BRASH-KET CASE
Astros star Bregman: 'No other city I'd like to beat more than Boston'
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is bold in his talk and his walk.
In this social-media age, Bregman being Bregman is a joy, especially since so many baseball players take the boring road. Bregman says what he feels. Consider the rest of the American League on notice, especially the champion Red Sox, and the wannabe champion Yankees.
“There is a mindset in here like we got punched in the mouth last year and everyone is more motivated than I’ve ever seen,’’ Bregman told The Post on Sunday in the Astros clubhouse at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. “There is just a different feeling in here than there was last year. It feels very similar to a team that has not won before.
“I’m telling you, right now these guys are motivated and they are pissed off.’’
Then the All-Star third baseman, who blasted 31 home runs last season and led the majors with 51 doubles while scoring 105 runs and driving in 103, added that special Bregman touch, saying, “They are pissed off for greatness.’’
That could be the Astros slogan or at least a T-shirt: “Pissed off for greatness.’’
The Astros won their first World Series in 2017 and then blazed through the 2018 regular season, winning 103 games to finish six games in front in the AL West. Only the Red Sox won more regular-season games. They swept the Indians in three games (Bregman hit .556) in the ALDS, and it wasn’t that close. But then they ran into the buzzsaw Red Sox, losing the ALCS in five games, a series that produced a sign-stealing controversy.
Last week, Bregman happened to mention how he feels about the city of Boston after the Patriots became Super Bowl champions yet again, saying, on the “Going Deep with Chad and JT” podcast, “After watching the Patriots win and with the Red Sox beating us last year, there’s no other city that I would like to beat more this year than Boston.” Bregman is not alone in that thought, he just happened to say it. No one knows that better than Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was Astros bench coach in 2017.
“That’s my guy so I am not going to react to that one,’’ Cora said Wednesday when Bregman’s comment was repeated to him.
When Bregman was asked Sunday to go into detail about his Red Sox thoughts, he did not look for a way out, saying, “I respect their team so much. They have unbelievable players over there. They have unbelievable coaches, a great front office that is worried about winning. My comments were about I want to beat the team that beat me. That’s how competitive sports should be. Everyone wants to beat the best and the Red Sox are the best.’’
Bregman, who turns 25 next month, keeps a keen eye on opponents and is a card-carrying member of the Aaron Judge fan club.
“He’s one of the best dudes, just an all-around ultimate competitor,’’ Bregman said of the Yankees’ right fielder. “A super good guy. He’s funny, he plays the game hard, loves his teammates, he just looks like a guy you want to play on his team. He’s a game-changer, a trend-setter and guys follow him, they want to follow him.’’
Lofty words from a competitor such as Bregman.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch was asked what makes Bregman ... Bregman. He smiled and began, “That’s a loaded question. He’s just got a magnetic personality. He’s entirely open, comfortable in his own skin, oozes confidence and he’s very bullish in his approach. But there is something about him that makes him like-able.
“You could have those characteristics and kind of get on everyone’s last nerve. He never puts himself above people and relates to all kinds of different people in the clubhouse and he competes. I think the last factor of that is very important that when he goes out on the field there is an endearing quality to lay it on the line and compete.’’
Come May 17 at Fenway Park, Bregman and his Astros will be competing against the Red Sox. You don’t want to miss that weekend series.