The results are in. The Astros are winning the 2019 World Series. As a community, we may only be 63% certain, but even for those 100% locked into A.J. Hinch’s club getting to four wins before the Nationals, there are plenty of storylines to follow in this year’s World Series. MASN’s Mark Zuckerman did us the favor of putting together a list. The star power of these two starting staffs alone could (and will) entertain for days, and though the power of these rotations is enough, there are some tasty subplots not far below the surface.
The first being the heart-wrenching showdown of former teammates. There’s Max Scherzer/Anibal Sanchez and Justin Verlander from the 2012 pennant winner in Detroit. There’s also Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke, with Greinke serving as the “big bad” in a series of Corbin’s ex-teammates from Arizona. Corbin has already vanquished fellow ex-Diamondbacks A.J. Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt.
But there’s more. Take Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, who probably won’t face off head-to-head until free agency, arguably the top two targets on the open market. Though if recent reports prove prescient, they may not match up there either. Still, the two former first round picks will be compared to one another until one or the other signs their next contract.
Cole can just as easily find comparison with Scherzer, his likely game 1 counterpart and career track doppelgänger. Scherzer signed his massive free agent deal with the Nationals the offseason after he turned 30-years-old. Cole is a year younger, having just turned 29, but Scherzer piled up just 44 more innings at the time of his free agency. Max was 91-50 with a 3.58 ERA/3.39 FIP, 9.6 K/9 to 2.8 BB/9 at the time of his free agency. Cole’s record is 94-52 with a 3.22 ERA/3.06 FIP, 10.1 K/9 to 2.4 BB/9.
If there’s an owner out there who hasn’t yet realized the comparison, game 1 should drive home the point. It’s a scary thought, but Cole could turn out to be an even better version of Scherzer. Both had some ups-and-down with their debut franchise (Diamondbacks for Scherzer, Pirates for Cole) before coming into their own for a playoff contender while pitching behind an ace (in both cases: Verlander). If the Nats can pull off a win, Cole will enter free agency as Max did, having played in and lost one World Series.
The game 2 starters – Verlander and Strasburg – have a little before-and-after to them as well. Verlander was the 2nd overall pick of the Tigers in 2004, Strasburg 1st overall in 2009. Verlander signed an extension with the Tigers while still under contract in March the year after the Tigers lost in the World Series. Strasburg has an opt-out this winter, and it’s been presumed that he will levy that opt-out into an extension with the team that drafted him as well.
Verlander, of course, reached the World Series for the first time in his first full season as a starter in 2006. Strasburg was held out of the postseason in 2012, his first full season as a starter. For continuity’s sake, I’m absolutely willing to make the gigantic leap here that Stras’ postseason participation would have led to a World Series berth in 2012. Had Stras and those Nats actually made the World Series, they would have faced off against – who else – Verlander’s Tigers.
By that time, Verlander, 29, was 124-65 over 232 starts with a 3.40 ERA/3.41 FIP. Strasburg, 31, is 112-58 over 239 starts with a 3.17 ERA/2.96 FIP. They’re not identical athletes, of course, but their career tracks to this point are relatively aligned. The real takeaway here is this: if the Nationals lose this series, as predicted, and Stras re-ups in DC, as predicted, look for that hefty contract to hit the trade block in 4 or 5 years, and expect Stras to lead whichever team that is smart enough to trade for him (let’s be honest, probably the Astros) to a championship or two. Granted, I’m working pretty hard to hammer these comparisons home, but everyone has to reckon with their younger selves at some point, and it’s fun to think we get to watch Verlander and Scherzer do it on a World Series stage.
Zuckerman also lists Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Altuve as interesting juxtapositions given their long-term status as the face of their respective franchises. The two organizational soldiers clearly occupy different stratospheres within baseball’s talent hierarchy: at 29-years-old, Altuve’s 38.5 career bWAR already eclipses the 37.8 bWAR accrued by the 35-year-old Zimmerman. Still, both became the face of their respective franchise at a critical juncture – Zimmerman as the Nationals first draft pick following the move to DC, Altuve as the lone holdover from the Astros days in the National League. Just as Altuve has appeared in every season the Astros have been in the AL, Zimmerman has appeared in each of the Nationals 15 seasons in the capital. Both have had their share of the limelight in this year’s postseason.
