Why the long face, Rangers fans?

Yes, I know. The Rangers lost the World Series. But you did realize, when they advanced for the second straight year, this was a possibility, right? The other team's pretty good, too, y'know. Oh, OK, they were down to the last strike, TWICE. Yes, but you have to get 3. How many times have the Rangers themselves delivered big hits with 2 strikes? It happens, sometimes at the moment that's the most excruciating.

I understand the pain. But I am tired of the defeatism - the idea that this was a collapse, or a failure, the idea that this team will be forever altered, tainted, or destroyed. Game 6 was a game filled with mistakes, and the Cardinals capitalized on one more than the Rangers did to win. The Cardinals were fortunate. Had the Rangers won, THEY would have been fortunate. The Rangers had a hopeful but tenuous lead against a team that showed no signs of quitting. Game 6, like the entire Series, was a collection of prize-fighting punches, back-and-forth. St Louis got in the last punch of Game 6, punched back early in Game 7, punched again, and it was over. Had this occurred earlier in the Series, the Rangers might well have rebounded, but there's no rebound from Game 7.

As for the future, haven't we heard that this team is poised to contend for years to come? Just imagine if Derek Holland continues his growth to the top of the rotation. Imagine if Neftali Feliz thrives back in a starting role. Imagine if they're able to trade for a big arm (Clayton Kershaw?). Either way, this team will be fine. These guys showed more guts than any team I've ever seen, all season long. Had they gotten a timely rainout Friday, they might've had no ill effects in Game 7. I know the stats are against a third World Series, but weren't these guys not even supposed to be here once, let alone twice? Perhaps the third time's a charm, and perhaps that third time is as early as next year.

No matter what, I refuse to believe this team failed. They gave us another thrill ride for a second straight season, and their best season ever. It ended in excruciatingly disappointing fashion, but it's not failure. Failure is teams like the Cubs and Mets, with huge payrolls but without any meaningful games in September. Failure is the Houston Astros, losing 100 games. Failure is the team down the street winning one playoff game in the past 15 seasons, getting throttled on Sunday Night Football. Failure was trading for Justin Thompson, signing Chan Ho Park, signing A-Rod for too much money, trading for Brandon McCarthy, trading away Adrian Gonzalez...pretty much anything that happened while Tom Hicks owned the team. We're not quite 2 years into the ownership of Nolan Ryan, et al, and we have 2 American League pennants to show for it. This is a disappointing end to a fabulous season taking place in a magical time in Rangers history. I, for one, am still enjoying the ride.