Posted September 29, 200519 yr i think the pressure got to this team because this team is waaaay to talented to be out of the playoffs. i think that because the fish were EXPECTED to get to the playoffs that is why we failed. when you are expected to do something that is the ultimate pressure because anything short of the expectations is considered a faliure. weve heard many comments that the clubhouse hasn't been loose and fun, and that is because of pressure. Presure = playing tight which usually results in errors and bad pitching and bad clutch hitting. that is the difference between the more talented 2005 team and the WS champs in 03. Now this is just what i think happened... we couldn't handle the pressure. Obviously just because a team is expected to win doesn't mean theyll lose but imo it can cause losing. Teams this year that withstood the pressure. Cardinals and i guess you can say the Angels( but they didnt play that dominantly) Teams that had a difficult time with the expectations marlins yankees and red sox( even though shill being out hurt) teams that werent expected to do anything that had great seasons braves nats astros athletics white sox indians (even though some people including me picked them to win the al central) just a theory :pimp
September 29, 200519 yr It's hardly the first time this theory has been mentioned. It's been said since July by many, including myself, on these boards, back then. I certainly think it contributed. Even eliminating the pressure angle.....this year's team is basically a dissapointment precisely because of the high expectations. This was the first year in team history that they were thought to have such a good shot to go far in the playoffs. The odds in Las Vegas were 12/1 this year. They were 60/1 in 2003. They were 25/1 in 1997. They were over 100/1 in all other years.
September 29, 200519 yr They're professionals, they should shrug it off. It's alarming to me that they could not "step up" to the expectations they had of themselves, but I don't think the national spot-light had much to do with it. It'll be an excuse used, but it isn't to blame.
September 29, 200519 yr After this season they shouldn't have to worry about expectations next year. :banghead
September 30, 200519 yr yea I've thought that too! what makes close losses worse, especially to teams like the pirates IS the high expectation, we the fans, also had. You KNOW we can do better, but we stink it up! The same goes for how I feel in my everyday life...I don't like to get too hyped to expect stuff, cause when it doesn't happen it's just that much more of a dissapointment! :thumbdown
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