Houston Astros: Why the team will likely get snubbed at the ESPYS

Best Games of 2017

Let’s take a look at the Best Game award first. In the last seven years, there have three baseball games nominated for best game at the ESPY’s. The actual winner will be in bold.

• 2011 World Series Game 6 – Cardinals vs. Rangers (2012 NFC Divisional Playoff Game – 49ers vs. Saints)
• 2014 AL Wild Card Game – Royals vs. A’s (Super Bowl XLIX – Patriots vs. Seahawks)
• 2016 World Series Game 7 – Cubs vs. Indians (Super Bowl LI – Patriots vs. Falcons)

So all of these games have one thing in common. Football owns baseball. There’s no denying that. As someone who prefers baseball over football, I have to agree. When I look at the list, I see that the winners are deserving, but I feel that the two World Series games should have won. The Cardinals had better odds of striking out twice in Game 6 than the 49ers had in not scoring a touchdown on two plays. Last year’s Super Bowl was a classic, but it was not a punch or counter punch affair. Yes, the Cubs had control of Game 7 until the Indians tied it. But they pulled off the win in extra innings making it possibly the best Game 7 ever.

What odds does Game 5 have?

If the ESPY’s were held in December, there’s a legitimate chance the World Series Game 5 would be at #1. Second would be the Super Bowl and third might be Game 2 of the World Series. But because the awards are held in July, the chances of us winning might not be good. I don’t know how the majority will vote, but I do believe that our best chance would be to finish second behind Alabama-Georgia.

If that’s not surprising enough, listen to this. Sports Illustrated decided to hold a voting session for fans to vote for the best game of the year. This I feel was done just for the heck of it because Sports Illustrated probably had their own pick. After one day, Game 5 and Game 2 took the top spots over the Super Bowl by a large margin. After day two, they were overtaken not by the Super Bowl. But rather by the University of Central Florida Golden Knights football game against the University of South Florida Bulls. To UCF’s credit, they did finish undefeated and proclaim themselves to be the national champions. Their game against USF was a great game. But was it the best game of 2017? Most likely no. It could’ve finished in the top five.

Why Game 5 of The World Series Should Be the Best Game?

It was a back and fourth affair between the two best teams in all of baseball. The Houston Astros overcame three deficits to the Dodgers. Los Angeles rallied to tie it in the ninth inning at 12, which was started by a supposed pitcher’s duel between Dallas Keuchel and Clayton Kershaw. There were seven homers hit in the game and each hit was like a counter punch. The series was tied at two games apiece and whoever won would have two cracks to win it all in Los Angeles. It was as close to being a football, basketball, and hockey game at the same time for the Houston Astros in the World Series.

The other two games were classic, but if you think about it, ALA-UGA does not rank up there with Texas-USC in 2006. It might make the top five, but it was 13-0 at halftime and Alabama overcame a 20-7 lead to win in overtime 26-23. The Crimson Tide could’ve won in regulation, but they missed the kick. Plus, it was an all-SEC championship game. Who wants a championship game between two teams from the same conference? The SEC sure got their wish.

MIN-NO was a divisional playoff game. It featured a comeback by the Saints and a great finish by the Vikings who won at the buzzer. But it wasn’t the championship game nor the Super Bowl.

Why Game 5 of The World Series Shouldn’t Be the Best Game?

It was Game 5 after all with the series tied at two. Whoever won wouldn’t have won the World Series, but would take a 3-2 lead into Game 6. The pitching wasn’t there and there were rumors of juiced balls. It was the second longest game in World Series history at over five hours and it ended with a walkoff single instead of a home run. Plus, it ended at around 1:45 on the east coast.

ALA-UGA had a great comeback by Alabama and it did end with a great finish on a touchdown pass by their backup quarterback following a disaster that could’ve given Georgia the title with three more stops. Plus, it was Alabama, who finds themselves among today’s elite with the Patriots and Warriors.

MIN-NO was a classic NFL Playoff game. There have been so many classic games in the NFL recently despite the negative press it’s been getting because of the issues ranging from protests, concussions, and off-the-field arrests. The Saints rallied to take the lead and could’ve won had it not been for the last pass by Keenum.

Conclusion

So clearly, unless there is another classic game from now until July, Houston Astros fans will have to accept the fact that our best game might have to accept that it might not be the ideal ESPY’s Award winner for Best Game. But hey, it was still a classic game and one that millions won’t ever forget.

Now let’s see about the chances of winning Best Team.