A return in time
The story of improvement began to reveal itself on September 29, when the Astros entered the final series of the regular season with aspirations of reaching at least a spot to discuss the American League Wild Card Series.
At a key moment in the season, a kind of anticipation of the playoff scenario, the Astros needed the prominence of their main players. One of them, among the team's veterans, was the Cuban and first baseman José Abreu. Throughout the regular season, Abreu, 36, had fallen short of what the Astros expected from his experience and leadership during nine seasons with the White Sox. However, after returning from the injured list, heading into the final month of the season, Abreu began the beginning of his rise.
The impact signs of his swing took off in the first few weeks of September, but there was no moment more significant than the series where the Astros were facing elimination. On September 25, after receiving a disappointing sweep by the Kansas City Royals — who lost 106 games — during their final regular-season series at Minute Maid Park, the hopes of the reigning World Series champions seemed to be shattered.
Still, the team managed to win a challenging battle in Seattle 2-1. Then, the decision to qualify for the postseason would be faced as visitors against the D-Backs, who were also looking to obtain a ticket to the National League Wild Card Series. That was the key moment, when the Astros most needed the boost of their main figures both in the lineup and in the pitching rotation, and there began the resurrection of José Abreu.
The first two wins against the D-Backs were defined by a couple of key swings in clutch situations: he produced an RBI double in the Astros' 2-1 success against Arizona ace Zac Gallen. And, the next day, he repeated the dose with another RBI double that defined the victory by the minimum, 1-0, ensuring a place in the playoffs for Houston. On Sunday, October 1, in the final game of the regular season, Abreu also led the attack. He went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in an 8-1 victory, which clinched the American League West title for the Astros.
During that end of the campaign, his OPS of just .549 in August rose to .835 in September/Oct., an average similar to the .843 he recorded over ten seasons in the Majors. Abreu's pace was reaching his usual production and, therefore, the offensive heat expected by the Astros all year. Such was the turnaround in his swing in September, he hit seven home runs in just 107 plate appearances. How good was that frequency? The numbers will speak for themselves: Abreu hit six homers, one less, in his first 78 games and 328 plate appearances as an Astro.
Now, the great news for the current World Series champions is that the veteran Cuban first baseman is unstoppable. After leading the victory in Game 3 of the Division Series with a pair of bombs from more than 440 feet at Target Field — a new postseason record in the StatCast era since 2015 — the story of improvement continues: José Abreu led the offensive attack of the Astros with a two-run home run that provided the 3-2 success and the elimination of the Minnesota Twins during this Wednesday night in Game 4.
Abreu did not forgive the 94 mph four-seam fastball that left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar threw, trying to attack the outside edge of the strike zone in a 1-0 count. The 424-foot homer soared at 107.9 mph into deep rightfield, finding compatriot Yordan Alvarez at first, who emerged on a 1-2 count and singled off a 94-mph fastball from Thielbar — per True, as the FOX SPORTS announcers said smiling: “It was the first single of the Division Series for Yordan!” All of his hits had been extra bases: two doubles and four home runs.
Once again, the power and determination of the Cuban hitters led the Astros' comeback. The duo Yordan Álvarez & José Abreu was lethal: they hit seven of the Astros' 10 home runs, and drove in 14 of the 20 runs, in both cases a shocking 70% productivity when compared to the rest of the lineup!
Yordan stole the show in Game 1, detonating a pair of bombs that drove in half the runs in the Astros' 6-4 victory. He ended up going 7-for-16 with (a single!) two doubles, four home runs, six RBIs, and a 1,783 OPS. Abreu hit three home runs and drove in eight runs in 17 plate appearances, posting a 1.228 OPS in four games against Minnesota pitchers. All of his home runs came in a place as familiar to Abreu as Target Field, where he debuted with the Chicago White Sox nine years ago. By adding his production in these playoffs, he has extended his record to 14 RBI in the last 10 games, which includes the Astros' 5-1 run during the regular season finale, and the 3 -1 against Minnesota in the ALDS.
“The most important thing is that I have a family that supports me,” Abreu said in a press conference after Game 4, where the Astros secured their seventh consecutive berth in the American League Championship Series and this time they will face the Rangers. from Texas. “I have two children who love me. My mom has always been there, my wife, God bless you. I had an organization that was always there for me and my teammates, regardless of the moment, have always supported me. So what more can I ask for?”
Without a doubt, Abreu's home run marked the key moment of the game, but the Astros' success once again derived from great team cohesion. The masterful play of shortstop Jeremy Peña in the first inning was also key, completing a saving double play. Jeremy caught a line drive from Jorge Polanco, reacted instantly, and managed to make a quick catch to the second runner, Edouard Julien. Then, Royce Lewis' home run would have hypothetically found Julien at second base, which would have offered an early 2-0 lead for the Twins.
If that had been the case, Abreu's two-run homer at the start of the fourth inning would not have made the difference and the fate of Game 4 might have been different. Instead, Michael Brantley quickly tied the score at 1-1 with a solo home run leading off the second inning. And, after Abreu's homer, the effectiveness of the pitchers was impeccable: José Urquidy ensured a 5 ⅔ start with six strikeouts where he allowed just two runs, and the bullpen posted the remaining three zeros.
Let's look at it this way, to appreciate how overwhelming the Astros' pitching was: they allowed only three hits — although two were solo home runs —, walked two batters, and combined for 14 strikeouts!
With this convincing victory, the Astros' next challenge will be against the Rangers, beginning the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park. Regarding his perspective and the moment he is experiencing in this postseason, Abreu gave credit to the greatness that the Astros teamwork represents. “I think that in life we must understand that it is a different year,” he said, referring to the new challenges overcome by Houston in search of retaining the World Series title.”
“Life will give you some challenges and make it difficult for you, but this group of guys are all warriors. When they are warriors, there is nothing to worry about.”