Nothing compares to being within one strike of winning a World Series – twice – only to lose. But Rangers fans watching this MLB postseason are being served a reminder that baseball’s cruelty plays no favorites.
Let’s be honest, some Rangers fans stopped paying attention to baseball in May when Prince Fielder underwent season-ending neck surgery. The drastic declines in TV ratings and attendance prove that. And, in a way, the 95-loss season is a blessing.
Compared to what has happened to the Dodgers, Angels and Nationals, it was a relatively smooth and painless letdown.
The Angels had the best record in baseball, only to be unceremoniously swept by the base-stealing Royals. Then yesterday the Nationals and Dodgers, heavy favorites in their series, were eliminated in excruciatingly painful fashion.
Clayton Kershaw, sure to be the NL’s MVP, surrendered his first 3-run homer of the season and lost for the second time in four days after losing only three times the previous six months. His plight reminds me of Dirk Nowitzki’s in 2007. Regular-season MVP turned playoff goat. And the Nationals lost an elimination game in San Francisco in which they coughed up three runs via walk, infield dribbler and wild pitch.
So when Rangers fans look back at 2014 it will be viewed as an abject failure. But take heart, it could’ve been a lot more painful.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
