Quote (AmineA @ Jun 5 2017 12:43pm)
Spring training games are about to start but I can't wait until opening day. The 2016 Houston Astros have a chance to win their first division title in 15 years, but I expect the AL West to be highly competitive this year so it won't be easy. The Rangers and Angels are looking like solid teams, and the Mariners and Athletics should be much improved.
The Astros had last won a division title back in 2001 when they still played in the National League Central. I still remember the final out of that game against the St. Louis Cardinals way back in 2001. Vinny Castilla had fielded a hot grounder at third base and he made a strong throw to first base. Jeff Bagwell, who was one of the best all-around first basemen of his era and hopefully will make the Hall of Fame this year (great defensive player too), had fielded the throw with a low scoop of his glove off the ground. At the time we had Billy Wagner as our closer.
After the game the players were popping champagne and celebrating inside the St. Louis visitor's clubhouse.
You could hear the song "Wanna Be a Baller" by Houston's own hip-hop artist Lil' Troy. It was a fun time indeed.
They Houston Astros have had some exciting postseason runs since then but all of them have been as a wild-card team. The 2015 AL wild-card champions that took the eventual World Series champion Royals to a full five games in the ALDS (The Royals had trailed by at least two runs or more in all five games), and 2005 and 2004 NL wild-card champions, when they appeared in their only World Series and two straight NLCS as well.
oops wrong account
These are the 2017 Astros