Astros: Five things the team did well in 2018

Whenever a team sets a new franchise-best in wins during a single season, you can bet that they did some things well. Quite well, indeed.

Back in 1998, the Astros won a then-franchise record 102 games. It would take 20 years and over 3,000 regular season games before another Houston team would top that win total.

To win 103 games in a single season, a lot of things have to go right. Terrific pitching is usually required along with timely hitting. The right breaks are needed. Lucky bounces, for example. How about miscues from the opposition? (Start at the 15:35 mark).

How about another miscue, but this time from a division rival?

As a word of advice for the other team, you may want to consider intentionally walking Alex Bregman with the game on the line? Just a suggestion.

Anyway, the Astros were fortunate to have some of the breaks go their way. Not all went right for Houston, though. Once again, these events occurred when playing a division opponent.

I’m still waiting for the conclusive evidence on that one for the overturned call at home plate. But I digress.

The Astros had plenty of breaks go their way. In addition, help from unexpected places. Seriously, there are some years where little goes according to plan in baseball. But the help did not go for naught as the Astros were able to hold off rivals like the A’s and Mariners just long enough. Despite a disappointing finale to the ALCS along with questionable calls, Houston witnessed a high quality baseball once again.

In what specific areas did the Astros perform well? Let’s delve deeper into the subject material.