HOUSTON -- Brett Gardner was just a couple weeks shy of heading to spring training before he finally got this sight out of his mind: Lance McCullers Jr. and Brian McCann of the Houston Astros gleefully jumping into each other's arms near the pitcher's mound at Minute Maid Park.
In winning Game 7 of last fall's American League Championship Series over Gardner's New York Yankees, the Astros had plenty to revel in. Eleven days later, as World Series champions, their celebration continued.