The stars seem to be aligning for the Houston Astros. Their first win in the second half of the season catapulted them to the top of the American League West Division. The goal has always been clear: the World Series.
Their rebirth, after a strange start for the Astros, as the season progresses, shows that the Astros are prepared to overcome any challenge and achieve glory.
However, they know that there is still a lot at stake and that they must take things one day at a time to avoid the famous phrase “Houston, we have a problem.”
“We know that we didn’t start the season the way we wanted, we were eight or ten games away from first place, today we are happy with the work, but at the same time it doesn’t mean anything,” he said in an interview with THE AMERICAS DAILY Venezuelan José Altuve, a key player for the Astros since 2013.
The second baseman, who has been present in both of the Astros’ titles, knows that the current position does not determine anything, but he trusts in the team’s talent to win another crown and that is why he was not alarmed by Houston’s atypical start this year.
“I think we were pretty calm when things weren’t going well, both the coaches and the players handled things in the best way possible and today, when we are fighting for first place, it doesn’t mean anything and it’s a pretty long season, but the mentality we have is to go game by game to achieve the objective,” said Altuve, who is batting .305 this season, with 14 home runs, 44 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
With less time at the club, but quickly adapting to the philosophy, Honduran Mauricio Dubón knows that he has to contribute to the team whenever he is needed. The utility player, since the departure of Cuban José Abreu, has been rotating between first base – or any other infield position – and left field.
“Nobody has panicked, people get worried sometimes but you know the kind of talent and type of players that are here in Houston, we have to play and move forward because baseball just takes its own pace,” Dubón continued. “We are trying to take one day at a time, today we focus on this game and tomorrow on the one we have to play. Our purpose and goal is to win the World Series.”
Spanish is spoken in Houston, as the Dominican Jeremy Peña is also in the infield, while third baseman Alex Bregman can now communicate with Hispanics in Spanish. There is also Cuban Yordan Álvarez.
Health and consistency, a luxury combination
After 51 wins following important absences such as starters Justin Verlander and Luis Garcia, as well as the dismissal of Jose Abreu for poor performance, the Houston Astros have found a rhythm that has put them back in the competition.
Joe Espada, the club’s manager, is grateful for this and asks that their health be with them for the rest of the tournament so they can continue with their objective: the title.
“We didn’t start the first half as we would have liked, but we are in a good position. The plan is to continue in the second half. Health is the most important thing, but the consistency of how we are preparing, and we are achieving it, is the most important thing for this second half,” said the coach in conversation with this media, who hopes to add important pieces soon.
“It would be important to receive several of the players who are on the injured list. Verlander and Garcia are the ones we are waiting for first. It would be important to receive them because we need all the tools to win the division,” Espada concluded.