tigers. Good luck with that. I find no value in losing to the Tigers when the division title is so close you can almost taste it. I don't think losing to the Tigers will make you more confident going up against the likes of the Angels, Yankees or Red Sox next Tuesday. If anything, losing to the Tigers in a big game with loads of pressure makes me wonder, "Gee, how will they play against the Yankees with even MORE pressure on them?" If you're looking for how the sox play in playoff type games then look to last week's series with Cleveland. That was a playoff series right there. And I"m sad to say we dropped 2 of 3 at home. That probably won't get it done next week either. I don't want the Sox to learn anything from losing - I want them to win and keep winning and not stop until they're on a grandstand in Grant park. Thank you. That explains your stance a lot better. And I agree with what you are saying. I want the Sox to win and keep winning just like you. I don't think that losing to the Tigers is a confidence booster either. I am probably trying to find a silver lining, but that's better than just being like everyone else and constantly complaining about the Sox. I know they aren't trying to lose. They want to win these games just as much as we want them too. I am very disappointed with the way that they've played, but I think if they can avoid this collapse, a big burden will be lifted off of their shoulders and they can get back to playing the way the did earlier in the season. For the Sox to win this division, they are going to have to win a couple of big games down the stretch. Those wins will help them with their confidence going into the playoffs. It sucks that it had to get this close, but if they win the division, that's momentum heading into the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapkomet Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(bighurt4444 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 05:24 PM) Thank you. That explains your stance a lot better. And I agree with what you are saying. I want the Sox to win and keep winning just like you. I don't think that losing to the Tigers is a confidence booster either. I am probably trying to find a silver lining, but that's better than just being like everyone else and constantly complaining about the Sox. I know they aren't trying to lose. They want to win these games just as much as we want them too. I am very disappointed with the way that they've played, but I think if they can avoid this collapse, a big burden will be lifted off of their shoulders and they can get back to playing the way the did earlier in the season. For the Sox to win this division, they are going to have to win a couple of big games down the stretch. Those wins will help them with their confidence going into the playoffs. It sucks that it had to get this close, but if they win the division, that's momentum heading into the playoffs. They have no heart. They don't want to win. STOP IT, STOP IT NOW. THEY SUCK. THEY HATE WINNING!!!! /this message brought to you by stupid ass post(s) of the month club on soxtalk.com. Wouldn't you like to be a part of a message board where whining is tolerated? Join soxtalk.com NOW! The competition doesn't allow it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAfan Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Unfortunately, our hitters haven't responded to big game pressures. And our manager appears to have had a brain cramp. The only good news I see out of this is that the "choke" portion of the season will soon be over and the "second season" will begin. At that point, just as it was when the first season started, everyone will be at square one and this White Sox team will be a decided underdog against every opponent. I'm hoping that makes us respond the same way we did coming out of the gate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ginger Kid Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(bighurt4444 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 10:24 AM) Thank you. That explains your stance a lot better. And I agree with what you are saying. I want the Sox to win and keep winning just like you. I don't think that losing to the Tigers is a confidence booster either. I am probably trying to find a silver lining, but that's better than just being like everyone else and constantly complaining about the Sox. I know they aren't trying to lose. They want to win these games just as much as we want them too. I am very disappointed with the way that they've played, but I think if they can avoid this collapse, a big burden will be lifted off of their shoulders and they can get back to playing the way the did earlier in the season. For the Sox to win this division, they are going to have to win a couple of big games down the stretch. Those wins will help them with their confidence going into the playoffs. It sucks that it had to get this close, but if they win the division, that's momentum heading into the playoffs. I hear you. Safe to say we're both very frustrated. And I got a feeling we're not alone! But I guess that's just me whining again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bias Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 I would like see the Sox do something that shows team unity.....akin to the Bulls bustin' out the all black socks for the playoffs back in the day (I'm talkin' the FIRST time they did it). I think it would serve as a way to get everyone on the same page and get them REfocused on the common goal.....WIN or DIE tryin. Enough whining about one's spot in the order, the rotation, no trade help etc etc. It's time to sack up and take care of business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEANS Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 while i agree that winning the division may eliminate this "choking" burden, they better win the first game of the the first round or else the pressure is right back on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchtower41 Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(MEANS @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 01:01 PM) while i agree that winning the division may eliminate this "choking" burden, they better win the first game of the the first round or else the pressure is right back on them. lets get to the first round first..... but I hear ya, especially if they still own Home Field..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bighurt4444 Posted September 28, 2005 Author Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(MEANS @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 01:01 PM) while i agree that winning the division may eliminate this "choking" burden, they better win the first game of the the first round or else the pressure is right back on them. The pressure of course will be on in the playoffs. But what I'm saying now is that it is more of a "we can't lose because everyone will remember us as chokers" pressure. If they get into the playoffs, the pressure is there to win, but if they don't win, the consequences won't be as long standing. Only one team can win the World Series every year, so 7 teams lose in the playoffs every single year. But nobody has ever choked away a 15 game division lead before. These are two different types of pressure in my opinion. If they can hold on to win the division, I think we'll see the Sox loosen back up and win at least one series in the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEANS Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 QUOTE(bighurt4444 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 01:07 PM) The pressure of course will be on in the playoffs. But what I'm saying now is that it is more of a "we can't lose because everyone will remember us as chokers" pressure. If they get into the playoffs, the pressure is there to win, but if they don't win, the consequences won't be as long standing. Only one team can win the World Series every year, so 7 teams lose in the playoffs every single year. But nobody has ever choked away a 15 game division lead before. These are two different types of pressure in my opinion. If they can hold on to win the division, I think we'll see the Sox loosen back up and win at least one series in the playoffs. yeas i totally agree, my point is that if we make it in and we lose the first playoff game the pressure will be right back on the team, more so than other teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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