A few days ago the regular phase of the 2023 season ended in the major leagues, followed by the start of the wild card series, and in the blink of an eye, we are already in the divisional series, incredible how time goes by in a season that never ceases to surprise us. The clashes in the American League, which is the one I have chosen to give you my analysis and opinion and especially the series between the Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros, since this pairing was known, it was already giving something to talk about, and is that it is between the current champions, the Astros, and Minnesota, that with the help of Carlos Correa former player of Houston, has added an extra in terms of spectacle to this series, which undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary is us the fans.
PRIMERAS INSTANCIAS | FIRST INSTANCES
Although Minnesota was in a weak division according to the experts of this sport, they always showed dominance over it, since they are not to blame for the poor performance of the teams belonging to this location of the league, which did not prevent them from reaching these instances against the Astros. After their sweep against Toronto in the wild card series, the Twin Cities team gained momentum to face the Astros, who, being the current champions and having a long history of games in these instances since the 2015 season, have the most experience in this type of short series games.
In the first game everything indicated that the Astros would dominate this game, one of their top players, the Venezuelan Jose Altuve would start this contest, and in his first at-bat for him and his team with a home run, giving the initial blow and a touch of authority, which indicated at that moment, that history would repeat itself, seeing once again an Astros team dominating a series like this one. Finally, Houston would win this first game 6 to 4, but if we analyze well, since their last minute entrance to this post-season and to this game, they were not as strong as expected, end of a cycle? we do not know, what is certain is that I do not see them as strong as in previous years.
Fuente | Source
UN EQUIPO COMPETITIVO | A COMPETITIVE TEAM
The headline of this section of the publication is in line with what happened in the second game of this series, because...? It would mean not only the tie in this contest on the part of Minnesota, but to steal a home game from the Astros, with a masterful work of the Venezuelan Pablo Lopez, the Twins would take this second game, demonstrating 2 things, character and determination, because both were put into practice, after José Altuve got on base again in his first at bat, something that did not affect the visitors, because they would go ahead in the commitment and take the lead in the scoreboard very early.
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To win this kind of games in these instances, you need: Good pitching and good defense, plus a timely batting, and that is precisely what Minnesota did, they relied for 7 innings on their starting pitcher, who kept the home team at 0, and the rest of his teammates did the rest, Carlos Correa in stellar form, looked great with the wood and with the glove, securing the victory and returning home with the series tied, and with a real chance to pull it off, because in your stadium and with your people, the chances of winning and advancing are very high, taking advantage of the opportunities that your opponent gives you, which in this case does not look as strong as in previous occasions.
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PODER CUBANO | CUBAN POWER
Playing at home on paper is seen as an advantage, but for sure it can be something that plays against you, and that was precisely what happened in game 3 of this series, the Astros for the third consecutive game managed to make themselves felt in the offense starting a game, and this time they would hurt the home team, accumulating an advantage that they would not lose in the rest of the commitment, With the help of Alex Gregman and Cubans Yordan Alvarez and Jose Abreu, the Houston Astros easily displaced the Twins 9 runs to 1 to give a hard blow, not only for winning on the road, but it was against one of Minnesota's pitching stellars, Sonny Gray, who was hit in a timely manner, with complete game hits with men on the bases.
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In this game the bats of the team led by Dusty Baker returned to what they have always been, leading us to see Houston again as a strong team, something that was not seen at all in the first 2 games, the West Indian power of the island of Cuba represented by Abreu and Alvarez would make an appearance for between the 2 to connect 3 homers of the 4 of his team, 2 for Abreu and one for Alvarez who with this home run, would reach 4 in this series, something that if it keeps going this way, we would be seeing the current champions again as protagonists and again contenders for the title.
Fuente | Source
GANÓ LA EXPERIENCIA / EXPERIENCE WON
We reached the fourth game of this contest and we see the Astros being the Astros, how is this? With a great pitching they have dominated the Minnesota Astros with a tight score of 3-2, being the most relevant, the experience that this team has in these instances, they overcame their rival in a very clear and safe way regardless of the fact that they were visiting, which would give them direct access to their 7th consecutive championship series, an achievement that in these modern times, not even the New York Yankees of the 90's had been able to do, something truly amazing.
The trademark of these Astros is the game as a whole, is what has allowed them to reach again an American League final, they are a united team and have maintained their essence in everything, over time and although they have suffered the loss of some players whose destinies have been to other teams, they have been able to replace them with other players, who have not only replaced such absences, but have adapted to the system of play of the team as such, good news too, A good news is also the good offensive moment of Cuban Jose Abreu who for the second consecutive game hits it out of the park to contribute to this achievement, performances that in the regular season were very absent and that in these instances if they have been seen, gaining much importance, taking into account that the opponent ahead is a team like the Texas Rangers, neighbors of city and division, which is playing good baseball, with a manager like Bruce Bochy, who has won 3 world series to his credit.
Fuente | Source
HASTA LA PRÓXIMA / SEE YOU NEXT TIME
#Hive
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