Houston Rangers’ Corey Seager Shines in ALCS
Corey Seager, a standout player for the Houston Rangers, may not be the most dynamic baseball player, but his consistently strong performance cannot be overlooked. With numerous accolades under his belt, including multiple All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger awards, and even a World Series MVP title, Seager has proven his talent on the field. However, some may consider him to be rather unexciting. His teammate, Marcus Semien, describes him as “a very stoic player.”
Despite his reserved nature, Seager played a crucial role in the Texas Rangers’ journey to the American League Championship Series. With an impressive 6.1 fWAR this season, he ranked third in the American League, behind only Semien and Shohei Ohtani. In the first five playoff games, including wild card and Division Series sweeps, Seager boasted an OPS of 1.649.
However, as the Rangers faced off against the reigning champion Houston Astros, Seager and the team faced difficulty. Going into Game 7, with the Rangers teetering on the edge of elimination, Seager had a batting average of .192, no walks, one home run, and two RBI in the series. Despite their recent struggles, Seager and Semien remained at the top of the lineup, as old-school manager Bruce Bochy stayed consistent in his decision-making.
During Game 7 against pitcher Cristian Javier, who started the first postseason game that the Rangers lost, Semien grounded out in his first at-bat. On the second pitch he saw, Seager launched a 440-foot home run into the second deck above right field. Though Seager maintained his usual composed demeanor, he couldn’t contain his excitement as he high-fived third base coach Tony Beasley and let out a victorious shout.
Emotion may not be Seager’s usual approach, but as Semien noted, “When he shows emotion, watch out.”
With an early 1-0 lead in the decisive Game 7 against their division rival, the Rangers never relinquished it. They secured an 11-4 victory, clinching the pennant. The story of the Rangers’ triumph has been shared repeatedly, highlighting their commitment to rebuilding through free agency. By signing Seager and Semien for a combined total of $500 million in just 48 hours, the Rangers aimed to improve their team while also establishing themselves as a destination for impactful players. Their credibility helped them to attract a new rotation last year, and they continue to upgrade as needed.
When asked if Seager expected the team’s success to come so quickly, he responded, “Um, you never know.” Two years since joining the Rangers, Seager and Semien will now host Game 1 of the World Series.
“It’s hard to be here,” Seager admitted. “So this is why it’s fun and exciting – because it’s not easy to achieve what we’ve done. But this was their vision from the beginning. So for it to come true, it really is special.”
Adolis García Sparks Emotion in the ALCS
Adolis García certainly doesn’t fit the mold of a stoic player. His presence became significant in the series after getting hit by a pitch that led to a brawl in Game 5. However, in Game 6, García rebounded with four strikeouts and a grand slam. This impressive feat earned García boos from Astros fans every time he stepped up to bat in Houston.
In the first inning of Game 7, with rookie Evan Carter on first base after a walk, García hit a deep ball towards the Crawford Boxes. Rather than running swiftly out of the box, García stood and admired the 346-foot arc of the ball as it hit off the wall. Though he missed the opportunity for a double, García settled for a long single, an RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. In his very next at-bat, García homered for the fourth consecutive game, celebrating his triumph. He also singled to drive in two runs in the following inning, contributing to a four-run surge that secured the Rangers’ victory after the Astros closed in with a two-run deficit.
By the eighth inning, the Rangers had accumulated double-digit runs, with every member of the lineup, except one, recording at least one hit. Astros fans began leaving the stadium. García continued to make an impact by hitting another home run – this time receiving more cheers than boos due to the change in crowd allegiance.
After being awarded ALCS MVP honors, García acknowledged the emotional intensity of October baseball, stating, “You can’t really deny that October has that type of emotion.”
David Freese’s Postseason Record and García’s Offensive Prowess
In the postseason, driving in runs becomes crucial, and David Freese holds the record for the most RBI in a single postseason. While RBI might not be the most comprehensive statistic for evaluating a player’s ability (as it heavily depends on context), it plays a significant role in postseason success. During the 2011 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, Freese’s standout performance earned him a reputation as a local hero, as he drove in 21 runs across 18 games.
In 2021, after a twelve-year absence from the Fall Classic, the Texas Rangers found their own offensive powerhouse in Adolis García. With just 12 games and 54 plate appearances, García already ranks second in RBI during a single postseason, tied with Seager’s performance in 2020 and trailing behind Freese’s record. The extended playoffs allow for more opportunities to accumulate stats, but García has achieved his impressive RBI count in a relatively short span.
Now, García has at least four more games to add to his tally and potentially claim the all-time RBI record.
Rangers’ Win-Now Attitude and the Impact of Pitching
When discussing negotiations with CY, the Rangers’ front office highlighted the team’s impressive offense, but pitching remained a crucial priority. Pitching failures plagued the team in the previous season, prompting general manager Chris Young to bolster the pitching staff. The Rangers signed numerous pitchers, including Andrew Heaney, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi, who returned to his hometown team.
The Rangers’ win-now mentality became evident in their acquisition of additional starting pitchers when offseason signings succumbed to injuries. This approach led to Max Scherzer starting Game 7 instead of Heaney or deGrom. In a surprising turn, Jordan Montgomery, who had pitched in Game 5, went on to earn the victory in relief.
Eovaldi, who has started four games this postseason, winning all of them, reflects the team’s commitment to immediate success. Despite initial doubts about returning to Texas after the signings of Heaney and deGrom, Eovaldi understands that the Rangers are determined to win now.
The Rangers’ willingness to adapt to circumstances demonstrates their dedication to achieving victory.
