When the Washington Nationals swept the St. Louis Cardinals, I thought that they would win the World Series. I expected five games, but for the sport, seven. To see an underdog that never won anything, even in Montreal, is one of the biggest surprises to end the 2010s. It was a matter of going to their strengths in pitching and the bats coming in at the right time. They join the 1996 Yankees as a team that won eight on the road, including four World Series games.
You talk pitching, you got Stephen Strasburg. Capping off his postseason with phenomenal Game 6, there's a reason he won the MVP for the series Add in Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, and they helped bail out a struggling bullpen. Of course, you got Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto delivering at the plate. Howie Kendrick is a huge hero in Washington baseball lore. Lots of contribution. Keep in mind that near the end of May, the team was 19 and 31. The nation's capital gets its first baseball trophy since 1924 and it joins on the midst of last years Capitals hockey championship and the recent WNBA Mystics Finals win.
With Houston, they blew opportunities. The overuse of Justin Verlander was obvious. Why Zack Greinke was pulled, I don't know. Manager AJ Hinch blew his opportunity in managing what pitchers to use. The question will be asked about Gerrit Cole and if he could have been used. Starters in relief has been seen, but that quick in two days rest, who knows. With the Astros batting, they came at moments, but in the losses, they couldn't figure out the Nationals.
I think the Astros were distracted by the controversy regarding their fired assistant GM. Questionable choices in the games. Even the umpire issues on both sides. Either way, this is a special way to end the decade. The Nationals surprised many with defeating the LA Dodgers. Sweeping the Cardinals helped them and to pull off the upset. All DC needs now is the Wizards and Redskins to get into championship contention. Baseball's trophy gets its stay in a meaningful place until next year.
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