1
What Taro said.
But more losses we can describe as "well-played, could've gone either way" won't cut it anymore. More of those and we will be saying wistfully during the offseason, "The M's may not have made the playoffs but they played really well." Or we might put it another, less complimentary way: "SIXTEEN years (and counting) out of the playoffs."
What's Yogi Berra's famous quote? "It ain't over 'til it's over." Well let's just put it this way. "When it's almost over, it's almost over. You'd better kick it in gear."