Game 53: Three Up, Three Down.
Rock bottom.
I’m less mad than sad.
In the moment, sure, there’s anger and frustration and, at times, utter disbelief. But the abiding emotion, the visceral feeling that pervades the story unfolding before us, is a deepening sadness.
They’re just not good enough to outplay a lifelessness. It’s in them, without question, to be better than this. There’s all kinds of track record to support all those national declarations over the winter that the Rangers — in large part because of what was sure to be a resurgent offensive attack — were poised to be back in contention in 2025.
I turned today’s game off during what felt squarely like the worst inning of the season, the slow-leak bottom of the sixth. I could think of several things I’d rather be doing, so I chose one of them.
Today gave me clarity. I’ve been promising (and whiteboarding) a big-picture story lately, a zoomed-out view of what has inexplicably happened with this team, and what could be next as a result.
Let me get this gamer out of the way, and finish up tomorrow morning’s Hops. Then it’s on to the bigger thing.
Now, courtesy of Saturday afternoon’s game, I have added clarity on that one.
Three Up, Three Down from Chicago (AL) 10, Texas 5.
