What a way to end the 2025 MLB season for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers' bullpen could not keep a lead in the 10th inning as Bryan Rocchio's three-run homer in the bottom of the inning gave Cleveland a 9-8 win and the American League Central Division title, too.
For Sunday, there was a little bit of reflection taking place from Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
"It's funny, as a manager, you go in every year thinking you're going to get there [to the postseason] and you're going to win," Bochy told Rangers reporter Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "I think we all feel like we underachieved because we believed we would get there this year. We didn't get there. So that means we underachieved."
Was the pitching that bad for Texas this season? Hardly. The Rangers finished with an MLB-best 3.47 ERA. This marks the first time that the Rangers have ever led MLB in that category. Texas has a really bright future with starters like Jack Leiter to take the mound next season.
But the Rangers offense was not able to provide much of a punch. It didn't get better when Bret Boone came aboard as the team's new offensive coordinator. Boone came on with zero experience. Things didn't get better as the season wore on, though.
Bochy wasn't disappointed by the type of culture that was developed in the Rangers clubhouse.
"I'm a big believer in chemistry and the culture in the clubhouse," Bochy said. "I think it just creates the environment that you need for guys to play unselfishly and come together as one. Sure you see clubs where there's players that don't like each other. I've been on them. The clubhouse every year takes up a life of its own, and I think this year, it's been fine."
Bochy has World Series and postseason managerial experience. But he's been a manager for a long, long time. His future, while it shouldn't be in doubt, is with the Rangers. The team ownership might want to make a change at the top.
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young brought Bochy out of retirement in 2023 and, well, Texas fans know what happened that season. After that one, though, the Rangers have not returned to postseason play.
Bochy's contract ends after the 2025 MLB season. There's a chance that Bochy is let go at some point in the offseason.
If it does happen, Rangers fans can thank their lucky stars that Bochy helped bring a World Series championship to the Metroplex.