For the old-school, old-fashioned or just plain old baseball fans, there’s a particular reason to be excited about the 2022 World Series — there’s a good chance there will be no “openers” posing as starting pitchers.
No guarantees you understand. But all indications are that the Phillies, and especially the Astros, will start pitchers who don’t have early curfews. In the analytical age we live in that doesn’t mean they’ll all go five innings, or that some might not get a premature hook. But I don’t think we’ll hear managers asking pitchers to get nine outs and hoping they at least face that many hitters, which will be refreshing — and a relief.
As for the matchup itself, it’s almost impossible to dispute the notion that Houston clearly has the better team, especially in terms of depth, but it would be a mistake to dismiss the Philadelphia team that is now playing like it was expected to at the start of the season. The Phillies might have been the last team to qualify for the postseason dance, with the lowest number of wins (87), but it’s never wise to dismiss a team on a roll.
On a position-by-position basis, the Phillies get the edge at catcher with J.T. Realmuto and first base with Rhys Hoskins. It’s maybe a flip of the coin in center field, and a big plus for the Phillies at DH with Bryce Harper. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is the best player in the field on either team. Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve, rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña, left fielder Yordan Álvarez and right fielder Kyle Tucker give the Astros a solid lineup offensively and defensively.
Despite the advantage in the field, where one or two performances may outweigh all others, the big difference between the teams, surprise, surprise, is pitching. And, even though this is where the Astros’ depth comes into play the most, it is also where I believe the most interesting matchups are.
If the Phillies have any chance of winning the Series, their top two starters, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, not necessarily in that order, will have to outduel the Astros’ duo of Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez. That would most likely require both to pitch twice in a seven-game series and win at least three times.
The ageless Verlander has been spectacular this year after missing the last two following Tommy John surgery, but he did have a stumble in his start against Seattle in the divisional round, and a repeat could open an early door for Philly. Valdez is consistent but not dominant, and it’s not a stretch to give the Phillies a slight edge in matchups between the top starters on both teams.
The Astros’ bullpen is ridiculously strong with Ryan Pressly, Ryne Stanek, Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, Hunter Brown and Rafael Montero more dominant than the Phillies’ Serathony Dominguez, José Alvarado and David Robertson.
All of which leads to a pitcher who might fly under the radar, but I think could be a key factor for the Astros. Cristian Javier has shown flashes of brilliance, both during the season and in the postseason, as a potential lights-out third starter. Lance McCullers, Jr., a proven clutch performer, could possibly pop into the No. 3 spot, but Javier has the goods to be the shutdown starter against Ranger Suárez or Noah Syndergaard at the back end of the Phillies’ rotation.
I think the Series will have to go the distance if the Phillies somehow are going to win. I can’t go against the Astros. I think they’ll win it in five competitive games.
With no openers.
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Just when we thought Bruce Bochy was retired, working on his memoirs and writing an acceptance speech, he signed a three-year contract to manage the Texas Rangers, probably delaying his Hall of Fame induction by at least that long. Chalk one up for Texas GM Chris Young, and a temporary setback for Cooperstown.
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Thinking about future Hall of Famers, one of the more riveting scenes at the conclusion of the Dodgers’ division series loss to the Padres came during the celebration by the upstart team from deeper Southern California. But it wasn’t anyone who was celebrating.
Sitting alone in the Dodgers’ dugout, Clayton Kershaw didn’t turn away, but as he watched you could almost imagine what was going through his mind. He has been on teams that won a lot division titles and one World Series during his time in LA, and one couldn’t help but wonder if Kershaw was thinking if his days of celebrating in Dodger blue were over.
Kershaw is a free agent and a native of Dallas. You can bet (we’re allowed to say that, commercials are begging us) that Bochy, who has spent his managing career competing against the left-hander in the National League West, would like to have him anchor what promises to be a young Rangers staff.
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Speaking of poignant moments, one of the coolest came when San Diego catcher Austin Nola faced his brother, Aaron, in the first game of the National League Championship Series. There was one priceless shot when Austin got the hit that led to Aaron’s removal from the game.
When the cameras panned in on their parents, mom could be seen clapping while dad maintained his neutral stare. I’m figuring dad was a pitcher, but mom was giving props to the elder brother. The coolest thing? The whole family will be able to enjoy the World Series.
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The Yankees missing the World Series for the 13th straight year wasn’t nearly as big an upset as some would believe. They were looking at the Yankees’ final record of 99-63 and ignoring the fact that they finished the season 38-40, which was much more indicative of the team they were rather than the team they had been earlier in the year.
By contrast the Orioles, who at one point were 23 games behind and one of the teams the Yankees beat up on early, finished the season on a 48-35 stretch.
Just about the only positive for the Yankees in the postseason was Harrison Bader. Obtained primarily to provide defense in center field, which was a little shaky at times, Bader out-homered Aaron Judge, 4-2, and set himself up as a regular for the future — something the Yankees can’t say about many positions at the moment.
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Just one man’s opinion, but that “Best Bet” Judge made on himself before hitting 62 home runs to set a new American League record may have gone south once the regular season ended. It will be interesting to see how the $213.5 million offer for seven years he turned down measures up to those he gets as a free agent. At age 30, thoughts of a 10-year deal might be far-fetched.
Jim Henneman can be reached at JimH@pressboxonline.com
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Photo Credits: Colin Murphy/PressBox