National Post (National Edition)
Heading home, Astros confident
ALCS now best-of-5, next 3 in Houston
By his nature, Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch doesn’t sound like a cocky man. He’s analytical, insightful and pleasant in demeanour.
But with a team as good as the one he oversees, a team that’s deep, accomplished and bursting with confidence, it’s difficult for Hinch to understate the strengths of the defending World Series champions.
Followers of the AL East like to talk about how the Red Sox and Yankees build to be sustainable contenders for years and years.
Well, out in the AL West and somewhat off baseball’s beaten path, the Astros are doing it better than anyone else and may well be on the verge of a dynasty.
“Confidence is pretty robust in our clubhouse,” Hinch said Monday as his team settled in for its home portion of the ALCS against the Red Sox, three games at Minutemaid Park beginning Tuesday late afternoon. “We feel really good about this. It’s not being overly confident. It just means we show up at the ballpark ready to play.
“You can bring that edge to the ballpark every day. So I don’t think we care who we face or what the situation is. Our guys are going to show up ready to play.”
By virtue of splitting at Fenway Park on the weekend, the Astros wrestled home-field advantage from the Red Sox in this best-ofseven and would appear to have the upper hand. They appear to be stronger in starting pitching, deeper in the bullpen, more varied on offence and incredibly well coached. It’s almost as if an opponent needs to play a perfect game to beat them.
“When you look at our team, I don’t really see any weaknesses,” Astros shortstop Carlos Correa said. “It’s all strengths. When you look across the board, all 25 guys on the roster are good baseball players. And obviously we trust each other and have a lot of confidence in each other.”
Through their first five playoff games this fall, the Astros outscored their opponents 33-15, a run which included a dominant threegame sweep of the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS.
After a thrilling sevengame series to capture their first World Series title over the Dodgers last October, the Astros have only got better.
They survived a lull in the dog days of the 2018 season before catching fire in a torrid 21-6 September heading into the post-season where they’ve won four of five. Their 103 wins set a regular-season franchise record and their run differential of 263 was tops in the major leagues.
“I think the one thing about our team is it’s nonstop,’’ said Justin Verlander, the ace of the starting staff and the Game 1 winner against Boston. “The guys just keep coming at you and there’s so many different ways we can win a ball game. This team finds a way and in big moments they show up. Nobody cares who the hero is as long as we have a hero.”
Though they lost 7-5 in Game 2 Sunday, it was an example of the never-over-till-it’s-over drive that fuels this team. Take the last out of Sunday’s game in the top of the ninth. If Alex Bregman gets just a little more barrel on the ball, it could very well have carried over the Green Monster and tied the game. Instead, it was caught just a few feet short of the Monster, and the Red Sox had their win.
But where the Red Sox seem to have to scramble to be competitive (needing starter Rick Porcello to toss the eighth inning on Sunday), the Astros get after it with proven depth.
Boston manager Alex Cora felt the need to use Porcello in that situation and so it means that inconsistent Nate Eovaldi will be his Game 3 starter Tuesday. Again, advantage Houston who counter with Dallas Keuchel.
“All bets are off right now,” Porcello said after Game 2. “You do whatever you need to do to win ball games. I’ll start. I’ll come out of the pen. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Ultimately, with a lineup that includes likely AL MVP Mookie Betts, potent designated hitter J.D. Martinez and others, the Red Sox could remain competitive and make life difficult for the Astros.
Based on their depth and form, however, there’s far less desperation in the Astros approach. They know their jobs, do them well and know that strength abounds throughout the roster.
“Our guys have an uncanny ability to focus on the day,” Hinch said. “Whether that’s at the beginning of spring, into the season or entering a playoff series with all the expectations and the target being on our backs.
“We’re the reigning world champs, and we know what we have to do.’’
I THINK THE ONE THING ABOUT OUR TEAM IS IT’S NON-STOP.