The Houston Astros have had a meteoric rise over the past couple years in the MLB, but it’s not as if no one saw it coming.
The Astros have used one of the most analytically driven strategies over the past couple of seasons and it’s clearly working for them. They seem to be pumping out blue chip prospect after blue chip prospect and it seems like when one gets called up another two appear in the minors. So much of their current core was home grown talent which makes them that much more likable.
Jose Altuve, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel and many others made up the core that is still with the team today, which is why Sports Illustrated was able to make this prediction in 2014.
Now, the team still has to win the World Series to make this a reality, but regardless it’s a pretty impressive prediction.
If there was a hockey version of this, it would have to happen next year. That’s because in 2015, The Hockey News predicted that the Winnipeg Jets would be the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions. That was before Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor had even joined the team, so they have to like their chances.
They are back in a playoff spot this season, so at least they’re back on track from this season.
