Astros move on to the ALCS.
Welcome to the Thursday Boil!
When the postseason started, there were 12 teams vying for the World Series title. Eleven of those teams have lost or will lose their final game of the season. The loser of the World Series is their respective league champion of course, but nobody touts a “League Championship,” because, picture it, every time a Phillies fan would hypothetically say, “we are the reigning National League Champions,” it’s just a reminder that they came up short in the final series of the year. That’s why you haven’t heard it this year, because nobody brags about second place.
All that to say this: If the goal was a seventh straight ALCS, then mission accomplished and we can all go home. But that was never the goal, was it? With the elimination of the Twins, six of the 12 playoff teams were done (seven after the Dodgers were capped). Do you think the Texas Rangers fans will be chanting about wanting the Astros? God I hope so, because that’s what they’re getting. Now here’s your links.
Houston Astros News
October darlings, reigning champs just keep swimming
Astros seal 7th straight ALCS trip to set up big-time Texas duel
Minnesota Twins eliminated from postseason after 3-2 loss to Houston Astros (BVM Sports)
Martín Maldonado Pilots the Astros Through Another Hostile Environment Into Another ALCS (Sports Illustrated)
Former Rangers fan is now Houston Astros fan (Fox 26 Houston)
Postseason Peña 2.0 now available in flashy leather
Verlander, Astros Celebrate With F-Bombs On Live TV (Sports Illustrated)
AL West News
How to watch the Rangers in ALCS: Scouting Astros and more (Dallas Morning News)
What can Texas Rangers expect from Max Scherzer, Jon Gray if they return in the ALCS? (Fox West Texas)
Early Mike Trout Landing Spots Amid Rumors Angels Are Open to Trade (Bleacher Report)
Six potential candidates for Angels manager (LA Times)
Xfinity removes ROOT SPORTS from many customers’ plans as Seattle Kraken season gets underway (Fox Sports) — the Mariners too, apparently.
3 Mariners hitting prospects leading Arizona Fall League juggernaut (Seattle Sports)
Megan Rapinoe throws ceremonial first pitch at Seattle Mariners game after drawing curtains on her illustrious soccer career. (Sportskeeda)
LETTER: The A’s will do just fine in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Oakland A’s on Track for a Bright Future Despite Consecutive 100-Loss Seasons (BVM Sports)
MLB News
This might be the best home-field advantage MLB has ever seen
‘It’s hard to find words right now’: Freeman, Betts at a loss after quiet NLDS
3 key storylines for Braves, Phils in NLDS Game 4
Braves in familiar spot following Game 3 loss to Phillies
D-backs get 1st 4-HR inning in playoff history in coolest way possible
Dodgers’ postseason woes reaffirm October’s unmatched oddness
Harper’s 2 HRs, 2 staredowns have Phils on verge of NLCS
Houston Astros Birthdays
RHP Jandel Gustave (31) broke into the majors in 2016 with Houston, and pitched in 20 games for the Astros in that season and the following. In 20 games, he racked up a 1.426 WHIP and a 4.28 FIP, with 18 K’s in 20 1⁄3 innings.
LHP Sid Fernandez (61) appeared in 306 games between four different teams between 1983 and 1996. In 1997, he made his final appearance, which was also his first appearance with the Astros. On April 5, Fernandez made his Houston debut as the Astros’ number-five starter. He gave up two runs over five innings, on four hits and two walks, striking out three and earning the win in a 6-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the 300th start of his major league career. According to sabr.org:
However, elbow woes finally proved to be too much to battle through. Sid submitted to a final operation in May, went on a rehab assignment to Triple-A New Orleans, and decided to retire on August 1. His announcement came before a game at the Astrodome against the Mets. — Rory Costello
Eulogies
Minnesota Twins (March 30, 2023 — October 11, 2023)
The Astros, a powerful crew,
Defeated the Twins, it is true,
Seven years in a row,
To the ALCS they’d go,
Their success, a baseball fan’s view! — Chat GPT 3.5
Los Angeles Dodgers (March 30, 2023 — October 11, 2023)
In Dodger blue, they played with all their might,
But Diamondbacks’ strength shone clear and bright.
Defeat, a bitter pill for fans to swallow,
Yet in the game of baseball, fortune may follow. — Chat GPT 3.5
POLL SECTION