The Rangers will be going back to the World Series for the first time since 2011 after beating the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS 11-4. The Rangers will have an opportunity to win their first championship in franchise history while the Astros will have to figure out why they can’t win at Minute Maid Park and what to do with the roster heading into the offseason.
We have an entire winter to dissect the mistakes and find some solutions. For now, we tip our caps to the other Texas baseball team and lick our wounds. Here are our final single-game thoughts this season.
The most baffling home record ever.
Despite being one of the most dominant teams of the past decade, it is nearly inexplicable that the same team would record the only two seven-game series losses where the home team lost every game. First, the World Series in 2019, then the ALCS this season. It’s damn near an impossibility and yet the Astros have done it. We have no idea why this is the case or what can be done about it, but Minute Maid Park cannot continue to be a black hole for the Astros hitters and a nightmare for fans.
Rangers offense was too much.
Whatever frustration we all may feel about the loss, the fact is the Rangers are one-through-nine deep in their lineup. It underscores how important it is to have a deep group of hitters even if your pitching isn’t particularly strong. The Rangers delivered with a brutally difficult group of hitters, covering all season for a terribly weak bullpen and injured starting rotation. They spent loads of money and it paid off. The Astros will be stuck dealing with them now in the division going forward.
Yordan Alvarez is still a stud.
Alvarez set the record with six straight postseason games with multiple hits. He is this team’s best player and brightest star. It will now be the Astros’ task to put other consistent bats around him however they can. Alvarez has proven that he is not just a power hitter, but someone who can do damage in virtually any situation. His presence makes this season coming to an end almost bearable.
Where do the Astros go from here?
There will be plenty of questions in the offseason. Will Dusty Baker return? Will any of the looming free agents get extensions (Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Framber Valdez, Kyle Tucker)? Does the team have any room at all to operate and make changes to the roster? Is that even something they intend to do?
There will be plenty of time for GM Dana Brown and owner Jim Crane to figure it out, but it won’t be easy. They don’t have a loaded minor league system. They are pretty much capped out in terms of salary and the luxury tax. So, don’t expect many huge moves with perhaps Baker being a potential exception. Stay tuned.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2023.
