Rangers Miss Playoffs Again As Schumaker Takes Blame For 80-82 Finish

The Texas Rangers season ended on a Sunday afternoon with a record that hurts to read. The team finished 80-82, one game worse than the 81-81 clip they posted last year. This marks the third consecutive season the club has failed to qualify for the postseason. Rangers President of Baseball Operations Chris Young spoke to the fans on Monday about the pain of missing out. He told them, “I can’t say enough how disappointed I am that you all are not watching playoff baseball this week with your Texas Rangers in it,” according to Yahoo Sports.

The biggest story here is the missed chance in a weak division. The American League West was practically begging for a winner, yet Texas could not claim the crown. Manager Skip Schumaker knows exactly where the fault lies. At the end of the day, the blame falls on the Rangers for failing to take advantage of a depleted division. It is not an excuse to blame the schedule when the division was so open.

Star players like Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, and Jacob deGrom all had down years. Injuries also played a huge role as the roster rotated through the Injured List constantly. Schumaker admitted the team simply wasn’t good enough on the road or against teams they should have beaten. He took full ownership, stating, “That’s a reflection on me, I’ve gotta figure out what to do this off-season and look in the mirror to move this thing forward.”

Since the Rangers are out, fans need a guide on who to root for in the Wild Card round. Per Yahoo Sports, the White Sox get a 5/5 rating because former associate manager Will Venable now runs the team. It is a great reason to cheer for a Chicago squad. The Phillies and Braves both get a 3/5 rating since there is no real grudge against them. The Astros get a flat 0/5. That part is obvious to any fan in Texas.

The Yankees get a 1/5, which is barely a nod. The Red Sox are a 2/5, as they are the best AL option besides the White Sox. The Cubs get a 3.5/5 because Pete Crow-Armstrong is fun to watch. The Padres get a 3/5 as they try to prove they can make a real run. It is a strange time for the fanbase to pick sides in other cities while their own team sits at home.

The organization held an end-of-season press conference on Monday at Globe Life Field. Young, General Manager Ross Fenstermaker, and Schumaker all faced questions about the failure. The group of guys in the clubhouse will not be the same next year. Schumaker noted, “There’s too good of talent in this room for us to fall short and we’ve got to figure out a way to get back.”

Fans are left to wonder if the 2026 season was the biggest missed opportunity in a long time.