Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone! This is a much long overdue post of 2022 World Series champions Houston Astros. Why would I post something that happened six weeks ago? I tried to put words in it, but it kept going blank. The truth is, I couldn't put words into a fan's ecstasy of his favorite team winning the World Series. When I take a look at this team you can never ever count them out ever. Astros are already driven by opposition dislike that they channel it into motivation. Whatever adversary comes at them they tackled it head on finding ways to fill in the gaps. It started before the season when Carlos Correa left in free agency. Team plugged rookie Jeremy Pena in his spot. Very quickly he made fans forget about losing Correa as he went to have amazing rookie season from the start of the season to the end of the World Series netting himself Rookie of the Year and World Series MVP. Team's ace Justin Verlander, coming from TJ surgery and being out for a year and half season, quieted doubters as he never lost a step on the mound leading the league ERA and winning Cy Young award. Alex Bregman started the season off slow, but bounce back in the middle of the season end in a solid high note. Offensive contributor Michael Brantley was lost for the entire season for a shoulder injury during the middle of the season. The team worked their way around with Chas McCormick filling in his spot in left field while Yordan Alvarez is plugged in DH role. Speaking of Yordan, he and Kyle Tucker provided 1-2 punch in the lineup. Jose Altuve went on a huge slump during the playoffs only to break out of it at right time at game 4 of ALCS against New York Yankees. When Yulieski Gurriel got hurt and pulled from the game 5 of World Series due to injury, Trey Mancini, who the Astros picked up around the trade deadline, filled in for him at first base. He made, not only, inning ending, but one of game saving plays snagging a line drive off Kyle Schwarber preventing potential runs from scoring. That same game in the bottom of the 9th inning, another game-saving play made when Chas McCormick (who took over injured Michael Brantley spot during middle of the year) caught a deep fly ball from J.T. Realmuto ending potential threat from the Phillies. There's the pitching as they formed a solid starting rotation core with Framber Valdez breaking out on his own along Christian Javier, Luis Garcia, and Jose Urquidy. Speaking of Christian Javier he started both of the team's combined no-hitter games this season. This despite not having starter Lance McCullers, Jr. for most of the season due to injury. When McCullers returned he pitched decent in 8 starts. The middle relief no longer became questionable with the core of Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero, Ryne Stanek, and Hector Neris holding the lead before turning it over to Ryan Pressly closing it out. The team proved naysayers wrong and became a case of be careful what you wish for or you might get it. When Yankees fans chanted on wanting the Astros in ALCS, they swept them badly. When Yankees manager Aaron Boone complained about the roof being open at Minute Maid Park causing a potential homerun to become fly out, Chas McCormick and Jeremy Pena hit a homerun in the open air confines of Yankees Stadium. Phillies fans, not only demanded Astros in the World Series, but poke the bear going after Astros super fan and philanthropist Mattress Mack. Astros responded with three straight series clinching wins as well combined no-hitting the Phillies. It's fitting the one of final runs Astros scored in the season when Yordan Alvarez turned Jose Alvarado into Mitch Williams sending a 3-run 450 feet homerun shot into center field of Minute Maid Park to give them the lead for good. Astros World Series championship gave them redemption and manager Dusty Baker a long overdue World Series ring as manager. Was this a magical season for the Astros? It's too easy say that. I will say this Astros season started with driven motivation for being branded the "bad guys" with some bad breaks in between and ended with Kirk Cousins-esence "You like that?!" moment.
After six weeks I finally puts words into this. How? I received my Christmas presents and I felt that ecstatic joy once the second the ball hit the glove for the final out of 2022 season clinching World Series championship.
I love having championship gear of my favorite team. Not pictured is the 10-card Topps Now Astros World Series set. Here to the 2022 World Series champions the Houston Astros!
As of this posting the team will be missing few players from the championship through free agency like Verlander, Aledmys Diaz, and Trey Mancini, as well searching for GM. They might not re-sign Yulieski who is a free agent. They re-signed Rafael Montero and kept all their coaches. For the team's first big free agency move they signed Jose Abreu. Meanwhile, former Astro Carlos Correa, who gambled on himself after a season with Twins, find his signing with New York Mets in potential limbo because of concerns from his physical.
