Note: Some links are still under construction. Please bear with us.

It's often said that it is harder to defend a championship that it is to win one and the Astros could claim witness to the veracity of this. The 2022 World Series dragged into November while the spring training days began in early February due to the novelty of the World Baseball Classic, an international competition that Americans don't take too seriously but the rest of the baseball world seemingly does.

Jose Altuve proudly represented his native Venezuela until an inside fastball sailed in on him and broke his right thumb. He would miss two months of the regular season. On May 1st, starting pitcher Luis Garcia damaged a tendon in his right elbow and would be lost for the season. The day before, pitcher Jose Urquidy hurt his right shoulder and would miss three months.

The Astros were already adjusting to the loss of Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, who signed with the Mets in free agency. Lance McCullers continued to fight a right forearm strain. Add this up and Dusty Baker would have to scramble for healthy starting pitching. The additional strain on the rotation and the bullpen would be felt as the season wore on.

It was something of a fallback year for the rest of the rotation. Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 ERA), Cristian Javier (10-5, 4.56) and last year's sensation Hunter Brown (11-13, 5.09) all seemed to lose effectiveness as season waned. Brandon Bielak (5-6, 3.83) and rookie J.P. France (11-6, 3.83) were inserted into the rotation to take the spots of Garcia and Urquidy.

The bullpen held together for the most part. Ryan Pressly (4-5, 3.58, 31 saves) put in another solid season while Bryan Abreu (3-2, 1.75, 5) became the prinicpal set-up man. Hector Neris (6-3, 1.71, 2) turned in his best work while Phil Maton (4-3, 3.00, 1) was a rubber-armed middle-innings man. Ryne Stanek (3-1, 4.09) and Rafael Montero (3-3, 5.08, 1) struggled.

Montero had been quickly signed after the season to a three-year, $34.5 million extension by the Astros who were working without a general manager after James Click was forced out. While technically the Astros let Click's contract expire, it was clear he was on the way out after losing a power struggle with Baker and owner Jim Crane over the use of light-hitting catcher Martin Maldonado. At the post-Series celebration, a clearly awkward Click was present but couldn't enjoy what, for most GMs, would be the pinnacle of their careers.

Crane, along with legend Jeff Bagwell, took over for Click during most of that winter. They were sharply criticized for signing Montero who had never made more than $3 million a season previously.

Crane's next move quickly changed the conversation. Seeking to replace an aging Yuli Gurriel at the end of his contract, the braintrust signed All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu from the White Sox to a three-year $58.5 million contract. A Cuban like Gurriel, Abreu's home run total had dipped from 30 to 15 the year before and some warned the 36-year-old Abreu's production was winding down.

In late January, the Astros introduced Dana Brown as their new general manager. A former player and scout, he had become vice president of scouting for the Atlanta Braves from 2019 to 2022 under Alex Anthopoulos. Brown had been credited with the success of Atlanta's deep farm system.

With Altuve out and a new guy at first base, the Astros sputtered in April to a 9-10 record before taking 5-of-6 on a road trip to Atlanta and Tampa pushed them within a half-game of the West Division lead. But the Spacemen proceeded to drop seven of their next ten games, sinking 4.5 games behind the fast-starting Texas Rangers.

While the bats struggled, a bright spot was Mauricio Dubon, the utilityman pressed into serve at second base in Altuve's absense. Dubon batted .317 with a .746 OPS through May 1st. Outfielder Kyle Tucker, normally a slow starter, carried the offense in April, batting .286 with five homers and an .859 OPS through April 30th.

Jose Abreu, meanwhile, got off to a slow start, hitting .235 with no homers through April 30th. He would not hit his first homer as Astro until May 28th in Oakland. By that time, he was batting just .214 and the fan base grumbled.

Houston went 17-10 in May but slumped to a 13-14 June even as Altuve returned to the lineup. The ship righted in July but the Astros were still tailing the Rangers as the trade deadline neared. Dana Brown made two key trades, one was to bring back reliever Kendall Graveman from the White Sox to help a weary bullpen. The other was received like a shot in the arm.

Houston dealt two top prospects to the Mets to re-acquire Verlander. The 40-year-old ace put up less than eye-popping numbers in Gotham and was glad to be back with the Astros and back in a pennant race. On August 29th, the Astros finally tied the Rangers and swept them in Arlington in early September by scores of 13-6, 14-1 and 12-3 to claim the division lead. Most thought the race was all but won after that.

It wasn't. The Astros went 6-10 after that and needed to sweep the last three games in Arizona to complete a 90-72 record. Fortunately, the Rangers also stumbled to the finish line and the two teams ended in a tie for the divsion crown. By virtue of a 9-4 head-to-head record, the Astros won the tie-breaker, their sixth division crown in the past seven years.

Tucker (.284 BA, 29 HR, 112 RBI) consistently led the offense along with Yordan Alvarez (.293, 31, 97) and third baseman Alex Bregman (.262, 25, 98). Altuve (.311, 17, 51), Dubon (.278, 10, 46) and shortstop Jeremy Pena (.263, 10, 52) supported them. Jose Abreu (.237, 18, 90) put on a late spurt while Maldonado (.191, 15, 36) brought up the rear.