Both teams also field homegrown third baseman who are MVP candidates in 2019. Anthony Rendon was the 6th overall selection of the 2011 draft, while Alex Bregman went 2nd overall in 2015. Neither may be the odds-on favorite to take home the hardware, but both are deserving. Bregman rocked a .296/.423/.592 with 41 home runs, 1.015 OPS, 168 wRC+ while leading the league with 119 walks. Rendon merely hit .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs, 1.010 OPS, 154 wRC+ while leading the league with 44 doubles and 126 RBIs. Neither player strikes out, they both play a good third base, and it’s not hard to fathom this series coming down to a big hit from one of them or the other.
Either team’s victory would add a fascinating chapter to their organization’s narrative. For the Nationals, a World Series win would cap off a year of ultimate redemption. Twice in the same week they notched the unequivocal biggest win in franchise history, first by finally surviving a do-or-die game in the Wild Card, later in winning their first playoff series with another late-game comeback, this time against the Dodgers to win the NLDS. By the time they got around to sweeping the Cardinals out of the NLCS, big playoff victories were practically old hat. Not to mention, of course, that winning the big prize the first season post Bryce Harper is the best case scenario for the vindictive among us.
For the Astros, they have a dynasty on the line. By modern standards, you may already consider this team a dynasty for winning two pennants in three seasons, but plenty of teams have achieved that level of success this decade alone, including the Dodgers, Rangers, Cardinals, Royals, and Giants. The Dodgers (2017, 2018) and Rangers (2011, 2011) never took home the ultimate prize, of course, but only the Giants of 2010, 2012, and 2014 managed to win multiple rings.
To the above potential narratives, we can add Juan Soto’s 21st birthday in game 3, the old school versus new school debate incarnate should Anibal Sanchez face a bullpen game in game 4, and the more straightforward old versus young debate in the form of each team’s designated hitter: Yordan Alvarez for the Astros versus whichever old fool the Nats decide to deploy in the role (Howie Kendrick, Zimmerman, or Asdrubal Cabrera, most likely).
For those not interested in all the hoopla, there’s still a good ole fashioned sporting competition to enjoy. This should be baseball at its finest. There’s lots to focus on in this series, but which narrative strikes your fancy? And which narratives did we miss?
(poll link for app users)
Zuckerman is a hack and shill
If he’s the one who created the Astros dynasty meme out of one, maybe two WS, I agree. That MLBTR would include this notion on its poll is outrageous. That the readers chose it second shows this site is frequented by morons. Calling Houston a dynasty does those teams that have created dynasties a huge disservice. The ONLY dynasty this century has been the Giants. Period.
Not calling Houston a dynasty yet. The Astros have to win to start being considered for the dynasty conversation. That’s why it’s interesting.
Personally, my favorite story line is Verlander’s performance. If he dominates and wins the MVP, then I think he will the only player in history with a regular season, ALCS, and WS MVP.
BS. Mark Zucker an is a clear-eyed, level-headed baseball reporter who realistically if enthusiastically covers the Nats. He is widely respected in the industry.
the starting pitching matchups for sure. Which teams aces will hold the offenses down. Gut says Astros in 6.
Agreed, but I’d say Astros in 5.
I think the long layoff from the NLCS could hurt the Nats imo. They were hot, now they had to sit all that time. Cole/Verlander at home in a WS to start the series is the toughest thing in baseball. But the way the Nats have been hitting in the late innings raises a flag for the Astros. Nats have had some unreal clutch moments in the 7-9 innings.
In both the ALDS and ALCS they lost enough on the road to win it in the next game at home in front of their fans. The Astros in 6. 😉
Yup… This is the main reason I am rooting for DC. The Houston Astros only have 1 championship in team history and they didn’t even make it to the World Series last year. Yet somehow people are already referring to them as a “dynasty.” This talk will only increase if they win it. I just get tired of hearing it. A team that has 1 championship in over half a century should never even have the word dynasty near their teams name. Even if they win it will 2 championships in a 50+ year span. That is not anything close to a dynasty. If the Nats win and they have a 2020 WS rematch I would actually root for Houston just so I wouldn’t have to hear dynasty talk about the Nats. A team should have at least 3 championships over less than a decade already under the belt before anyone even brings up dynasty talk. The Astros aren’t even in consideration for dynasty talk yet. 1 (or even 2) championships in 50+ years is nothing close to 3 in a decade.
3 in 5 years at a minimum. 4 in 6 or 7 years. 5 in 8 to 10 years. This century that would be the Giants and the Giants only. And even then it’s a dynasty for that time period and that period only. The Giants, for example, are no longer a dynasty. They lost it sometime around 2017-2018.
