Keuchel suffers rough night
Hinch does not want to discuss playoffs until club clinches spot
their division title.
They couldn’t contain their joy and excitement as they looked ahead to the postseason — the one that would end in Los Angeles with the Astros winning the World Series.
That was with two weeks to play in the regular season.
This year, they haven’t nailed down even a playoff spot quite yet.
While there isn’t yet a letter next to them in the American League standings to signify their
spot in the postseason, it’s pretty safe to pencil in the Astros, who could clinch a wild-card berth as soon as Friday. With Oakland four games behind them in the AL West, the Astros’ magic number for clinching the division is seven.
And while Boston will almost assuredly be the top-seeded team in the AL, all eyes will be on Houston. The Astros have a lot of the same players who impressed through last season’s postseason back on the field this year.
They’ll be a favorite. And as reigning champs, they will automatically be team to beat.
Wednesday night’s 9-0 loss to the Mariners wasn’t pretty, and it could have been much worse had Dallas Keuchel been hurt by the line drive that went off his head. But at 95-57, the Astros still own the majors’ second-best record and have 10 more games to work on being in tiptop shape for the playoffs.
Yet while the rest of us are talking about the Astros in the postseason, the team is staying away from the topic. For now anyway.
“We haven’t won anything yet. We haven’t advanced to the playoffs yet, so I don’t think we can talk or consider any of that,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “When you start distracting yourself with scenarios … I will think about it, but let’s qualify for the playoffs, let’s go out and win the division first, then we can talk about it.”
It makes sense for Hinch to stay mum on the topic. The Astros haven’t won anything yet.
But there’s no denying the inevitable. The Astros are a playoff-bound team.
And while Hinch and his crew want to focus on what’s happening now, they also need to start thinking big picture.
The Astros easily remain one of the best teams in baseball, but getting back to the World Series and winning it again is going to be far from easy.
So balancing everything —the race with the Athletics and getting sharp for October — is necessary right now.
Hinch manages it all as it comes.
“I don’t think you ever stop pushing these guys to be better in different areas,” he said. “The competition is really hard. Whether it’s an approach, a lead, there is always a continued effort to give feedback about how these guys are doing and what they can do better.
“We have to play these games out, and every one of them, whether you’re winning or you’re losing, it’s an opportunity to get better.”
While trying clinch the West Division as soon as possible, Hinch also is trying to get his players rest.
On Wednesday night, as the Astros closed their series with Seattle, Hinch gave Carlos Correa a scheduled day off. Jose Altuve had a night off Sept. 3 against Minnesota.
Hinch has had a handful of injuries hit the team late this season. He needs to watch out for Correa’s back, George Springer’s thumb, Altuve’s knee, Josh Reddick’s ankle and so on. Last year, Hinch could easily look out for everyone at this point.
Even though it’s not as simple with Oakland still looming in the picture, it’s just as necessary.
Every breather these guys get helps. Every win, every lesson, every look at different pitches, every error — it all helps prepare the Astros for another run.
And the Astros are good enough to make another run, whether they want to talk about it or not.
They haven’t soaked each other or the clubhouse in champagne yet. They haven’t been able to have a big celebration.
But it’s coming. The postseason is just around the corner. And the Astros are going to be right in the thick of it.