The collapse this season was a bad one, don't know about the worst in franchise history.

 

I think many will change their mind on this. This was not in any way a World Series team.

 

I think many will change their mind on this. This was not in any way a World Series team.

 

If they had Paulie doing what he was doing in the first half they would be a contender for the title IMO. With broke down Paulie they had no chance, as evidence with them falling out of the race. A 3 game lead with a team like the Tigers breathing down your neck is not a collapse all things considered.

 

Texas losing a 13 game lead including a 5 game lead with 9 games to go is what a collapse looks like

http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago...mp;feedID=10338

 

Behind the White Sox September slump

October 5, 2012, 2:05 pm

DAN HAYES

 

 

Alex Rios offered the best explanation for his team’s September slide earlier this week.

 

After they excelled for 146 games, endured countless injuries to key figures, survived several offensive cold streaks and the pitching staff thrived despite its youth, the White Sox fell off the pace.

 

Just as the club reached the pinnacle of its season and moved three games ahead of the Detroit Tigers with a Sept. 17 victory, the resilient White Sox became a different team.

 

The offense suffered one of its poorest stretches of the season. Tired pitchers could no longer shut down opponents. The team’s high level of execution, the lifeblood of its surprising surge, discontinued.

 

On the verge of its first postseason appearance since 2008, first-year manager Robin Ventura’s club went in the opposite direction and won twice in 12 games. The White Sox collapse couldn’t have come at a worse time as the Tigers finally lived up to expectations and gained six games in the standings to run away with the American League Central title. In a matter of weeks, a season in which the White Sox spent 117 days in first place and saw numerous positive developments was wiped out. As he tried to clarify the team’s worst stretch of the season, Rios offered a simple theory.

 

“You can say we ran out of gas,” Rios said.

 

The team’s tank hit empty in almost every way imaginable.

 

An offense featuring six starters older than 30 showed its age.

 

The White Sox finished the season ranked fourth in the AL in runs (748), third in home runs (211) and fifth in OPS (.740). Five hitters finished with at least 25 homers for only the second time in franchise history.

 

But significant injuries slowed the White Sox offense in September.

 

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski, slugger Adam Dunn and leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza all suffered oblique injuries after the All-Star break. A wrist injury and a concussion limited team captain Paul Konerko. Third baseman Kevin Youkilis missed time with a sore knee.

 

With only two reliable players on the bench -- catcher Tyler Flowers and outfielder Dewayne Wise -- the long season caught up with the offense. The White Sox scored 31 runs, hit nine homers, had a .627 OPS and were 12-for-85 (.141) with runners in scoring position in the 12-game stretch.

 

“We had a legit opportunity to make it to the playoffs and we just didn’t have enough at the end,” Dunn said.

 

The team’s starting rotation also ran on fumes.

 

John Danks’ shoulder injury limited him to nine starts, Philip Humber was removed from the rotation in July and Gavin Floyd went on the disabled list twice after the All-Star break. To make up the difference, the White Sox had to rely heavily on first-year starter Chris Sale, rookie Jose Quintana and veteran Jake Peavy, who pitched his first full season in five years.

 

No surprise, Sale and Quintana -- who surpassed easily their career highs for innings pitched -- slipped in late September after strong first halves.

 

Ventura’s staff did its best to find extra days of rest for Sale, Quintana and Peavy but couldn’t rely on Francisco Liriano, who was inconsistent after he was acquired from the Minnesota Twins.

 

White Sox pitchers had a 4.43 ERA over the 12 games. But in those same 12 games, Sox starters had a 5.58 ERA and lasted an average of 5.1 innings per outing.

 

Lost in the collapse are numerous positives.

 

Sale developed into a front-of-the-rotation starter and an All-Star. Peavy, Dunn and Rios have re-established themselves as impact players. Quintana and Viciedo both have bright futures after strong first full seasons. Addison Reed, Nate Jones and Donnie Veal appear capable of manning the back end of the bullpen for years to come. And players said Ventura’s staff brought the best out of them in their first season.

 

“We did it to ourselves and we’re accountable,” Peavy said. “We weren’t good enough the last few weeks, it’s as simple as that. It’s a shame you play the way we did for the majority of the season and have it come down to where you don’t play well late.”

So much negativity...

 

They made the majority of this season rather enjoyable in one of the few times that they actually exceeded most expectations. Therefore, this was the BEST collapse in franchise history

Sound familiar? This was the same explanation given for the 2006 team collapsing the last 2 months of the season, as well as this year's White Sox team.

 

 

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers had a five-game lead with nine to play. Ten games later, their season was over.

 

The Rangers have never had a season come to a sudden and stunning end like what happened in 2012. They still won 93 games, but what happened in the final two weeks won't easily be forgotten.

 

"We just got cold," outfielder Josh Hamilton said. "We played our hearts out and we got cold."

 

"It's baseball," closer Joe Nathan said. "It just seemed like down the stretch there, our timing and everything was off. We weren't swinging the bats well. We didn't pitch well. For most of the season, we played pretty good baseball and stayed consistent. But we picked the worst time to get into a funk and the last two weeks didn't go our way for sure."

 

The simple explanation is the Rangers wore down physically after playing deep into October in each of the past two years. The Rangers got off to a fast start, but then cracks started showing. The pitching staff was hit hard by injuries. The offense went into a slump in June and July...

Sound familiar? This was the same explanation given for the 2006 team collapsing the last 2 months of the season, as well as this year's White Sox team.

 

 

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers had a five-game lead with nine to play. Ten games later, their season was over.

 

The Rangers have never had a season come to a sudden and stunning end like what happened in 2012. They still won 93 games, but what happened in the final two weeks won't easily be forgotten.

 

"We just got cold," outfielder Josh Hamilton said. "We played our hearts out and we got cold."

 

"It's baseball," closer Joe Nathan said. "It just seemed like down the stretch there, our timing and everything was off. We weren't swinging the bats well. We didn't pitch well. For most of the season, we played pretty good baseball and stayed consistent. But we picked the worst time to get into a funk and the last two weeks didn't go our way for sure."

 

The simple explanation is the Rangers wore down physically after playing deep into October in each of the past two years. The Rangers got off to a fast start, but then cracks started showing. The pitching staff was hit hard by injuries. The offense went into a slump in June and July...

 

I don't buy excuses like that. Have MLB become so pussified since the 70's? How did those dynasties do it?

I do believe baseball can be more about streaks. Getting hot or cold can be crucial timing.

Edited October 9, 201213 yr by kitekrazy

I don't buy excuses like that. Have MLB become so pussified since the 70's? How did those dynasties do it?

I do believe baseball can be more about streaks. Getting hot or cold can be crucial timing.

 

Amphetamines, banned since 2006

If blowing a 3 game lead is the biggest collapse in team history, Sox fans are spoiled and really have nothing to complain about.