Baseball fans should be accustomed to seeing the Astros in the American League Championship Series. Houston is in baseball's final four for the seventh consecutive year after finishing off the Twins in the ALDS.
In the clubhouse afterward, Justin Verlander gave the celebration speech before the champagne began popping. The veteran pitcher has been with the Astros throughout this run of excellence, but it's easy to forget that he signed with the Mets as a free agent before a midseason trade brought him back.
Returning to the ALCS and facing the in-state rival Rangers made Verlander emotional, which he conveyed with a whole bunch of f-bombs while addressing the team.
“Boys, this is one of those seasons nothing went our f---ing way early,” said Verlander. “We battled through injuries. We f---ing grinded. I wasn’t even f---ing here. I’m happy to be back. The seventh f---ing time. Seventh f---ing time. All right, don’t take that for granted. On seven, everybody pop these mother------s.”
Thankfully, Game 3 and its postgame scene were on FS1. Verlander’s profanity wasn’t considered as objectionable on the cable channel.
The Astros chased the Rangers all season long in the AL West, which is surely the grinding that Verlander referred to. Houston finally gained the division lead in September, but finished the season tied with Texas. But winning the season series versus the Rangers, 9–4, earned the division title.
Manager Dusty Baker deferred celebration speech duties to Verlander, saying he'll wait until the World Series. However, Verlander set the f-bomb bar pretty high, maybe too high for the skipper to reach.
Game 1 of the ALCS is scheduled for Sunday with the start time yet to be announced.
