Rays' World Series loss doesn't remove the cathartic reality of surprising 2026 season

Just like that. It's all over. The Tampa Bay Rays fell short of the ultimate prize, losing 4-1 in Game 5, and losing the World Series to the Milwaukee Brewers.

It's crushing. Those who root for the team are rightfully sad. It's the third time they've gotten closer and fallen short. We also don't know for sure when the next game will come, due to what's unfolding behind the scenes.

However, despite the glum atmosphere following the loss, this season should still get a positive nod. It didn't get the desired ending, but there is still plenty of good that came from the 2026 season.

It was still a run Tampa Bay needed

At this time last year, the Rays were in a weird place. They missed the postseason for the second straight year, and they didn't even have a home stadium. The Trop was in a state of uncertainty, and St. Petersburg had to get the roof fixed.

The Rays were also entering their first offseason under new ownership in 20 years. Expectations weren't high. To their credit, they did more than just defy expectations. They helped a community boost its morale.

During this season, they didn't just get their home since 1998 back. They also found out they will have a new home in Tampa. Nearly 20 years of drama concluded. This ensured that baseball will be in the Tampa Bay Area for at least the next few decades.

Much came together quickly. It was meant to be. A trip to the World Series only added to the magic. Just certainty for the future would have been enough.

Ensuring that certainty would have likely been harder if things didn't time out the way they did. Getting a stadium in 2027 would be a nightmare. Instead, it can be under construction while we learn how baseball will look in the future.

What also may help is that fans got one last fun win the night before. That helps ease the blow somewhat and makes it easier to just sit and digest it all.

So, while they missed the ultimate goal, it's hard to necessarily feel anything negative. This team and community have been through worse in recent years.

Maybe one day.

Maybe one day, the final out of the season will have the Rays spraying champagne. It just wasn't meant to happen yet.

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