Yankees/Astros features two elite, young teams
With two franchises both poised to win for years ahead, this next series could be the first of many playoff meetings
When the New York Yankees completed their improbable comeback against the unbeatable Cleveland Indians last night, there was an entire range of emotions blanketing the game-five ending. Yankees fans were elated, while Cleveland fans were devastated, yes, but there are many other storylines to tease out. Aaron Judge’s first posteason, Joe Girardi’s game-two blunder, and Corey Kluber’s sudden vulnerability are all worth spending more time on.
However, there’s a great deal of baseball yet to be played. And perhaps most importantly, Yankees/Astros should be a compelling series, one that features two potential dynasties on the rise.
The first and most important feature of the ALCS is how good both teams are. The Houston Astros won 101 games (outperforming their Pythagorean win-loss record by only two games), while the Yankees won 91 (with a Pythagorean record of 100). Both teams easily reached the playoffs, even if New York had to wade through the dangerous and irresponsible Wild-Card game, and both teams have ambitions of a World Series trophy. It should be noted that Cleveland was the best team in the league, so this isn’t the best possible matchup in terms of true talent. Two teams with this profile and excellence is hardly a consolation matchup, however.
The second factor worth mentioning is how young, exciting, and built for long-term success both of these teams are. Houston slugged its way though the 2017 season with a cadre of young star talent. Jose Altuve, George Springer, and Carlos Correa all played exceptionally well, helping the Astros win a comparatively weak division with ease. This team isn’t quite as young as it once was — it may be more accurate to call these players “young veterans” rather than just “young players” — but Houston is built to stay relevant for a while, and 2017 could be a prelude for even more success in future years.
The Yankees also pulled off their own rebuild, one that has attracted near-infinite media attention. In fact, if the Astros had suddenly become good this year instead of in 2015, it’s quite imaginable that the Yankees would have overshadowed the impressive turnaround that Houston pulled off. A playoff appearance for New York was never out of the question, but it was always unlikely. To get to the ALCS after knocking off the best team in the league? That accomplishment is truly surprising.
Playoff rivalries are inherently more interesting than regular-season rivalries because of the higher stakes. When every game can tip the crucial balance of a series, each at bat, pitch, and movement takes on added urgency. This is all obvious, and you don’t need me to run through the attributes of playoff baseball again. The main point here is that the Yankees and the Astros are both good enough and young enough to meet several more times in the future. The inherent randomness and unpredictability of baseball may keep that from happening. The chance is there, though, and 2017’s edition should be compelling.
