This may ring hollow in the same division as the perennially-rebuilding Colorado Rockies, but there is nothing worse in sports than running tirelessly on the treadmill of mediocrity.
Winning is obviously the ultimate goal, and making the playoffs is at least a good barometer for success in any given season. Losing, while painful and agonizing over a 162-game slate, at least comes with the promise of high draft picks, top prospects, and frequent (sell-side) trades. If nothing else, both sides of the spectrum give fans and pundits plenty to discuss throughout a season.
Being mediocre, though, offers no such reprieves.