Houston Astros: The What Ifs Following ALCS Loss to Boston
1. Veteran’s Day
If there is one attribute that is the likely biggest culprit of the Houston Astros ALCS loss, it would be not utilizing the vets from last year’s squad. Sure, you had some promising youngsters on the roster for both series. Josh James being the biggest standout.
Hinch does like to take risks, which makes him effective at what he does. But I digress, for the championship series, he should have relied more on players that got him, the organization and the very city of Houston it’s first championship.
Who, you ask? Well, guys on both sides of the ball. Namely, the following:
- Pitching: Chris Devenski and Brad Peacock
- Offense: Evan Gattis and Brian McCann
These four fellas have had their ups and downs in the 2018 season. That much is definitely clear. But in pursuit of a repeat championship, they were sorely missed and needed in more ways than one to prevent the ALCS loss.
Trending. Alex Bregman had an absolutely historic season. light
Specifically, Devenski and Peacock not being included for the bullpen. They both possess the qualities of long relievers, much like Collin McHugh, and could have prevented some of the offensive breakouts that Boston had.
On the flip side, limiting Gattis and McCann was a big mistake on the offensive side of things. I don’t just say this because of my long fan support for both of them. I say this because the power they collectively have is still very much alive in spite of their ages.
Additionally, as much of a fan as I also am of Tyler White (You can say I have a thing for beards), Gattis and his experience should have been whom Hinch used as a pinch hitter without fail. Not doing this was taking far too big of a risk that the Red Sox ultimately capitalized on.