Bitter pill for this Astros fan having see his team losing in the World Series as all four losses came at home. Astros/Nationals series made history as the road team won in the entire 7 game series. It proved there's no such thing as home field advantage anywhere. The road team outscored home team 49-14. Nationals can only muster total of 3 runs in their three World Series home games. Astros offensive power was shut down in their final two home games despite many chances to score more runs.
Big "what if" is what if Astros put Gerit Cole on the mound in relief instead Will Harris. Will Astros hold on to the 2-0 lead? Cole testing free agent market and who knows if Astros drop money on him. Justin Verlander still couldn't win World Series game. This was Astros best starting pitching core along with happy homer hitters and got no ring out of it. I said the same for Dodgers when I felt that was one of best roster they had in and couldn't come up big as well.
Washington Nationals surprised everyone beating two of top MLB teams of the season in the playoffs on their way to title. Many wrote them off after Bryce Harper left for Phillies claiming their title run is over. The bullpen known to be very shaky at times. Instead they made playoff run getting the wildcard spot and having beat the Brewers to get in NLDS. They eliminated heavily favorite Dodgers in five games and swept Cardinals in NLCS before taking on another heavily favorite Astros to the distance and winning it. Stephen Strasburg was unstoppable on the mound. Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon provided offensive spark. Howie Kendrick two homeruns in postseason were game winning clutches. Max Scherzer bounced from shaky game 1 despite a victory and being scratched from game 5 for back troubles showed up for game 7 ready to win it. Starter Patrick Corbin came off the bullpen to help keep the team in the game. Manager Dave Martinez emptied the tank entire run to the World Series. At the end Washington Nationals came on top just when many thought team's title run is over. With Rendon being a free agent and question loom over Strasburg opting out the Nationals able squeeze one last playoff run for World Series title.
The one player who won't be getting Nationals World Series ring is Bryce Harper. He might be counting his big money but really missed out on that ring big time.
After the A's lost... the Nationals and Astros were the top two teams I was rooting for. So glad things played out the way they did. The whole seven games... and seven road game wins made this WS extra special.
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