ST. LOUIS (Reuters) ? The Texas Rangers tried to digest their seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series while vowing to give it a run once again in 2012.
For the second straight year, the Rangers won the American League pennant but faltered in the Fall Classic.
"We just came up one game short," Rangers pitcher Mike Adams said. "This was the most fun I've ever had in my baseball career. It was a tremendous run.
"We have a great team. But we didn't achieve what we wanted to. Hopefully we can come back with the same enthusiasm, the same hunger and get back here next year and defy the odds."
The Rangers, looking for the first World Series title in their 51-year existence, lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3, dropping the final two games at a raucous Busch Stadium.
"We're a very good team," said designated hitter Michael Young. "We'll be a team this off-season and we'll be a team when we show up to camp.
"I don't see us needing to make changes. This is a championship-caliber team here and knowing what kind of guys we have, we'll show up ready to roll in Arizona (for spring training)."
The Rangers had the second-best record in the American League and rolled through the playoffs to reach the World Series for the second straight season.
Texas lost to the San Francisco Giants in five games a year ago and this year squandered several golden opportunities to win the title.
OUTLINING PLANS
Twice the Rangers were within one strike of winning Game Six and claiming the championship but ultimately lost 10-9 in 11 innings. The Cardinals' David Freese launched a 429-foot home run to end the game and force a winner-take-all finale.
"This is a really competitive group," said Young. "In time, this thing will slip out of our minds. We'll come back committed. Committed to each other, like we are.
"This is a great group of guys. We don't need to make changes. We just need to keep rolling."
Just minutes after the Cardinals' 6-2 victory Friday in the deciding game of the World Series, Rangers manager Ron Washington began outlining plans for next season.
The players emerged from the meeting looking ahead.
"We've got to step it up again," said Rangers left-hander Derek Holland. "We've got to set the bar even higher now. We're already preparing for next year.
"The next step is winning the whole thing. We made it to the World Series twice. We need to go and take care of business. Third time's a charm.
"Hopefully we can get back there again. We're going against history now. Not many teams have gone two years in a row and not make it and come back a third time and win it."
(Editing by Mark Meadows)
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