The nail-biter Series
Five hours and seventeen minutes. That's how long last night's fifth game in the World Series lasted. It was almost 1:00 in the morning by the time it ended here in Houston. But Astros fans went home happy. Our team had won 13-12.
This has been an aggravating, heart-stopping, nail-biting series all the way. Every game has been in doubt seemingly up until the last out, because these teams, the Dodgers and the Astros, just don't quit!
They've been playing baseball since March. The players must be exhausted both mentally and physically, especially after last night's game. But they don't quit.
I've been a baseball fan since I was twelve years old and an Astros fan for almost forty years. It's really the only sport that I follow. The others are just background noise in my life, but baseball is the main event. This year's Astros team is the best I've ever seen. Not only are they good but they are a lot of fun to watch. This entire baseball season has been pure joy for me and for all long-suffering Astros fans. But I can't take much more of this!
I haven't even been able to bear to watch much of the series because it is so stressful. I just stay glued to the Astros website's gameday feature and follow the games that way. I find that slightly less heart attack-inducing.
Most of the news websites that I follow have raved about what an exciting Series it has been so far. Well, I could do with a little less excitement about now. A score of 10-0 with the Astros in the lead in the first inning would be most welcome. I could actually stand to watch the action then.
The sportswriters and commentators all spend a lot of time on the exploits of the stars of the game.
In the case of the Astros, that's people like Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and Justin Verlander. They deserve all the accolades they get. But I especially appreciate some of the lesser known players.
Two pitchers in particular deserve attention - Charlie Morton and Mike Fiers.
During the dog days of summer when three-fifths of the Astros' starting rotation was on the disabled list, Charlie, who wasn't even supposed to be a starter this year, and Mike, who was the fifth starter, took the mound every five days and pitched their hearts out. They both ended the season with win totals in the mid-teens, even though Fiers flagged a bit toward the end of the season and didn't even make the cut for the playoff roster. But without Morton and Fiers, the Astros wouldn't be where they are now.
Charlie Morton has pitched in the World Series and has pitched well, although the Astros lost the game that he started. Not his fault though - that loss as well as the second Astros loss are all down to an exhausted and shaky bullpen.
So, two more games (possibly) to go. At least we get a chance to catch our breath today, but it all begins again with everything on the line tomorrow night.
The Astros may win this Series, or they may lose. But one thing we know for sure: They won't quit.
This has been an aggravating, heart-stopping, nail-biting series all the way. Every game has been in doubt seemingly up until the last out, because these teams, the Dodgers and the Astros, just don't quit!
They've been playing baseball since March. The players must be exhausted both mentally and physically, especially after last night's game. But they don't quit.
I've been a baseball fan since I was twelve years old and an Astros fan for almost forty years. It's really the only sport that I follow. The others are just background noise in my life, but baseball is the main event. This year's Astros team is the best I've ever seen. Not only are they good but they are a lot of fun to watch. This entire baseball season has been pure joy for me and for all long-suffering Astros fans. But I can't take much more of this!
I haven't even been able to bear to watch much of the series because it is so stressful. I just stay glued to the Astros website's gameday feature and follow the games that way. I find that slightly less heart attack-inducing.
Most of the news websites that I follow have raved about what an exciting Series it has been so far. Well, I could do with a little less excitement about now. A score of 10-0 with the Astros in the lead in the first inning would be most welcome. I could actually stand to watch the action then.
The sportswriters and commentators all spend a lot of time on the exploits of the stars of the game.
In the case of the Astros, that's people like Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and Justin Verlander. They deserve all the accolades they get. But I especially appreciate some of the lesser known players.
Two pitchers in particular deserve attention - Charlie Morton and Mike Fiers.
During the dog days of summer when three-fifths of the Astros' starting rotation was on the disabled list, Charlie, who wasn't even supposed to be a starter this year, and Mike, who was the fifth starter, took the mound every five days and pitched their hearts out. They both ended the season with win totals in the mid-teens, even though Fiers flagged a bit toward the end of the season and didn't even make the cut for the playoff roster. But without Morton and Fiers, the Astros wouldn't be where they are now.
Charlie Morton has pitched in the World Series and has pitched well, although the Astros lost the game that he started. Not his fault though - that loss as well as the second Astros loss are all down to an exhausted and shaky bullpen.
So, two more games (possibly) to go. At least we get a chance to catch our breath today, but it all begins again with everything on the line tomorrow night.
The Astros may win this Series, or they may lose. But one thing we know for sure: They won't quit.
How exciting this World Series must be for you! I can only imagine...I have been wondering when you were going to post something about the Astros. I thought that perhaps you didn't want to jinx them. 😊
ReplyDeleteOh, no! You wrote the evil "J" word! Now I'll have to visit my local witch to have the curse removed before tomorrow night!
DeleteI am ashamed, as an American, to say that I have little to no interest in sports. But you wrote an impassioned piece on what it is like to be a fan. My Facebook feed has been full of this series, being that many of my friends there live in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteI freely admit to being passionate about baseball and this Series has been really special. The New York Times has called it a classic and I don't think that is overstating it.
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