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Houston Sports: Three thoughts about status that resonate with fans

By Kenneth Cline

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: The Houston Astros celebrate (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 01: The Houston Astros celebrate (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 08: Jose Altuve
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 08: Jose Altuve /

Duel: 2016 World Series vs. 2017 World Series

So it’s baseball time here again. And the Astros are the defending World Series champions. While I did say the Super Bowl overtakes the World Series any day, there is no denying that the previous two World Series have been some of the most epic sporting events that have rivaled the Big Game.

But, Houston sports fans, the question that has arrived as to which one was better? Sure, these are two of the best World Series ever played, but how can we determine which one was better.

Houston sports fans, was it 2016, when the two franchises with the longest title droughts in all of sports, competed and saw the Chicago Cubs rally from 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians? Or was it 2017 when the 101-win Houston Astros battled the 104-Dodgers in a thrilling seven games that endured us to nearly pass out and take a long time to recover?

Well while everyone tied to Houston sports has an opinion, I decided to create a best-of-seven format that would help us figure out to determine the series champion.

Requirements

  • Game 1: Historical Perspective/Background Story
  • Game 2: The Two Teams
  • Game 3: Run Differential
  • Game 4: Control of Series (How the series played out)
  • Game 5: MVP Performance
  • Game 6: Classic Games
  • Game 7: Game 7

Game 1: Historical Perspective/Background Story

2016: Two teams that have waited for a combined 176 years (Cubs – 108, Indians – 68) would battle it out. Both teams have endured heartbreaking moments and some infamous curses.

2017: Two 100+ win teams looking to end title droughts of their own (Astros – 56, Dodgers – 29) would battle it out. One team is playing for a city still recovering from a hurricane while the other is looking to relive their glory days.

Winner: 2016

The reason 2016 gets the edge is mainly that the title droughts are longer and both teams have a legitimate story to tell that has the hearts of America choosing sides. In 2017, it basically became Los Angeles vs. the World when the Astros were sentimental favorites to win it all. Who wants a World Series where one team gets all the love when there are two teams. While we appreciated that in 2017, everyone must choose an eventual winner and loser.

2016 leads 1-0

Game 2: The Teams

2016: Chicago Cubs (103-59) vs. Cleveland Indians (94-67)

2017: Houston Astros (101-61) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (104-58)

Edge: 2017

In 2016, you had the best NL team going up against the second-best team in the American League. You expected the Cubs to reach the Fall Classic. Nobody expected the Cleveland Indians except themselves. It was like a heavyweight going up against a middleweight.

In 2017, you had the best NL team going up against the second-ranked team in the American League. But, the Astros were the best team in the American League as far as talent-wise. These two teams were on a collision course from the All-Star break all the way to the World Series. Sure, there were threats from other teams, but the ideal World Series was already set in stone and we got a real heavyweight match up.

Series Tied 1-1.

Game 3: Run Differential

It’s a complicated math problem I got below. But the formula should be helpful.

2016: Cubs over Indians 4-3

  • Game # – Team/Final Score (Run differential) (WS Run Differential) (Run Tallies W-L)
  • Game 1 – Indians 6-0 (-6) (0-6)
  • Game 2 – Cubs 5-1 (+4) (-2)  (5-7)
  • Game 3 – Indians 1-0 (-1) (-3) (5-8)
  • Game 4 – Indians 7-2 (-5) (-8) (7-15)
  • Game 5 – Cubs 3-2 (+1) (-7) (10-17)
  • Game 6 – Cubs 9-3 (+6) (-1) (19-20)
  • Game 7 – Cubs 8-7 (+1) (0) (27-27)

2017: Astros over Dodgers 4-3

  • Game # – Team/Final Score (Run differential) (WS Run Differential) (Run Tallies W-L)
  • Game 1 – Dodgers 3-1 (-2) (-2) (1-3)
  • Game 2 – Astros 7-6 (+1) (-1) (8-9)
  • Game 3 – Astros 5-3 (+2) (+1) (13-12)
  • Game 4 – Dodgers 6-2 (-4) (-3) (15-18)
  • Game 5 – Astros 13-12 (+1) (-2) (28-30)
  • Game 6 – Dodgers 3-1 (-2) (-4) (29-33)
  • Game 7 – Astros 5-1 (+4) (0) (34-34)

Edge: 2017 in extra innings.

This one needed extra innings because the two World Series were dead even in terms of run differential. However, the tiebreaker, or extra-inning setup, goes to 2017 because they tallied more runs overall than the Cubs did. In addition, with the exception of Games 4 and 7, the other five games were decided by two runs or less in 2017 while 2016 had three games decided by a run, the other four games were decided by four runs or more.

2017 leads 2-1.

Game 4: Control of Series

2016: Indians led by two games before Cubs rallied to take control.

2017: Neither team had a two-game lead until the Astros controlled it.

Edge: Toss-Up

This one was a toss-up between the two because while it would be nice for one team to have control for a comeback to happen by the other team, an epic World Series should be when teams exchange victories. The Indians had complete control after going 3-1 until they let up on the gas pedal and the Cubs took advantage. While Cleveland did make one last effort to regain control, the Cubs took it.

One year later, the Astros and Dodgers fought for control, which neither one would take fully until the series was over. The Astros were the only team to win two straight World Series games (Gms 2-3) over the Dodgers. But the Dodgers never gave the Astros any cushion as the Astros had to earn the control.

2017 leads 2-1-1.

Game 5: MVP Performances

2016: Ben Zobrist – .357 BA, 10 H, 2 RBI, 5 Runs Scored, Game-winning double

2017: George Springer – .379 BA, 11 H, 7 RBI, 8 Runs Scored, 5 HR

Edge: 2017

While Ben Zobrist had perhaps the biggest hit in the two World Series combined, it was George Springer who really had the better performance with tying a World Series record with five home runs while driving in seven runs. This after a dismal performance in Game one where he struck out four times.

2017 leads 3-1-1.

Game 6: The Classics

2016: Game 7 – Cubs 8-7 (10)

2017: Game 2 – Astros 7-6 (11), Game 5 – Astros 13-12 (10)

Edge: 2017

The 2016 classic had a few one-run games, but never to the level that Game 7 was in that series. By far, Game 7 of 2016 was the best Game 7 of the World Series in a while. However, 2017 had two classic games that have been considered the best non-elimination games ever. While either one of those two games could’ve been a Game 7 classic, particularly Game 5, there have other World Series with more than one classic game (1975, 1991, 2001). And because Game 5 was a rare game unto itself, it is a top five argument for best World Series Game ever. The only reason why we would put it above Game 7 of 2016 is that Game 7 was Cubs-dominated until the Indians tied it in the eighth. The Astros and Dodgers went back-and-forth with each other.

2017 leads 4-1-1.

Game 7: Is there a need for a subtitle?

2016: Cubs over Indians 8-7 (10)

2017: Astros over Dodgers 5-1

Edge: 2016

This one was pretty easy to choose because there was more drama in 2016 than 2017 as far as Game 7 went. The Cubs and Indians were battling to end their title droughts while the Astros were looking for their first title ever to the Dodgers looking to end a twenty-nine-year drought. 2017’s Game 7 was a dud to everyone except for Astros fans. That was because the Astros pitching staff held the Dodgers to 1-13 with runners in scoring position.

As a fan of Houston sports in general, it feels refreshing knowing the Astros won with ease. But as a baseball fan, I would take the first six games of 2017 plus Game 7 of 2016.

2017 wins 4-2-1.

Well, with two prongs out of the way, it’s time for prong three in Houston sports.

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