Random Thoughts Post Game Part Cinq

No one suffers a victory like Florida Gator fans.

Welcome to the era of "feelings" and "keyboards". It's a losing combination.

Sure hope our players (esp. the top of the order) have awakened from their slumber. I would opine that it's possible even the seniors might have been overwhelmed by a 1-2 punch of both "Omaha" and "Expectations". Meanwhile, the bottom of the order, with lesser expectations simply went out and played ball and, in their way, carried us all with them. Now, I am hopeful our top four have remembered what they are capable of doing and just relax and go do that.

Many of us were discouraged after Saturday's loss. No one wants the season to end that way. Obviously, our players responded. LSU will do the same and come back with a chip on their shoulder.

 

Sometimes you cannot "factually rebut the point" because there isn't a point being made...just a shot being taken at the team/coaches. Those type posts deserve what they get

 

Here's another idea: Maybe the "fanatics" should control their emotions early in a game and walk away from the keyboard, instead of blasting the coaches, players, program, etc.

I'm guessing that you and the other old timers didn't act that way, which is why you didn't get negative ratings.

 

You think that's bad you should see what people post in football game threads. I have to come in afterwards because power drinkers make very bad debaters.

 

You can criticize and disagree with coaches all you want but the moment you start badmouthing a player I just block you and go on with my life
GO GATORS

 

In addition, they know very little about football.

 

If he’s whining about my posts, that had little to do with the in game posts. It had to do with a poster who has repeatedly called our team an embarrassment and talked about how the team has embarrassed him, personally. These types of posts are just outright ridiculous. If the team embarrasses you, personally, something is wrong with YOU.

These kids give us their all. They will never embarrass me and I would never even think about calling them an embarrassment (outside of being charged with kiddie porn or something similar). These kids are all class acts as far as I’m concerned. Most are on academic honor rolls and, by all accounts, seem to be all around great young men. They play hard. You call things like swinging at bad pitches an embarrassment? You realize big leaguers do the same all the time right? You have milliseconds to make a decision, sometimes you get it wrong. That’s not embarrassing, it’s part of the game.

Then after these sorry ass posts you’ve made all season, even going into the CWS week, now they’re your team again. Give me a break…

If you’re going to talk about our team like that, you should have to wear it.

The game thread was probably not the right place to voice my frustration. I admitted that, and removed my posts. This seems like a good place for it though. The same folks that had an issue with my posts, seem to have no problem with folks bashing our team, players, and coaches all during the games though. I’m not talking about objective criticisms, like “man, we needed to have a productive out there”. I’m talking about the folks who always know better and criticize every pitch or plate appearance, and act like every pitch should be a strike and every plate appearance should be a hit. They know who they are. There’s nothing objective about it, it’s just bitching.

 

I'm not a fan of the "look at me, I know so much about the game I can micro splice every play and tell you why X [coach/player] sux ass" posts.

Don't care for them. But I understand they're part of the game experience, when you're following a game on a message board.

By the same token....I see no foul when those same posters are excoriated upon the same standard they invoked and applied, when they're brilliant takes are shown to be folly.

My take: hey....you wanted us to look at cha'

But yeah, at the end of the day, we're all Gators (which presumes thick enough skin to take what you dish out... one would think). jmho/fwiw.

Anyway....

GO GATORS!!!

 

For me, I think many times it comes down to wouldn’t it better to just keep your fingers off the keyboard? My real issue is those fly-by negative posters who only show up when it’s not going well but not a peep out of them when things are going well or even post game after victory. I do not have a problem with posters voicing concerns just don’t go overboard and type the same crap 5 times……we get it lol……
One other thing: posters throw out the “CHOKE” word way too much. That, IMO, needs to come to a screeching halt! Just because a kid strikes out or doesn’t make a play or throws a hanging curve on a 1-2 count doesn’t mean he/they choked……..

 

While on this topic, I would like to give a shoutout to Ocalaman. He is a very good poster and a great addition to this forum. He got a little down on the team last year, and I got after him for bringing the negativity into a thread someone created simply to thank our team for their efforts and show some appreciation for what they had accomplished, even if it fell short of our goals. I mostly ignored it on all the other threads that had been overwhelmed by negativity, but I saw absolutely no reason to bring it over into that particular thread. This year, he has repeatedly found a way to voice his criticism without being overly negative. I have noticed a big difference in the way he posts even when things are not going our way. I would like to applaud the effort. I’m not going to apologize because I think my post was warranted, but I will publicly recognize and commend the huge effort to improve. So, here’s to you Ocalaman. You probably don’t care what I have to say, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

 

People who heatedly criticize the team in absolutely-certain tones, rarely like being criticized for their criticism.

I don't necessarily mind the griping. I certainly do my share. But yesterday -- of all days -- should have taught each of us: nobody knows anything. Be humble. Gripe, but remember, in two innings that "we will lose if we don't do X" post will look really, really stupid.

 

Thanks @paidinfull. Some people only want to see positives about the Gators. Others primarily do drive-by complaining. I've always thought I presented a balanced viewpoint, but last year some disagreed. I don't even remember who those were, to be honest. To me these forums should be open to positives and negatives without degenerating into personal attacks. Last year I allowed myself to get dragged into debates that turned into arguments, some of which got kind of nasty. I hated that. I was involved in 5 or 6 message boards back then and a couple of the other ones took disagreements to the personal level on a continuous basis. That's generally not the case on Diamond Gators, but when I came under attack on this forum it really bothered me to the point where I decided I was spending too much time doing this and wasn't enjoying it much anymore. So I stepped away from doing any posting for several months. And when I came back, I limited myself to just a couple of boards and have made a concerted effort to continue voicing my opinions, backing them with facts as best I could, but not getting drawn into back and forth arguments. They're non-productive. We're all passionate Gators and Diamond Gators is by far the best place to discuss Gator baseball & softball. And I've had fun this year without losing the zeal. There is so much knowledge among posters on the forum and I learn a lot and see viewpoints that are sometimes different than mine. And, to me, that's a good thing. I envy you being in Omaha! Hope you can celebrate with the team about 10 or so EST.

 

I’m open to objective criticism. People who question EVERY at bat that isn’t productive and EVERY pitching change, or lack thereof, get on my nerves. People who ALWAYS know better than our staff get on my nerves. People who only show up when things are going bad and immediately vanish when the tide turns our way get on my nerves. People who almost never have anything positive to say about our team get on my nerves. People who call our team an embarrassment get on my nerves. People who give up on our team in the early innings get on my nerves. If these people knew anywhere as much as they think they know, they would be in the dugout, not whining on a forum.

I’m not saying you can’t say what you want, but you have to own it. If you’re going to post nothing but negativity and constantly criticize every move, don’t be surprised when some of that negativity is thrown back at you and you get criticized too. If you’re going to dish it out, you have to be willing to take it.

*I’m not talking about you, personally. The collective “you”. All of us are guilty at times. Own your words, good or bad.

 

A good exchange here. I can't help adding one point of context that is important to me. Gators are among a tiny group of the very best college baseball programs. I can't really name anyone beyond the top SEC programs. We fall into the embarrassment of riches category.

Gators were a successful program before Sully arrived, but have been the best over his tenure. He has only won a single championship so far, but he has played for it three times, counting this year, and has been in the CWS more than anyone else in that time.

I want to win every time we take the field, but I'm happy to win more than everybody else and I want them to win even more games than they already do. I just don't care to see harsh criticism. It doesn't make much sense. A win tonight will be extra nice, but I'm certain I'll be happy heading in to next season.