The truth is, this team didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs, let along the playoff hunt. At no point in the season did any sane, rational person look at the Rangers and say, “You know, that’s a playoff-caliber team.”

The fact that they played a meaningful Game 162 was a testament to how bad the American League West was, not how good the Rangers were. Make no mistake about it, this team was not good. It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t good.

Any time you have a do-or-die game and you are forced to give the ball to MacKenzie Gore, you are in serious jeopardy. His only reason for having a major league rotation slot is his ability to strike out batters. He strikes out a lot of batters. He gives up a lot of runs. But he strikes out a lot of batters. He’s a competent number five starter, at best. 

Yesterday, in 2.1 innings, he wasn’t able to strike out a single batter. His only superpower failed him.

The Rangers followed with a parade of tired, sorry arms. Six relievers in all. In the end, they lost 6-4, ended the season 80-82, failing to make the playoff for the ninth time in the last ten seasons. For a team with the resources and markets size of the Rangers, that’s pitiful.

It’s the end of the season. Sadly, unless Rangers ownership changes, this isn’t the end of the losing.