Notwithstanding the usual carping from the usual carpers, the game was essentially lost when Josh Donaldson fielded that grounder in the 9th and threw to 1st.  He coulda got the runner @ home, and you could maybe give him a pass for taking the sure out.  His misplay was in not looking back Betts on 2nd, and thus allowing him to take 3rd on the throw.

So, now tying run's on 3rd, gotta bring the infield in, grounder cashes, tie game.

Donaldson blew it.  But it's another in a long season of examples of bad baseball from a team that has made poor defence its trademark.

This is why they're not in it, even though 84 wins is probably going to be all you need to get in.  

And yes, by all means, for sure, let's go another season with a team that is nowhere near good enough any more.  Tinkering is all that's needed, obviously.