The Texas Rangers finished the 2012 season on a downward spiral that few have talked about. Throughout the first five months of the season, the Rangers have had little to worry about as they had the American League western division for the entire time.
The only time the Rangers were not in first place was in April. They were in second place when their record was 1-1 and it again a day later when the record was 2-1. Since then it's been a pretty smooth ride as they've led the Western division. Many baseball fans are in denial that the Texas Rangers had to play in the wild card game yesterday let alone that they were eliminated by the Baltimore Orioles.
Because of the new wildcard system, it has been severely overlooked the mighty collapse the Rangers had over the last two weeks of the season. Though the Oakland A's deserve much credit, the Rangers had a 5 1/2 game lead with ten to play. The Rangers lost seven of their last nine games to finish in second place where they hadn't been since the third game of the season. Yes the Rangers would've made the playoffs if there was not a second wildcard team, but their collapse should not go unnoticed.
There is no reason the Rangers collapse should not be put in the same category as the failures of the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves last September. Yesterdays loss to the Baltimore Orioles made it official: the Rangers are put in history books amongst the all-time September collapses. The only difference between the Rangers and a 1964 Phillies And the 2007 Mets is the fact that the Rangers had a game to win to avoid their place in history. Yesterday's loss puts them in a similar catagory, though it may fall a little short of being the biggest in history.
The only time the Rangers were not in first place was in April. They were in second place when their record was 1-1 and it again a day later when the record was 2-1. Since then it's been a pretty smooth ride as they've led the Western division. Many baseball fans are in denial that the Texas Rangers had to play in the wild card game yesterday let alone that they were eliminated by the Baltimore Orioles.
Because of the new wildcard system, it has been severely overlooked the mighty collapse the Rangers had over the last two weeks of the season. Though the Oakland A's deserve much credit, the Rangers had a 5 1/2 game lead with ten to play. The Rangers lost seven of their last nine games to finish in second place where they hadn't been since the third game of the season. Yes the Rangers would've made the playoffs if there was not a second wildcard team, but their collapse should not go unnoticed.
There is no reason the Rangers collapse should not be put in the same category as the failures of the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves last September. Yesterdays loss to the Baltimore Orioles made it official: the Rangers are put in history books amongst the all-time September collapses. The only difference between the Rangers and a 1964 Phillies And the 2007 Mets is the fact that the Rangers had a game to win to avoid their place in history. Yesterday's loss puts them in a similar catagory, though it may fall a little short of being the biggest in history.
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