ESPY’S
Houston Astros Win Best Team At 2018 ESPYs
Well the 2018 ESPY for best team goes to the Houston Astros. They beat out other teams such as the Golden State Warriors, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Eagles. If you ask me, this was the right choice. Yes those other teams are great, but I think the Astros are awesome. They won their first championship in the team history. The team has been around since 1962. I know the Caps also got their first cup, but the Astros had to wait longer. The Eagles also had an NFL Championship before the Super Bowl was a thing. Today I will look back on how the Houston Astros got here, 2017 World Series Champs.
The Not So Good Old Times
A lot of people forget about this, but until 2013, the Houston Astros were in the National League Central. There were only 4 teams in the A.L. West, and six in the N.L. Central. I remember my first baseball game when I was 4. It was Cubs vs Astros in 2007. The Cubs walked off 3-2 in 13 innings. Even I knew the Cubs sucked in 2007, but the Astros were even worse. Always finishing an the basement. As a Cub fan I could always say, “At least we beat the Astros in the Central.”
Astros Move to the AL
So in 2013, in a move to even the divisions, the Houston Astros were moved to the AL to get five teams in each division. This is when I think the move to champs was started. In 2012 the Astros drafted Carlos Correa, a key piece in the 2017 team. The year before, 2011, they drafted George Springer, the 2017 Worlds Series MVP, and 2017 AL MVP Jose Altuve, IN THE SAME DRAFT! That is just insane. Throughout 2011-2014, these players developed into stars and eventually made it to the big leagues.
The 2015 Playoffs
In the 2015 Playoffs, the Astros were matched up against the Royals, who were a team on a mission after losing in 7 games to the Giants in the 2014 World Series. However it was this young Astro team that had a 2-1 series lead in the ALDS and needed to win only one more game. They even had a 6-2 lead in that game. However, after it was 6-4, Carlos Correa made an error that started a KC rally and they won game 4, and then won game 5. Correa was devastated, but the Astros were only getting better. In 2016 the Astros didn’t make the playoffs, but this lit a fire under the team. In 2017, they were determined to prove the world they were out for blood. And if only the MLB teams knew what they would do.
The 2017 Season
The Houston Astros added rookie third baseman Alex Bregman at the start of the season, and he immediately fit right in. The Astros lit the world on fire in 2017. They finished 101-61, one game behind Cleveland, and were on a mission to prove themselves. Jose Altuve batted .346 and won AL MVP. They roared into the playoffs and quickly swept the Red Sox and instead of Cleveland, they got the New York Yankees in the ALCS. The Yankees did all they could, but the Houston Astros won in 7 games, and then got a date with the Dodgers in the World Series.
The 2017 World Series
The Astros and Dodgers showed off in L.A. for Game One for the 2017 World Series. It didn’t start well, as the Dodgers won 3-1. Game 2 was an instant classic. It was 5-5 going into the 10th inning.. This is when George Springer showed up. He hit a blast and gave the Astros a 7-5 lead, and Houston held off for a 7-6 win. With the series moving to Texas, the Astros kept the momentum and won Game three 5-3, but the Dodgers won game 4 setting up a historic game 5.
The game was an offensive showcase. The Dodger took the lead at every turn, but the Astros answered right back. I could talk about this game for hours, but you have places to be. But with a 12-12 tie game in the 10th, Alex Bregman looped a base hit to left, giving the Astros the advantage 3-2 going back to LA. The Dodgers still didn’t quit. They won game 6 setting up a game 7 showdown at Chavez Ravine. It was here the Astros lit it up. They exploded in the first, and the Dodgers could never catch up. McCullers pitched the game of his life, Springer hit a 6th World Series home run, an MLB record, and they won game 7 of the World Series 5-1. This is the story of the 2017 best team, Houston Astros.
