Meanwhile, the Astros won the AL last year without Verlander and McCullers. Every trade acquisition meant to make any sort of impact? Ultimate dud that sets the team back a year. Giancarlo Stanton injury? Entire lineup sans Aaron Judge can’t produce. Aroldis Chapman meltdowns? Bullpen’s a disaster. Luis Severino injuries? Rotation derailed. The Yankees are typically characterized as a team that cannot succeed without every last piece of general manager Brian Cashman’s puzzle. The “special year” that was supposed to see the AL competition come through the Bronx will now be an underwhelming year that will see the AL competition going through Houston yet again. The Astros' magic number to clinch the top seed in the AL over the Yankees is 7.- Brian McTaggart SeptemAstros’ surge shows Yankees still have a ton to prove The Astros beat the Rays, 4-0, to win their 5th American League West title in the last 6 seasons, improving to 97-51. The golden era of baseball in Houston marches on. The Yankees can’t even prove to be a juggernaut when they’re at full force. The fact of the matter is that the Astros continuously prove they can deal with departures, losses, curveballs, unforeseen circumstances - whatever you want to call it - and remain a juggernaut. What would’ve happened if the Yankees had lost that many players and absorbed that much below-average production in their lineup? How much worse could the month of August really gotten? (only recently returned from Tommy John surgery), Kendall Graveman (departed in free agency), Zack Greinke (departed in free agency) and WITH some substandard performances from guys like Martin Maldonado, Yuli Gurriel, Jeremy Peña (Remember when he was the ROY?) and Chas McCormick. Houston’s managed to do this without Carlos Correa (departed in free agency), Michael Brantley (injured after just 64 games), Lance McCullers Jr. The Astros already clinched the AL West and will surely win 100 games this season to give them home field advantage throughout the playoffs - something that the Yankees should’ve easily locked up after their historic first-half start. It’s just been that way since 2015 pretty much, and the Yankees haven’t done a single thing about it. It doesn’t matter what’s made the Astros so good. Teams have gifted the Houston Astros players in trades. The Houston Astros have much less of a spotlight than the New York Yankees. The Houston Astros play in an easier division.
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