In the pre-season Starting Nine article, we noted that Astros fans are spoiled. After five straight seasons of reaching the ALCS, three trips to the World Series, and one trophy, here in Houston we just expect excellence from the Astros. No rebuilding. Not even re-loading. The Astros are supposed to be among the best every year in perpetuity.
The success of the Astros since 2015 is a testimony, in part, to the success of the Jeff Luhnow re-build. But expecting forever success is ridiculous. Many analysts believed the Astros’ window was closing last year with the departure of the cornerstone of the re-build, George Springer.