The Radio was talking about Smoltz despair with the Rangers and they even played his "sigh" after we won.

I think it was Bacsik who speculated the only thing he could figure out is Smoltz is bitter about teams "buying" a Championship, instead of building it. After winning the WS in '95, they lost to the NYY in'96. That was the year the NYY really started signing FAs.

Here was some of the supporting info I put together for the tl dr crowd:
1996
1995 Payroll Braves: $45.2M went to $47.4M in 1996
1995 Payroll NYY: $46.6M went to $52.2M in 1996.

In 1997, the Braves lost to a payroll inflated Marlins in the NLCS (WS Champs):
1996 Marlins: $30.0M to $47.7M in 1997
1996 Braves: $47.4M to $50.4M in 1997
Marlins would sell everything in what many called a "rent-a-team."

In 1998, the Braves lost to a Bochy led SDP team that went from $34.7M to $45M... who ultimately lost in the WS to the NYY.

In 1999, it was back to the NYY
Yanks in 1998: $63M to $88M in 1999
Braves in 1998: $59.5M to $75M in 1999

Smoltz pitched for Atlanta for 20 years (1988 to 2008)
Glavine pitched for Altanta for 17 years (1987 to 2002, 2008)
Maddux pitched for Atlanta for 11 years (1993-2003)

Additional Smoltz Post-Season info:

1991: Lost WS to Minn
1992: Lost WS to Toronto
1993: Lost NLCS to Philly
1994: -
1995: Won WS against Cle
1996: Lost WS to NYY
1997: Lost NLCS to Florida
1998: Lost NLCS to SDP - Bochy
1999: Lost WS to NYY
2000: -
2001: Lost NLCS to Ari
2002-2005: Lost NLDS to SFG, ChC, Hou, Hou

Smoltz teams went 1-5 in the WS and would play against a variety of payroll inflated "bought" teams built solely to win a Championship. He probably doesn't like the idea that we brought in a ton of high-prized FAs.

To which I say, "Tough *****"

He is probably upset his Braves bounced early, as well.

Big Time Timmy Jim

2011 was devastating for me. Definitely the worst sports moment of my life.

Mr. October has company. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/ywJPlemoAO

— MLB (@MLB) November 1, 2023

WestTexAg12 said:

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DeangeloVickers said:

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November 1, 2010 Bruce Bochy won the World Series on the road off a 3-1 series lead, beating the Texas Rangers

13 years later, TO THE DAY, he has a chance to do it WITH the Texas Rangers https://t.co/JBzzZgpGZ5

— lynzie ✭ (@lynziekate) November 1, 2023

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I forgot how much I hated Lincecum

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For a brief period of time though he was as good as any pitcher in the history of the game. There was a period of about 25 or so starts from 2008 into 2009 where he had a sub-2.0 ERA and a WHIP around 0.8. Basically his best career stretch was surpassed the modern era only by prime Pedro Martinez.

And then less than 3 years later he wasn't even a serviceable starter anymore with an ERA above 5. Odd career.

His delivery caught up to him

ElephantRider said:

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2011 was devastating for me. Definitely the worst sports moment of my life.

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I think for me it's still the 2006 NBA Finals, only because nobody will ever convince me that series wasn't crooked. You can literally pinpoint the exact moment in time when the entire officiating in that series changed.

shack009 said:

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Infection_Ag11 said:

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ElephantRider said:

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2011 was devastating for me. Definitely the worst sports moment of my life.

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I think for me it's still the 2006 NBA Finals, only because nobody will ever convince me that series was crooked. You can literally pinpoint the exact moment in time when the entire officiating in that series changed.

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Yeah they were painful in different ways. In 2011, we were 1 strike away and had thought we won Game 6 off Freese's bat. Instantly soul crushing. Mavs-Heat was just more a demoralizing 2 week slog and slow-cooker beatdown as D-Wade got every call and shot 18 FTs per game.

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It was the foul call on Wade at around the six minute mark with Dallas up I think 12. Six minutes away from being up 3-0 and the series being over, to losing 4 straight.

Adolis spoke to the team prior to Game 4.

Even out of the lineup, he made an impact. pic.twitter.com/rqrpAm4txx

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 1, 2023

Voice Of Reason 11 said:

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Mr Gigem said:

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For some reason during this postseason, I haven't really been able to really celebrate these wins. Even the walkoff in Game 1. I smiled, hugged my wife, then went to the postgame reception to enjoy some food and drinks.

I guess I see it as there has been so much work put in up to this point, and the job's not finished yet. Maybe once the deal is done, I can exhale and celebrate properly.

Baseball has always been number one in my life. I consider myself lucky to be in the position that I'm in. And doubly lucky that I have a partner in life who is just as passionate about baseball as I am. She jokes (I think) that if I ever leave the Rangers that she will divorce me.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game tonight. I'm sure I will be a wide range of emotions as we hopefully close this thing out. I like our chances with Evo on the mound and the motivation these guys seem to be playing for - Adolis, Mad Max, deGrom.

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I've kind of been the same. 2011 WS loss was soul crushing. When I realized the Rangers weren't going back to the World Series anytime soon. My interest in baseball as a whole dropped. And then I started to get kind of into it again and then the Bautista home run happened. I've never followed a baseball season as closely as this one and I feel like I'll be able to enjoy baseball a lot more again if the demons of 2011 are finally put away.

