I've been thinking, and reading all the forums about how X player played poorly, and Ron sucks as a manager Blah, Blah, Blah.

Those are all valid points, and they are definitely somewhat true in a lot of cases, but there is one point i think is playing a bigger role than anyone thinks, and in turn that has caused the players to struggle more.

That one thing is...fun, now I might just be totally crazy in saying this, and I know baseball at the level that they play isn't all about fun, It's about winning the game and ultimately a World Series title. Think back though to 2010 and 2011, everyone had written us off. We had a fluke in 2010 and wouldn't do it again in 2011, the players out there had nothing to lose, so when crunch time came they were just going out there trying to have some fun and win a few ballgames. The "Claw and Antlers" went crazy in 2010 and really gave the team an "identity" and something to fight with. You would have Beltre and Hamilton jumping around the dugout yelling and screaming after a big play. After a big hit a few of the guys would hop out of the dugout and jump up and down with whoever scored...they were having fun, that's what baseball is about.

It seems as though this year they had more expectations, and with that they didn't find the joy in winning games as it was just something "expected" of them. It would be like opening presents on Christmas, but already knowing what your getting so there really wouldn't be any surprise or as much joy. The Rangers lost the joy of the game. You could just see it in them, you didn't see wash jumping up and down like a lunatic in the dugout waving his arms around, you didn't see the players hooping and hollering after big plays. The game became a business to them, where they had to do this and that. It wasn't fun for them to play, and it wasn't fun to watch. That I believe is the ultimate demise of this team, we have had less talented ball clubs win the division with over a week left..It's time to get the old Rangers back.

well...this post blew up

Whose job is it to shape the team's character, personality, and culture? I think it is the manager and the team leaders. Time for Wash and MY to go.

If MY plays in 2013 as he did in August-September, I think most would agree that we would take that, he wasn't horrible during this stretch. I think that it is more than just one or two people that would make the difference to this team that's needed, maybe losing might be that difference though.

If you listen to half this board, you'd think we're in this position b/c Wash sat MY for a couple games throughout the year. Instead he should have gone Iron Man on us and put him in every game according to these guys.

I agree with the OP--expectations turned out to make huge difference on the psyche of this team.

We were too much like the Yankees this year almost. That's why I was glad we didn't get Pujols or Fielder. I was glad we got Darvish, but it was still a huge media splash, and this team was obviously expected to do great things. I know that's been said a thousand times, but still, don't ever underestimate the power of being the underdog.

I think not being an underdog anymore really did make a huge difference, but i wouldn't think that that would be the only thing that would "Take the fun" out of the game for players like Hamilton or Beltre, Andrus Kinsler. Those guys never looked like they were having fin this year.

Management has a decision to make about the Texas Rangers organization. Will we be a hungry, aggressive, talented group of kids with a few veterans or will we become the NY Skankees.

Fajita got it right, this organization has morfed into an organization and fan base with expectations that cannot afford to play for 'fun.'

If the organization goes the 'skankees way' I will find another team to follow. I, as a fan, have fallen into the 'expectations' mode and watching this team play and win 93 games has become too painful to watch another year like this year. I also feel that the current team as configured did not play for WASH so its time. WASH has served his purpose but the organization needs new direction on the field. Someone needs to call Tito.

There are good runs in this game that last 10 games, great runs that last 20 games. Oakland went on a 80 game run of greatness and that's not ALL on us , the manager or Face. I choose to give credit to them thou I'm still disappointed . my many years of coaching hs baseball I saw lots of great things and suffered some horrific losses, it's the beauty of this sport! I'm looking forward to tomorrow and will be there cheering for all the guys