BRAWL IN THE BIG APPLE
Here's how the Houston Astros blueprint for success is being built
We know what hedonism is – the pursuit of pleasure and sensual self-indulgence. Hedonists care only about their personal happiness, physical gratification and living the fine life.
Hedonism II, for example, is the notorious clothing-optional resort in Jamaica where, according to the brochure, “one of the greatest pleasures of life in indulging in our most hedonistic desires. Here there’s never too much of a good thing. People live out their fantasies and escape their inhibitions. From that extra slice of decadent chocolate cake or a lobster tail smothered in lemon butter, an extra shot of 12-year-old rum in your punch to a sensual midnight tryst in the pool.”
You had me at chocolate cake, but I think I’ll pass on getting into that pool. Also, I’m a clothing-mandatory guy. You’ll thank me later.
On the opposite end of hedonism is a psychological condition called Anhedonia. Someone who suffers from Anhedonia is unable to find pleasure in anything. They’re like that Joe Btfsplk character in the comic strip Li’l Abner who has a dark rain cloud constantly over him.
Fun fact, Woody Allen originally wanted Anhedonia as the title for his 1977 Oscar-winning comedy Annie Hall.
This past week, if you looked up Anhedonia in the dictionary you might have seen photos of Houston Astros fans. I’ve been reading sportswriters and listening to talk shows griping about the Astros blowing two leads at Yankee Stadium. There was whining, the Astros shoulda, coulda, woulda” won all six games against the Mets and Yankees.
Like the bartender said to the horse who walked into a saloon and ordered a martini – “Why the long face?”
The Astros swept two against the NL East-leading Mets in Houston and split a four-game set against the MLB-leading Yankees in The Bronx. That’s 4-2 against the two best records in baseball. Despite the Astros’ weirdly powder puff schedule thus far in 2022, DraftKings has the Astros at No. 2 in its power rankings. Fangraphs goes one better, they have the Astros as favorites to win the World Series.
Astros starting pitchers completely shut down the mighty Yankees. That’s pretty good. Three hurlers combined for a no-hitter, including hanging the loss on former Astro Gerrit Cole. Not too shabby. Jose Altuve answered Yankees fans’ chorus of boos and profanity with big hits, including a first-pitch homer. Loved that.
The Astros are leading the AL West by 10 full games. They’re the only team in the division with a winning record. Houston, we have no problem.
Now it’s on to the Mets at Citi Field for two games before returning to Minute Maid Park for a one-night stand with the Yankees on Thursday.
Sure there are problems that need to be addressed. Manager Dusty Baker went all Floyd the Barber explaining why he didn’t intentionally walk Aaron Judge in the 10th inning on Sunday. Earlier that game, Baker sent Jason Castro to pinch hit for Martin Maldonado. Castro is hitting .095. Maldy is hitting .147. Somebody needs to look it up, this deep into a season, is that the lowest combined average for a pinch hitter and pinch hittee? Also, I think we’ve seen enough of Phil Maton out of the bullpen.
General manager James Click, get to work.
Cheer up Astros fans. All’s well that, according to Fangraphs, will end well.
You want something to really be concerned about? There’s a blooper in H-E-B’s new commercial featuring Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena and Lance McCullers.
Bregman and Altuve think salsa night means chips and dip, while Pena and McCullers come prepared to dance the night away. They battle back and forth … “Salsa!” No, “Salsa!”
Look closely, McCullers’ man bun is tightly wound in the first two exchanges, is combed out and free-flowing in the third, but his bun is magically recoiled two seconds later.
That wouldn’t have happened under Scott McClelland’s watch.
