Remember, these are just glorified exhibition games. They mean nothing. Relax. Don’t let your blood pressure rise. The Rangers 2025 playoff run is over. It’s all paperwork from here on out.

The most frustrating season, capped by the most frustrating trade deadline, came to an emotional end on Wednesday when the Rangers blew the lead in the ninth against Arizona.

Last night’s blown lead in Toronto, while ugly, is unessential. No need to agonize over why Bruce Bochy allowed Jacob deGrom to pitch only five innings. Or why he didn’t use a dominating Cole Winn for more than one inning. Or why he used Robert Garcia in any game when he had a lead.

Those were all before-Wednesday concerns. Back when the Rangers had slim hopes of making the playoffs. There are thirty-nine more games left on the schedule. These might be Bruce Bochy’s last thirty-nine games before retirement. Why would he stay. He came out of retirement with the promise the team would field a winner. They did that first year. Then, ownership got cheap and reneged on that promise. So, instead of giving Bochy, say, Pete Alonso to put in his lineup at first base, the Rangers were forced to give him Jake Burger. Instead of giving Bochy, say, David Bednar to close out games, the Rangers were forced to give him Luke Jackson, Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, and Phil Maton. Instead of giving Bochy, say, Teoscar Hernandez to write in his lineup card at DH, the Rangers were forced to sign Joc Pederson, a part-time platoon player at best.

There are thirty-nine games left. Don’t stress it. Relax. Watch the Rangers play out the season. After all, bad baseball is better than no baseball. And that will come soon enough. For Rangers fans. And for Bruce Bochy.

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