I grew up a San Antonio Spurs fan and they had some soul crushing losses. The Derek Fisher buzzer beater and choking the 2013 finals away, but in both cases the Spurs came back the next year to win the title. The 2011 loss is the only heartbreak loss that has never been resolved in my sports fandom and feels like it has lingered forever. If we can win tonight it will be the most satisfying sport's championship I've gotten to experience as a fan.

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Yep. 2011 broke me. I followed the Rangers religiously through some bad years for a long time before that. In 2012, we had our first kid and then Johnny happened. I just couldn't get back into the grind of baseball after that monumental letdown and my attention being pulled to something that didn't sting so bad. Over the last decade or so, I've kept up with standings here and there and watched the playoffs and such, but I didn't start following again in earnest until I made a point to do so last fall after stumbling onto the offseason thread. You guys helped bring the joy of baseball back for me. Thank you for that. I've missed it so much.

Oh, and like so many others, I'm not getting my hopes up until that last out is in the glove. This team needs to exercise that 2011 demon.

What's going on in here, you boys ready to see how baseball go tonight?

Another Dallas sports-palooza tonight. Last time that happened was... Monday.

Don't f'in care if the nation is watching, tonight, Rangers fans get a chance to do something we've never done....

Also, Astro fans should love this... If the Rangers pull this off, it will have taken them LESS years than it took Houston in the history of their franchise to win their first (thanks Sandler for that little tidbit).

Roger Kint said:

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Voice Of Reason 11 said:

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Mr Gigem said:

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For some reason during this postseason, I haven't really been able to really celebrate these wins. Even the walkoff in Game 1. I smiled, hugged my wife, then went to the postgame reception to enjoy some food and drinks.

I guess I see it as there has been so much work put in up to this point, and the job's not finished yet. Maybe once the deal is done, I can exhale and celebrate properly.

Baseball has always been number one in my life. I consider myself lucky to be in the position that I'm in. And doubly lucky that I have a partner in life who is just as passionate about baseball as I am. She jokes (I think) that if I ever leave the Rangers that she will divorce me.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game tonight. I'm sure I will be a wide range of emotions as we hopefully close this thing out. I like our chances with Evo on the mound and the motivation these guys seem to be playing for - Adolis, Mad Max, deGrom.

---

I've kind of been the same. 2011 WS loss was soul crushing. When I realized the Rangers weren't going back to the World Series anytime soon. My interest in baseball as a whole dropped. And then I started to get kind of into it again and then the Bautista home run happened. I've never followed a baseball season as closely as this one and I feel like I'll be able to enjoy baseball a lot more again if the demons of 2011 are finally put away.

I grew up a San Antonio Spurs fan and they had some soul crushing losses. The Derek Fisher buzzer beater and choking the 2013 finals away, but in both cases the Spurs came back the next year to win the title. The 2011 loss is the only heartbreak loss that has never been resolved in my sports fandom and feels like it has lingered forever. If we can win tonight it will be the most satisfying sport's championship I've gotten to experience as a fan.

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Yep. 2011 broke me. I followed the Rangers religiously through some bad years for a long time before that. In 2012, we had our first kid and then Johnny happened. I just couldn't get back into the grind of baseball after that monumental letdown and my attention being pulled to something that didn't sting so bad. Over the last decade or so, I've kept up with standings here and there and watched the playoffs and such, but I didn't start following again in earnest until I made a point to do so last fall after stumbling onto the offseason thread. You guys helped bring the joy of baseball back for me. Thank you for that. I've missed it so much.

Oh, and like so many others, I'm not getting my hopes up until that last out is in the glove. This team needs to exercise that 2011 demon.

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I feel like I wrote this myself. Same thing here, even having my first kid in 2012. Now I get to experience this with my two boys who are now 8 and 11. In the past 5-6 years I've just hoped the Rangers would give me the sports fix I needed until college football. I've hardly thought about football this month thanks to the Rangers and Jimbo.

2011 was so hard because it happened twice.

One strike away from a world series TWICE.

First time, Nellie forgets to how to play outfield. Hamilton saves the day. Boom again.

Gut wrenching.

To this day my heart still hurts when I think about it.

If they can close this one out, I might just have me a sports cry.

Jankowski will be a free agent. Wouldn't mind him coming back next year if it works out:

Got to chat with Travis Jankowski on his various contributions to this club; on and off the field.

Take a listen to the ultimate utility guy for the Rangers! #GoAndTakeIt | #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/8VixMZVDlo

— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) October 30, 2023

Love this team

Weird. I have it on good authority that Garcia cares nothing about the team and only about himself.

Especially with his blatant steroid use

Rangers starting lineup for World Series Game 5, November 1 at Arizona pic.twitter.com/A6UtCd2g3u

— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) November 1, 2023

Alright I'm headed downtown! See y'all at the ballpark!

Mr Gigem said:

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Alright I'm headed downtown! See y'all at the ballpark!

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Wife and I are going to GLF for the watch party. Can't make it to PHX, so this'll have to do. BTHO D-Backs!