Two reserves shined throughout the season. Outfielder Chas McCormick (.273, 22, 70) and back-up catcher Yainer Diaz (.282, 23, 60) made up for power absenses elsewhere. Rookie Corey Julks (.245, 6, 33) and Jake Meyers (.227, 10, 33) also saw significant playing time in the outfield.

The ALDS... (Full Recap)

First up for the Astros in their playoff push were the Central Division champs, the Minnesota Twins, who were led by a familiar face - shortstop Carlos Correa. The former Astros captain returned to free agency that winter and found multi-year top-dollar offers from both San Francisco and then the Mets withdrawn over old injury news. It seems while he was in the Houston farm system, he had a screw inserted in his right ankle to hold two bones in place which was still there. Neither the Giants nor the Mets could get insurance on the ankle so Correa eventually returned to Minnesota on a lesser deal.

In Game 1 of the best-of-5 series, Alvarez showed he was in postseason form with a pair of home runs while Jose Altuve showed he was too with a leadoff clout to back Verlander in a 6-4 opening win. In Game 2, Correa went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to pace a 6-2 series-tying decision.

All season long, the Astros had revised their "Road Warrior" image, posting a 51-30 (.630) record on the road which offset a dismal 39-42 (.481) mark at home. The postseason was no different. Game 3 in the Twin Cities was a 9-1 laugher for Houston behind Javier. Jose Abreu blasted two homers while Alvarez and Bregman also went deep. Houston won the series the next day in a 3-2 squeakeras Jose Abreu's two-run homer in the fourth produced the winning blow. Michael Brantley also homered. Urquidy lasted into the sixth while Neris, Bryan Abreu and Pressly closed it out.

The ALCS... (Full Recap)

Although Major League Baseball had tried their best to make the Rangers-Astros rivalry important, the two clubs had rarely tussled with much on the line. 2023 would be different and the two clubs found themselves on a collision course to play for a berth in the World Series. The Rangers spent big on free agents and key prospects to suddenly become a player in the postseason, toppling Tampa and Baltimore to get to the LCS.

Houston's home woes continued in the best-of-seven contest. Lefthander Jordan Montgomery, a mid-season trade pick-up, outdueled Verlander in Game 1, 2-0, as the Astros were held to five hits. In Game 2, the Rangers jumped on Valdez for four runs on their way to a 5-4 decision. Alvarez drilled two home runs and Bregman tagged a solo shot off Nathan Eovaldi but it was not enough.

Down 2-0 in the series, Houston used their road magic again to draw even. The offense scored five against Max Scherzer who, like Verlander, started the season with the Mets. Both bullpens struggled as Houston held on for an 8-5 victory in Game 3. Maldonado was a surprise contributor at the plate withtwo hits and two RBIs. The Spacemen blew the doors off the Rangers in Game 4 with a 10-3 rout.

Many thought Game 5 would determine the series. The Rangers held a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning when Altuve, facing Jose Leclerc, shocked the Arlington crowd with a three-run homer to take the lead. Pressly gave up the first two batters but then retired the next three for a 5-4 triumph!

Houston juat needed one win out of the final two games back at Minute Maid. In Game 6, a close game turned into a 9-2 Rangers clubbing as Montero and Stanek allowed five runs in the ninth. The Rangers carried that momentum into Game 7, winning comfortably 11-4, as Series MVP Adolis Garcia blasted two home runs and plated five runs in a dominant performance.

The Rangers wnt on to beat Arizona in the World Series. Dusty Baker announced his retirement but later signed with the San Francisco Giants in an advisory position.

Key Batters		HR	RBI	AVG
C	Martin Maldonado	15	36	.191
1B	Jose Abreu	18	90	.237
2B	Jose Altuve	17	51	.311
3B	Alex Bregman	25	98	.262
SS	Jeremy Pena	10	52	.263
LF	Chas McCormick	6	33	.245
CF	Jake Meyers	10	33	.227
RF	Kyle Tucker	29	112	.284
DH	Yordan Alvarez	31	97	.293
IF	Mauricio Dubon	10	46	.278
C	Yainer Diaz	23	60	.282
OF	Corey Julks	6	33	.245
Key Pitchers		W	L	ERA
SP	Framber Valdez	12	11	3.45
SP	Cristian Javier	10	5	4.56
SP	Hunter Brown	11	13	5.09
SP	J.P. France	11	6	3.83
SP	Justin Verlander	7	3	3.31
CL	Ryan Pressly	4	5	3.58
RP	Bryan Abreu	3	2	1.75
RP	Hector Neris	6	3	1.71
RP	Rafael Montero	3	3	5.08
RP	Phil Maton	4	3	3.00
RP	Ryne Stanek	3	1	4.09

Abreu: Free agent gamble (c) Associated Press

Altuve: Lost two months (c) USA Today

Diaz: Pushed for playing time (c) Associated Press

France: Unexpected contribution (c) Associated Press

Verlander: He's baaaaack (c) Associated Press

Tucker: Carried club at times (c) Houston Chronicle

Baker: Great four-year run (c) Associated Press