Pierzynski familiar with just missing playoffs

ARLINGTON -- The margin of error has shrunk over the week for the Rangers to grab a Wild Card spot. The Rays and Indians won six straight games entering Thursday, and despite the three-game sweep over the Astros, the Rangers gained just half a game on the Indians for the second Wild Card.

If the standings hold firm after Sunday's games, A.J. Pierzynski could possibly go through his third season with a 90-win club that didn't play postseason games, an experience he doesn't want to happen.

"It's tough, but at the end of the year you can always look back and think about this game or that game or this at-bat or that at-bat," Pierzynski said. "It's a hard way to go through the offseason, but hopefully it doesn't happen."

As a member of the Giants in 2004, Pierzynski went 91-71 but didn't make the playoffs. The White Sox went 90-72 in 2006 following their World Series season and finished third in the American League Central to miss the postseason. The Rangers were 87-71 before Thursday's game against the Angels, sitting a game behind the Indians for the final Wild Card spot with four games left to play.

"It's still a successful year, but at the end of the day the goal is to get to the playoffs and win the World Series," Pierzynski said. "There's only one team that's happy at the end of the year."