The same day that the New York Mets secured their ticket to the 2022 MLB postseason, the Houston Astros clinched the AL West division.
It is their fifth division title in the last six seasons, only interrupted by the Oakland Athletics’ conquest in 2020.
Astros fans, of course, are some of the most passionate in the sport.
They celebrate their team’s success…and also hold grudges if needed.
Twitter user @dav_ray71, an Astros fan, went to a preseason poll among MLB on FOX fans to show them they were wrong.
Fans had picked the Seattle Mariners to win the AL West in late March.
Another MLB on FOX fans L pic.twitter.com/WqtHIDO33a
— David (@dav_ray71) September 20, 2022
However, and while the Mariners are about to make the postseason for the first time since 2001, they aren’t as good as the Astros.
Seattle Is Good, But Houston Is Just Better
Seattle is 81-65, in possession of one of the postseason spots (Wild Card) in the junior circuit.
Yet the Astros are 15 games ahead of them with a 97-51 mark.
With Justin Verlander pitching like a Cy Young candidate, a better bullpen, a deeper rotation, and the great Jeremy Pena filling in nicely for the departed shortstop Carlos Correa, the Astros are even better than their 2021 version.
That version was two wins away from winning the World Series.
Now, Yordan Alvarez has taken a huge step forward and is now a top-three hitter in the American League, while Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, and Yuli Gurriel remain top performers, too.
Houston also acquired Trey Mancini, and now has excellent rookie Hunter Brown contributing valuable innings in a swingman role.
In other words, the Astros are the best team in the AL and are ready to challenge for the World Series title.
