ARLINGTON - The Rangers went as long as they could in allowing Tim Lincecum to discover some semblance of his younger self.
They were willing to go a little longer, too.
What they couldn't do: Find a reliever in their major league bullpen, one of the few areas of the club functioning well, over whom he represented an upgrade. Nor could they honestly say he was the first reliever in line in the minors for a spot if one should arise.
And so the great attempt to resurrect Lincecum's career as a Rangers reliever after a year away from the game came to an end Tuesday.