“You’re a daisy if you do!”
Surviving the AL West
The 2023 Houston Astros Regular Season Recap
This is a lawless and unruly land with battle hardened predators lurking about, ready to pounce on the weak and timid. A thin line between life and death faces you at every moment in this chaotic environment. No this isn’t Tombstone or Deadwood, THIS baseball godforsaken landscape belongs to the American League’s Wild Wild West Division. The returning World Series champion Houston Astros are attempting to become the first team in 22 seasons to win back to back titles, and if they succeed, one thing is certain, it will be truly earned. An extraordinary roster loaded with future Hall of Famers and All-Stars staggered through the summer staggering looking like they just stumbled out of the Juicebox Saloon. Now, can they prove they have an ever-steady shooting hand when high noon approaches?
MVP candidate King Kyle Tucker IS YOUR HUCKLEBERRY in a loaded outfield with the monster that is Yordan Alvarez, the Chomp Chas McCormick, and the professional hitting machine known as Michael Brantley. All are healthy and hitting the ball hard at the right time of the year. Mauricio Dubon played phenomenally at the start of the season at second base, stealing walk off hits like a bandit.
A repeat deadline pickup of Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez’s no hitter upside, and wonderful pitching by rookie standouts J.P. France and Hunter Brown are highlights in what has been a less-than-effective starting rotation. Christian Javier’s surprise regression is baffling, but he just struck out 11 batters in 5 innings on Wednesday in possibly his best outing of the year and has proven he can turn it on in the playoffs. (Just ask the Yankees and Phillies.) Still, the rotation—especially Hunter Brown—will need to pitch better down the stretch. Making that potential a reality will be the biggest post- season challenge. Last year, the Astros had so much quality starting pitching depth that they put Luis Garcia and José Urquidy in the bullpen in the playoffs. This year, it’s all hands on deck.
Yainer Diaz would be in the AL ROY conversation if he had played as many games as Gunnar Henderson, who’s crushing it in Camden. Don’t forget about our infield with Swaggy Alex Bregman, 2022 WS MVP Jeremy Pena, Jose Abreu, and our own Mr. October—Jose Altuve, who loves to hit big game dingers (Reggie agrees). This lethal lineup and tons of playoff experience still has me believing that the road to the World Series still comes through H-Town.
It wasn’t even a month ago that ole Dusty and the Good Guys went up I-45 and reminded that team from South Oklahoma (and the rest of the league) that they are the defending champs. They clubbed 16 homers and outscored the then division-leading Rangers 39-10 over a three game series sweep (BTW, the Silver Boot is not leaving the H anytime soon!). Since then, they've lost a series to the Oakland Athletics and another to the Kansas City Royals, two of MLB's worst teams—results consistent with the wild tradition of the Astros playing down to lesser opponents this season, but delivering some of their best ball against league leaders. Houston dominated Atlanta over three days in April, and followed that up by taking two out of three from the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays. Soon after, the Astros won a series in Baltimore by taking two of three against the Orioles. The Astros will be tough to beat in October; they just gotta get there.
But as the cards fell, they dropped two of three to the O’s in the not-so-comfy home confines of Minute Maid park where the Astros have played sub .500 ball on the season and are, honestly, one bad streak away from missing the postseason entirely. (Just when we were ready to give Yankees the business for missing the dance). However, as I sit here, my ‘Stros are still holding on to first place and ultimately have their playoff card in hand ready to be punched. They just need to tighten their boot straps and saddle up for a season-ending shootout at the AL West Corral.
With the Rangers and Mariners facing off seven times in the final 10 games, the Astros can gain a game on somebody each night if they take care of business. Houston has three home games remaining against lowly Kansas City, but that’s the same Royals team that took two of three from them a week ago in K.C. Still, that’s a series Houston should win. The final six games are on the road, where the Astros have played very well this year—posting a 46-29 away record. The Royals, Mariners, and Diamondbacks are all still fighting for their playoff lives and would love nothing more than to play spoiler. But Space City gunslingers are fully loaded and poised to tell the American League that Sheriff Tuve is coming. And he’s bringing hell with him, ya hear?!
Contributed by “Big” Dave Gebhardt