Rangers' season ends in catastrophic fashion: What's next?

When I woke up Saturday morning, I couldn't help but stare at the ceiling and ask the baseball Gods a few questions, just to be sure I had everything straight.

Did the Rangers lose to the Orioles in a one-game Wild Card playoff with Yu Darvish on the hill at home against Joe Saunders? Did Texas also squander a four-game lead in the American League West with six games left? Could the Rangers bats only muster one run against Saunders (don't mean to pick on the guy, but come on...)?

Unfortunately, yes, yes and well ... yes.

Texas Rangers' worst nightmare comes true in regular-season finale

I remember a time not too long ago when scoring runs wasn't as difficult as sprinting the opposite way up an escalator in less than 10 seconds (but seriously, if you can do that, mad props). I also remember a time when opposing hitters didn't tee off with frozen ropes and towering blasts on a regular basis.

I remember a time when the Texas Rangers looked like a World Series contender.

That time was two weeks ago, but it feels like two years ago.

We've been spoiled (kind of) as Rangers fans

I've read quite a few online comments from fans lately that the Texas Rangers are far from a great baseball team. The offense is inconsistent. The starting pitching is not elite. The bullpen picks inopportune times to blow up.

These are Rangers fans saying this stuff, too. OK, so perhaps Texas doesn't always have the appearance of a World Series contender.

For the last three years, these fans have been spoiled by a pretty doggone solid baseball team.