Houston Astros: Cameron Maybin looking like playoff X-factor

The Houston Astros most bally-hooed waiver trade was obviously for Justin Verlander. But it’s looking like their more under the radar trade for Cameron Maybin could be just as valuable.

The Houston Astros have had Maybin since August 31st. In that time he’s been clutch as all get-up. In six games with the team he’s hit three go-ahead home runs, two of which have come in the seventh inning or later, and one game tying home run in the seventh inning of last night’s game.

Often in the post season, you see unlikely heroes. Whether it was Miguel Montero‘s clutch grand slam for the Chicago Cubs in last year’s NLCS or the 2015 season where Daniel Murphy turned into Mr. October during the NLCS against the aforementioned Cubs, hitting .529 with a home run in each game of their 4-0 sweep of Chicago.

X-factors are always a part of championship teams. The guy you didn’t see contributing but he gets the right hit at the right time and becomes a memorable part of a post season run.

The Astros had that during the 2005 post season when they made their only World Series appearance as Chris Burke hit .348 in 23 at-bats during the National League playoffs, including one of the most famous home runs in Astros history ending that 18 inning marathon game against the Atlanta Braves. We all remember Milo Hamilton’s famous call for that one.

"And the pitch. Swinging. Lining it to left! Iiiiiit’s gone! It’s gone! It’s gone! Chris Burke! Holy Toledo! What a way to finish!"

While the expected heroes will be Carlos Correa, George Springer, Jose Altuve or even Alex Bregman, Maybin has the potential to be the guy who gets that big hit or goes on that crazy tear.

Keep in mind Maybin is a former first round draft pick that was thought of so highly that the Detroit Tigers gave him his debut at the tender age of 20 years old and he was the headlining piece in the trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers back in 2008.

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So it’s not as if he isn’t capable of providing something a little extra even if his major league career has not lived up to the absurd hype he once had as a youngin’. And hitting in a powerful Astros lineup with protection behind you no matter where you hit, it can only enhance the tools he has.

So far Maybin has been Mr. Clutch for the Astros and that’s good news going into October where the unlikely heroes are always found in odd places. Considering the way he’s played in his short time with the Astros, he may make his way into Astros folklore with a timely home run.

He could be alongside the aformentioned Chris Burke bomb, or Brad Ausmus‘ ninth inning game tying home run in the 18 inning game against the Braves or Lance Berkman‘s eighth inning grand slam that got the Astros back within one during that same game, or Jeff Kent‘s powerful walk-off blast from the 2004 NLCS that gave the Astros a 3-2 series lead against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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Teams need that guy that is capable of coming up with the big hit, even if they aren’t hitting consistently. Maybin so far is doing that as he’s only gotten four hits in 19 at-bats. But they’ve been big ones. And that’s what matters most.

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