You win some, you lose some

Last week marked the end of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. In what has been called one of the most exciting series in recent years, the St. Louis Cardinals beat my favorite team, the Texas Rangers, 4 games to 3, to take the title of champion.

I have been a Texas Rangers fan since I was very young. I remember staying up late to watch their games on the west coast as I grew up, sometimes not going to bed until close to 12:30-1:00 in the morning. I remember Nolan Ryan hitting Robin Ventura, who charged the mound only to meet Ryan's fists time and time again. But up until the last couple of years, those were my best memories of my childhood team.

Last year was a magical ride. Texas won the American League West division, beat Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees to make it to their first World Series, only to lose in 5 games to the San Francisco Giants. This year, when they made it back, they did so as the favorite in the eyes of many.

Perhaps the most pivotal moments came in the 6th game of the series. Texas was ahead, 3 games to 2, and entered the bottom of the 9th inning leading St. Louis 7-5. St. Louis managed to get two men on base, but with two outs, the Texas pitcher got to a 1 ball, 2 strike count. One more strike, and Texas would be the champion.

Unfortunately, that last strike didn't happen. The St. Louis batter hit a 2 run triple, tying up the game. But then, it seemed like a second chance. Texas hit a 2 run home run in the top of the 10th inning to take a 9-7 lead. Once again, they simply had to get three outs and give up one or fewer runs. Once again, this time leading 9-8, St. Louis had two men on base, with their batter facing a 2 balls, 2 strikes count. Once again, Texas was one pitch away. And this time, St. Louis once again manged to get the tying run home.

The next inning, Texas couldn't score. When St. Louis came up to bat, their batter hit a home run to win the game. The series was tied, 3 games each. That set up a seventh game, winner take all.

I would like to say that Texas put up a good fight in that last game, but it seemed like losing the lead twice the previous day had just sapped everything out of them. They barely seemed to show up in a 6-2 loss. I have to admit that it stung for a couple of days. This was the first time Texas had a chance to win a championship. Before last year, the franchise had won one playoff game ever in its history. The team had made the playoffs only 3 times before.

The last two years have been great years to be a Texas Rangers fan. Their team and minor league system is set up to give them a great chance to make it back, and hopefully win, in the foreseeable future. But I do have to say that, as a fan, that inability to get strike three on two separate occasions will hang with me for a long time.