Hahaha no I’m just kidding. I can’t say that with a straight face. It’s such a shame to see the Yankees go an entire decade without making a World Series. Couldn’t be my Red Sox. I was really broken up when Aroldis Chapman choked and gave up that game winning home run to Altuve. Not just because I picked the Astros in six. Not just because I hate the Yankees. But also because it couldn’t have happened to a worse guy. I mean this guy literally shot a gun eight times and choked his girlfriend in an argument. Disgusting. Yes, it happened years ago, and he was suspended for it (25 games what a joke). The point is Aroldis Chapman shouldn’t have been allowed to pitch in this game, or any other for that matter, but he served up a bomb to the smallest guy on the field.
There was a lot of talkabout Gleyber Torres, but Altuve was yet gain immense in this series. He was named the ALCS MVP, and is probably the best position player in baseball in the last five years. Altuve, Brantley, Springer and Correa all had big moments in this series, and it seemed like every time momentum could shift in the later innings, Houston made a big play.
The Yankees actually outplayed Houston for large parts of the series. Their issue was an inability to perform in the biggest moments. Aaron Judge was lifeless the entire series, striking out ten times in 6 games, and driving in only two runs, both in a game two loss. Giancarlo Stanton went missing after hitting a home run in game 1, and wasn’t even in the lineup in Game 6 (Just a reminder, you’re still on the hook for another 8 years and 244 million Yankees fans). Gary Sanchez, with a career average under .200 in the playoffs, was not good defensively, and the Yankees just didn’t do enough when it mattered to win. Kudos to them on a very good season, but yet again they came up short when it matters most. Big thank you to the Astros for providing the world a great service. People like this can’t win a championship.
The NLCS was a bloodbath, with the Nats dominating St. Louis in every facet of the game. There were incredible pitching performances by Anibal Sanchez, Scherzer and Strasburg, prior to the Cards’ implosion in game 4. This Nats team has a stacked rotation, and has a good lineup, and will be a definite test for the juggernaut Astros.
That being said, this Houston team is excellent. All of their hitters are exceptionally disciplined and will wait for a pitcher to make a mistake. Aaron Boone’s bullpen was taxed considerably by the time of game 6, and if that happens to the Nats it will get ugly. The Nats bullpen has been good in these playoffs, but it is nowhere near as strong as that of the Yankees. In order for them to win the series, their starters will need to have a similar performance against the Astros lineup as against the Cards.
While I don’t see that level of dominance happening again, I think that the Nats pitching will give Houston a hell of a series, and some timely hitting from guys like Howie Kendrick and Ryan Zimmerman will help out stars like Soto, Turner and Rendon. But as with the previous series, there are very few spots where I would take a Nats player over an Astros player in the lineup. The rotations are similarly excellent, and the bullpens do both have question marks- though I would give an advantage to Houston. I think the only Nats position player that I would take over their Houston counterpart is Soto. And even that is tough given what Brantley did last round. Third base between Bregman and Rendon is a wash, and will be the best matchup of the series. One thing to look for between these two teams going forward is the contract situations of Cole and Rendon. Both guys are going to get PAID in the offseason, and there is a good chance that neither will remain with their current clubs. But for now, this World Series will be a good one. It will be competitive, and if you like pitching, this will be your series.
Prediction: Astros in Six
MVP: Alex Bregman
PS. It must be said that it was good to see the other closer who was suspended for domestic abuse (Houston’s Roberto Osuna) blow a lead in the 9th of game 6. Not only because I am an unbiased baseball journalist, but because these guys should not be allowed to play baseball and make millions of dollars after this.
Also once more for the people in the back, let’s hear it Papi:
