I was listening this morning and heard Haugh say something to the effect that "it is a widely held belief that the Sox problems last year were due to lack of focus after they actually accomplished something." After having followed that team closely, I don't think that's what happened at all. Instead, I think their problems down the stretch were about 80% inexperienced players and about 20% bad managerial decisions. Thoughts?

I think its closer to 50-50. Part of it was inexperienced players being put in a position to fail. Rodon hadn't pitched for 2 months, and was asked to come in out of the bullpen in a pressure packed situation- twice. Sure he is a professional and should come in and throw strikes, but he was put into a terrible situation. It would be like asking Jose Abreu to lay down a bunt.

The mess in game 3 was almost all Ricky. He never gave Dunning a chance before going to the pen. Foster, Bummer, etc should be expected to come in and do their jobs, but I have to think its a lot different for them pitching in the 3rd and 4th inning of any game that isn't Spring Training than what they are used to. Also Ricky burning Cease in game 2 of the Oakland series was inexcusable. he had no backup plan in case in an injury or a guy getting rocked. Even if the Sox tied that game up and forced extras, the Sox were nearly out of pitchers.

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They lost to Oakland because Abreu came up in game changing situations with men on base and happened to hit rockets right at people.

Baseball is weird.

I'm sure hiring 2021's Jimmy Dugan will fix that

That is true too. Lots of opportunities to score runs in Games 2 & 3 were squandered.

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Fucking imbecile. Jimmy Dugan's team went to the World Series.

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There were only 4 teams dumbass, and they lost.

That doesn't make my post any less true.

if anything, it further validates the "fucking imbecile" part.

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That scene happened before the final game of the World Series, which Jimmy Dugan's team participated in, ya fucking imbecile.


So if "this year's Dugan" in LaRussa has the White Sox playing in the World Series, thats fine with me.

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Please cease and desist your unauthorized use of the above image.

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You're gonna lose.

Did anyone ever tell you, you look like a penis with a little hat on?

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After they clinched a spot and beat the Twins they talked, acted, and played like they had clinched the pennant.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Ricky’s handling of the pitching staff in game 3 was possibly the worst managing I’ve ever seen in any sport.

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My point still stands

I'll agree with the "played" part of your post, but that's about it. Also, I would say the proximate cause of that bad play was more inexperienced players not knowing how to handle a pennant chase than losing focus. Losing focus implies that there was primarily an attitude or discipline problem, and I don't think either of those were present.

They chilled after clinching a playoff spot. The record after is evident of that.

Also...what RPB and Frank typed.

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@audioidkid

There wasn't much incentive once they clinched as every seeded spot was the same as any other this year. They actually got a favorable matchup in the A's who were lefty starter heavy. However, their coach learned his lesson after game 1 and decided ANY righty starter was a better option than even his best lefty.

I agree that youth played a role, particularly with Robert and Madrigal. Madrigal cost them at least two key games with his blunders.

The worst thing to ever happen to Ricky was to give him good players. He gets the most from bad players and he can tinker with his theories in non important games. It was rough to watch him work when it mattered.

but fuck Haugh and the rest of the Score when it comes to the Sox. They are incentivized to find fault and I think that is going to intensify this year

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I haven't listened to their show in maybe two years, so it's not a big deal to me. Hell, I doubt that I've listened to Bernstein more than a handful of times in the last six months because of his Cubbie fealty.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I don't know what fealty means but I'll bet it's close to being a bootlicker.

yep

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Ouch!

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You're gonna lose.

I need to do more of this. Quote m'self and then heartily agree.

You cannot love some else until you love yourself

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.