This period between the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs is rather strange. It reminds one of the All Star break. Everyone is flying forward at full speed, pauses for a few days and then hits the ground running again. This pause and a little research has resulted in today’s post.
The marathon of a baseball season is over with the Astros setting a team record with 107 wins, which also happens to be more than any other team in the MLB. The marathon began 6 months ago last Saturday and now begins with a series (hopefully) of three mad dashes to the World Series trophy.
Fans are humans (we will ignore Oakland fans at this point). Humans by nature are pessimistic. Therefore, as any logic professor will tell you, fans are pessimistic. So, this post is a public service for those who worry deeply about our local 9 (or local 25).
The current situation concerning the Astros’ All Star shortstop Carlos Correa has been a head-scratcher. Health problems have always been a concern for the super talented player dating back to his short time in the minors, but the last season and a half has changed the nature of the concerns towards skepticism and suspicion.
First of all, apologies to Edwin Starr and his Vietnam anti-war anthem. Good song. WAR the statistic, I am not so sure.
The Astros clinched their 3rd straight AL West Title on Sunday and 4th playoff spot in 5 seasons, but it did not seem to inspire a lot of jumping up and down from the legion of Astro fans on this blog.
A tie is not likely to occur in the AL Cy Young race. The rules are as follows:
When you have been watching baseball since the mid-1960’s every new player reminds you of someone from the past. Justin Verlander might remind you of a bigger version of Nolan Ryan, reinventing himself (and improving) at an age when many players hang it up. Michael Brantley might make one think of a David Justice, someone who is just a professional hitter and solid player.