Yeah. I agree. I honestly get so tired of premature dynasty talk and you know that if the Astros win people will be talking Astros dynasty stuff for at least a year. This post is proof. Some people are already talking about it. I mean come on. They have 1 championship in their entire team history. And that even dates back to the old Colt .45’s days. You shouldn’t even be in a conversation about dynasty in a situation like that. Unless of course it is to point out that the team is the exact opposite of a dynasty. Even if the Astros win it all this year and make the world series next year they would still not be a dynasty. It’s ridiculous to even bring it up at this point.
There aren’t enough choices in this poll. I need at least 25.
One of them should’ve been Die-UH-Bee-Tuss.
Couple stud arms against another couple stud arms. That’s the compelling storyline. Top flight arms is still the main attraction.
Houston’s lineup is deeper. Washington’s starting pitching gives them a punchers chance. Should be an interesting series.
I voted for The Baseball.
The matchups are so compelling from a pitching standpoint. As the other storylines combined matter. But the faceoffs are what’s in for a good show. Game One Game Two. Game Three, if Greinke and Corbin do great thru Five. We got something really good cooking. . .
If “Battle of the Aces” was an option, that would be my choice. Seeing two pitching staffs with 3 aces apiece going head to head is going to be fun to watch.
Well, each team has 2 dynamite aces. Corbin is good, but not that. Ditto Greinke at this stage of his career.
Greinke and Cole both have a pretty good record against DC the last few years, but DC has a pretty good record against the Astros in interleague play. The Nats haven’t seen Verlander in awhile.
Agreed. I thought about clarifying it, but decided just to include them to make it a shorter post haha. And given their contracts, they’re paid like aces so it just made it easier to say 3 apiece.
I voted for the Baseball.
Without knowing which way Manfred is rigging the balls for the WS, it’s impossible to know how anything is going to turn out.
Should be fun.
Some real mounting evidence that the MLB is using a more dead ball for this postseason. Didi to RF in game 4 and Martin Maldonado’s warning track shot in the same game looked like they would “normally” carry out of Yankee stadium. I’m sure there are more cases as well.
I don’t know about you, but I can hear it. With the stadium mics being turned up for the postseason, I can hear the crack of the bat. Sounds totally different. Correa’s HR to LF in Game 4 sounded like he hit a cement truck.
No “thawck” sound. Just a thud.
Had a regular season ball been used, that probably would’ve been 400+ft. Looking at the replay, he got all of it.
The umps. It could easily come down to the umps and balls and strikes. 5-15 bad calls per game, easily changing ABs, innings, even games. I watch this closely. I guarantee it will change ABs and innings. And it can easily change games. They surely change statistics. And there’s no accountability, not even with everyone watching pitch tracker. It’s a travesty. Can’t wait for the rise of the machines calling balls and strikes. I want accuracy, consistency and fairness. I don’t want some ump deciding for all of us what the strike zone is on a pitch by pitch, pitcher by pitcher, batter by batter, team by team basis.
The baseball. It’s a compilation of every other choice.
I voted other since I honestly won’t be watching the WS. I will check the box scores. I hate the hype, the talking heads and the network coverage. I love watching baseball with NO sound.
i wish i can mute the talking heads. but not the game sound.
Completely agree. Joe Buck is awful.
i personally dont mind Buck for baseball.
Now the NFL is a different story. Hes got no idea how to talk football.
Joe Buck only has a job because of his Dad.
When it comes to the NFL, Chris Collingsworth is the worst for me. He’s so biased it isnt even funny.
Joe Buck is just a giant tool.
Buck is definitely a tool. Not sure why he was building up the Judge play on D. Of course he didn’t seem to mind the baserunning mistake on Brantley’s outstanding catch. John Smoltz can also be muted.
If MLB knew how many people muted their National Broadcasters in favor of their hometown radio broadcast, they’d probably be in utter shock.
Then again, it could just be a cruel joke Manfred is playing on us.
Not a Dodgers or Giants fan, but both Vin Scully and Jon Miller can call a game and I’m all ears for those guys.
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t MLB At Bat have an option where you could watch the game from various camera angles around the stadium without the announcers? Is that still the case?
“ I’m absolutely willing to make the gigantic leap here that Stras’ postseason participation would have led to a World Series berth in 2012.”
Nobody was getting past Marco Scutaro in 2012. Nobody.
You are absolutely correct.
Scutaro was on a mission that postseason
Cole to the Yankees and Strasburg to the Phillies?
