Major League Baseball continues in its decisive stage of the Postseason, only four teams remain and now it enters a particular definition. In the American League, starting this Sunday, two of the best teams of the campaign will face each other, the same ones that competed in the West until the last day of the regular season for a division title.
Houston Astros and Texas Rangers have never met before in the playoffs, so this Championship Series will be historic. For the seventh consecutive year, Houston will be in the ALCS; Texas, for its part, has not done so since 2011. This series will have added interest for Cubans, since each squad will have a couple of Antilleans. Yordan Álvarez and José Abreu will play for the defending world champions, while Adolis García and Aroldis Chapman will play for the Rangers.
Of them, only Yordan (2022) and Aroldis (2015, Chicago Cubs) have a World Series ring. Adolis is participating in his first postseason and Abreu is playing in his third, first with the Houston Astros. The duo of Yordan and Abreu was decisive in the Division Series against the Twins.
The man from Las Tunas averaged .438 with a pair of doubles, four home runs, six RBIs and posted a fourth best SLG (1.313) in a playoff series with a minimum of 15 assists at home plate, behind only Lou Gehrig (1.727, 1928 WS), Juan González (1.375, 1996 ALDS) and Babe Ruth (1.375, 1928 WS).
Jose Abreu pic.twitter.com/AncvCklWOL
— Javier Gonzalez (@Astros_Coverage) October 14, 2023
The Cienfuegos native was not far behind, hitting three homers and driving in eight runs, being key in the Astros’ two victories in Minnesota, and he also instrumental in the sweep (vs. Diamondbacks) that gave them the title in the West. Without a doubt, the two sluggers lead the team at the plate in that Series. Abreu spoke to Javier González of our sister page Pelota Cubana and this about to say his current situation.
When you decided to sign with this team, I assume you had your goals, at this point in the season after seeing what the team has accomplished, do you think the organization met expectations, fell short or overdelivered?
I think it is a very storied franchise, the expectations have always been there, I have finally achieved what I wanted my whole career, to be on a competitive team. The only thing we have to remain united and do the right things to win each game.
It is your first Championship Series, you had been with the White Sox in two postseasons, but you have never played this many games before in a season. Are you fatigued in any way.
No, no, I think not. We have continued working in the same way that we have all season and with the same energy. I feel no fatigue, the most important thing is to go out on the field everyday to compete and find a way to win. This situation is what I longed for my whole career.
How does a player mentally put a season that wasn’t the best behind him and focus in the way you have in this postseason?
I am a faithful believer that we cannot fix the past, the only thing we can look at in the past is the positive, in the past I found many positive lessons that served well me for now. I am a faithful believer in living in the present and the present day is that we are in a great position to compete in this series.