Major League Baseball announced its finalists for Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, MVP and Manager of the Year this week. Unsurprisingly, the list did not contain a single representative of the Astros organization. While the Astros had solid pitching from their starting rotation, no one reached the rarified air of the nominees. And certainly no one was close in MVP balloting or for rookie of the year.
You could make an argument for Joe Espada as the American League’s best manager, but he was bested by several with better cases for the award including Astros former manager A.J. Hinch.
The Astros were not entirely shut out of every award. Alex Bregman won a Gold Glove and there are several Astros likely in line for Silver Slugger awards including Bregman, Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz.
Still, having no representatives even close to the biggest honors in baseball feels like a disappointment for a team that has been so good for so long. Maybe the foundation isn’t crumbling, but there are definitely some cracks in the paint.
This offseason will be one of the most important for the Astros in a decade and after the 2025 season comes yet another reckoning when it comes to the direction of a franchise that has been absolutely excellent for a long time.
They can still rebuild and return to prominence, but it is worth remembering just how good they have been now that cracks in the facade are beginning to emerge. The golden age of Houston baseball isn’t over yet and not having a player or manager on this particular list is no indication of an end in sight, but don’t take it for granted, because it won’t last forever.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
