The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers saw their 2015 seasons end in the most cruel of ways. Houston was six outs away from the ALCS with a 6-2 lead in Game 4…and were outscored 14-2 in the final 11 innings of their ALDS matchup with the Royals. The Rangers took the first two games of their ALDS matchup with the Blue Jays *in Toronto*….and proceeded to lose three in a row, culminating in a wild and heartbreaking Game 5 back at Rogers Centre.
But let’s be honest here – no one expected either team to be playoff-bound in 2015. Both teams lost 90+ games in 2014, finishing in the bottom two positions in the American League. The Rangers helplessly watched as their ace, Yu Darvish, blew his elbow out in Spring Training. The Astros’ biggest moves of the offseason were trading for the boom or bust Evan Gattis, swapping Dexter Fowler for Luis Valbuena, and signing Colby Rasmus. Texas didn’t do anything that spectacular – they picked up Yovani Gallardo from the Brewers, and made a bunch of other supplemental moves.
Somehow, none of that mattered for either team. Shin-Soo Choo, Adrian Beltre, and Prince Fielder all stayed relatively healthy and received over 600 plate appearances for the Rangers. They infused the team with extra offense in the form of Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton. Several young stars also stepped up, including Delino DeShields Jr. and Rougned Odor. Texas cycled through plenty of starters, but midseason acquisition Cole Hamels held up his end of the bargain and both Gallardo and Colby Lewis made 33 starts. The bullpen was also a great surprise, thanks to the emergence of Keone Kela, Shawn Tolleson, and midseason acquisitions Sam Dyson and Jake Diekman.
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 14: Mike Fiers #54 of the Houston Astros walks back to the dugout after the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals during game five of the American League Divison Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 14, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
As for the Astros, their young talent blossomed a year early. Dallas Keuchel followed out his breakout 2014 with a Cy Young caliber 2015. Lance McCullers shined in 22 starts in the majors. Carlos Correa arrived in the majors and dominated, while George Springer and Jake Marisnick both took steps forward. Holdovers Jose Altuve, Jason Castro, and Chris Carter all delivered expected performances, while new veteran faces Rasmus, Valbuena, and Jed Lowrie played well.
And both of these teams are going to be back next season. Houston has just five free agents – a trio of relievers, Scott Kazmir, and Rasmus. Texas has seven – Napoli, Gallardo, Lewis, three relievers, and a bench player. The Mariners are in disarray. The Athletics struggled this season, and they could end up trading more players this winter. The Angels are getting older. It’s not as if the AL West is going to head back to Stone Age with both the Rangers and Astros in the basement.
So take heed, Texas baseball fans – your teams had crushing finishes to their respective seasons, but don’t run away from them. 2016 will be just a fun as 2015 was.