Either that or Cole goes to LA. I don’t see the Phillies spending the money on Cole that he is seeking, IMO, the more realistic scenario would be Strasburg to Philly.
I don’t know. I don’t see Cashman making that kind of deal again. He didn’t make a huge trade splash at the deadline when they needed an ace and another strong bullpen arm, and look what the Stanton deal got him. I can’t read him right now.
will the thunder storms reach washington dc in time for the game? will another system developing in central mexico western shores reach houston?
I vote for the underdog: the Nationals in 6
Battle of the Aces for sure!!! Can’t wait to watch Max and Gerrit go head-to-head! Let’s take a double no-hitter into the 9th. LOL
Another thing on Cole vs Strasburg – both are former #1 overall picks. Obviously Cole is with a different team, but still pretty easy to find.
I’d hardly call two world series championships a dynasty. Give me a break.
Ahh suck on my hairy cheek
its true. How can you call a team a dynasty that has 1?
The only thing close to a dynasty in recent memory were the Giants when they won 3 in a very small window.
Thank you. The idiocy of calling the Astros a dynasty, even before they have won their second WS, is appalling. And even after…
Amen.
The fact that they share the same spring training facility is pretty cool
Much more intriguing question:
Who throws out the first pitch in Game #3 in DC?
DJT? HRC? Tulsi? Vladimer? Macedonian Data Farmers?
America wants to know……
Yee mum
They didn’t mention that the Astros and Nationals built a spring training complex together in West Palm Beach a few years ago.
Ummmm, Verlander is definitely not 29.
“in 2012…Stras and those Nats…would have faced off against – who else – Verlander’s Tigers. By that time, Verlander, 29, was 124-65 …”
In other words Verlander was 29 in 2012. The writer was not stating Verlander’s current age. Also Verlander is now 225-129.
Mr. Owl & the baseball. How many baseballs launched into orbit during the World Series? Let’s find out!
Am I the only person thinking the Nats on here? Shouldn’t have beaten the Brewers, certainly shouldn’t have seen off the Dodgers, shouldn’t have swept the Cards. I know the phrase “playing loose” is overused but in spite of the Astros having an advantage almost everywhere positionally I think the Nats have a punchers chance provided by their pitching throughout. And, sweet Auntie Marjorie, they are playing loose.
Oops – wrong thread. Cut & paste
I checked off “Other” What will Kate Upton be wearing???
I’m too polite to respond. OK, I’m lying. Best laugh I’ve had to a comment in a while. She just loves his fastballs, so probably something alluring enough to smuggle JV, Cole, Altuve and Springer to Anaheim.?
Rendon coming home, playing against his hometown team just five miles down San jacinto from where he dominated college ball is a pretty cool story.
What kind of tv ratings will this World Series get? How bad will College Football on Saturday outperform game 4 in the ratings, and how bad will Sunday night Football crush game 5 in the ratings?
I’m going to bet pretty bad. Given the steady rating drop over the last several years, it shouldn’t be too hard.
Thanks for the well thought out unbiased reply. Perhaps questions such as mine should’ve been a part of the poll.
They should’ve. I’d be willing to bet that a lot of people will answer the same way I did and the ratings that come out after the games will reflect that.
Just being honest.
I voted other. For me personally I think the story line of the Nats winning it the first year after Harper leaves. Add on, that Hunter Strickland is now a Nat and you have an interesting story line IMO. Wondering if we will we see a change in teams choices to go for the big star that is known not to have the best team chemistry. I don’t remember the last team winning the WS with a big star that causes issues in the clubhouse.
A-Rod in 2009?
I voted other. To me the answer is simply these are the two best rotations in baseball. I am really excited to watch these games.
Storyline – When do the Astros announce that they’ve signed Cole at 6/37?
At the same time Trump wins a Nobel Prize.
Trump isn’t winning one THIS week.
37 million is pretty damn cheap for Cole.
Starting Pitchers are the most unpredictable players in baseball. I would never want my team to spend more than $37M over several years for a pitcher.
Traditional American League team – Washington playing a traditional National League team – Houston, but both are now in different leagues, how crazy is that?
I thought the Expos were A national league team ?
Red Sox have definitely been to a couple title bouts this decade too, and they also won a couple of them. Love that they were left out though… 🙂
2 in 10 years is not a dynasty. 2 in 6 isn’t either. 3 in 5, 4 in 6 or 7, 5 in 8 or 9. Those are dynasties.