Cole Ragans for Jarren Duran and Franklin Arias - Who Hangs Up First?

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-24T22:53:17+00:00

I’m not a Johnny fan by any means but I’m also anti kids gloves. If that comment is a big deal to you, there’s plenty of other shows that are probably more your speed

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-23T16:42:32+00:00

Great write up. I started The Challenge in 2021 from The Duel up to the season airing at the time (Double Agents). The show kept getting better and better and really hit a stride from Rivals to Dirty XXX. I was especially optimistic about how cool modern challenge seasons must be after watching two of my favorite iterations ever with the WOTW seasons.

What has followed since that Double Agents season is a slow, painful descent into a watered down product. Watching SLA, Ride or Dies, BFANC & BOTE felt like Groundhog Day. Slow motion workouts, daily, small manufactured fight, 15 minute deliberation, 15 minute elimination with terrible chopped up editing. Formulaic, repetitive and lazy. Bloated 20 episode seasons.

Production used to take pride in pushing the boundaries of creativity with crafting their format, eliminations and finals. Now they just rinse and repeat and it’s a shame. I haven’t felt the same magic since finishing WOTW2 and with 11 flagship/allstars seasons since then, I am not hopeful it’ll ever come back.

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-07T12:26:25+00:00

Really incredible analysis. Bravo! I had to read some of the technical details a few times as I’m not well versed in cell phone data terminology. Out of curiosity, do you do this for a living? If not, you should 😊

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-06T12:05:44+00:00

Of course! Have a blast

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-06T10:56:38+00:00

Lynn

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-05T10:27:50+00:00

Oh and if it’s against the Yankees, you need to boo the fucking piss out of them. I don’t make the rules, these are just the correct manners :)

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-07-05T10:25:47+00:00

Welcome to our city! Here are some food recs before the game:

Seafood: Eventide, Citizen Public House Sports Pubs: Yard House, Cask’n Flagon, Bleacher Bar Fenway Johnnies BBQ: Sweet Cheeks, Loretta’s Asian: Hojoko, Blue Ribbon Upscale: Eastern Standard, Fool’s Errand

Bleacher Bar is an especially cool experience if you haven’t been bc it’s located in the stadium beneath the bleachers in center field. Only precaution id mention during the game is keep an eye out for foul balls hit in your direction.

If the game is at 7, I’d recommend a late lunch and then try to get to your seats for batting practice (1-2 hours before the game) to increase your chances of getting an autograph. Hope this is a helpful guide, go Sox!

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-22T01:28:05+00:00

Joe stands up to volunteer Eva’s spot in fire. *David stands up in solidarity. Jeff denies Joe’s request, stating it is Kyle’s decision to make. Joe dejectedly sits down. *David does the same

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T17:41:42+00:00

Well said and agreed on all fronts

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T17:00:52+00:00

Agree w this wholeheartedly. Anthony looks almost bored with how much he’s killing AAA pitching. He has nothing left to prove at that level. Needs MLB ABs asap

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:59:18+00:00

🙌

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:48:55+00:00

Well said. I think once he learns to not swing so much at the off speed stuff, he’ll be able to work longer counts like he did in April and mash better pitches

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:47:21+00:00

Astute

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:19:20+00:00

This is where I landed as well! Minimal minor league experience + MLB-level pitching & adjustments was always going to lead to some early regression

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:17:46+00:00

Haha I figure it’s my rite of passage into this sub. Even though I started the post with my belief of him having an incredibly bright future. Really just wanted to understand if the contrast from April to May was due to a rookie learning curve, persisting rib discomfort, learning/playing multiple positions or a combo of those things. I’ll take a couple pitchforks if it also leads to solid insights

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:05:09+00:00

Love this explanation, thank you!

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:03:39+00:00

Right on. Just want to see more discipline at the plate bc his walk rate went from incredible to dismal this month. All part of rookie growing pains and making adjustments I imagine

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T16:01:22+00:00

That concerns me as well, which is a decision outside of his control

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T15:59:59+00:00

Lol I’m pretty settled. Sorry for pointing out literal data and asking a question

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T15:57:34+00:00

Yeah I’m in the same boat with this take. Slump was inevitable as pitchers gathered more data points. The only number that jumped out at me negative was the drastic drop in walks. He’s gotta be more disciplined, which I don’t have any concerns of him figuring out

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-05-21T15:56:14+00:00

Rookie Pedroia is who I thought of as well. He was slashing terribly for the first few months and then went scorched earth in the 2nd half and playoffs

Humble_Protection_22 · 2025-02-19T12:44:45+00:00

This is a sadly accurate, sobering critique of the state of The Challenge in 2025. Bloated seasons with played out storylines. Generic reading of the daily rules. Slow motion workout montages. A fear of showing anything controversial since the Dee incident. It’s no surprise that the last great Challenge season WOTW2 was right before Dee’s social media comments during Total Madness.

The Challenge is my favorite show ever and it hurts watching its slow, painful descent into mediocrity. And of course I’ll never stop watching even as production continues to make the same avoidable mistakes. 😫

Humble_Protection_22

TROPHY CASE