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Houston Astros: The franchise all-time bracket

By Bill Felber

JUPITER, FL - MARCH 07: The Houston Astros logo on the arm of their jersey during a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 5-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 07: The Houston Astros logo on the arm of their jersey during a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 5-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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Houston Astros
Jeff Bagwell. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Houston Astros: The Franchise All-Time Bracket

No. 4 vs. 5 seed

This matchup pits the 1998  and  1999 Astros, back-to-back teams of very similar pedigree.

In 1998, Bagwell and Biggio hit .304 and .325 respectively, with Bagwell producing 34 homers and 111 RBIs. Left fielder Moises Alou led in that category with 124, batting .312, and right fielder Derek Bell drove in 108 on a .314 average. Plainly these guys could hit.

Acquired in a  mid-season trade, Randy Johnson was 10-1 with a1.28 ERA to rally the pitching staff. Reynolds led for the full season at 19-8 in 35 starts.

In 1999 Bagwell hit .304 with 42 homers and 126 RBIs, but Biggio fell off to a .294 average. Alou was gone, and the big outfield threat was Car; Everett, a .325 bat with 108 RBIs.

Johnson had left for free agency, but Jose Lima stepped up with a 21-10 season in 35 starts. Reynolds was his usual consistent self, delivering a 16-14 record in 35 starts. Wagner closed out 39 games.

Related Story. Los Angeles Angels: The franchise all-time bracket. light

Game 1: The 1998 Astros were the first team in franchise history to top100 wins; at 102-60 their .630 percentage beats 1999’s 97-65 .599 by five games.

Game 2: Both teams lost division series in four games, the 1998 club falling to the San Diego Padres and the 1999 team losing to St. Louis. This game is declared a tie.

Game 3: The 1998 ballclub had a 109 team OPS+. In 1999 they only hit for a 97 OPS+.

Game 4: The 1999 Astros staff produced a strong 117 OPS+. But with Johnson‘s season boost, the 1998 club touched 118.

Game 5: The 1998 Astros piled up 56.1 WAR, far higher than the 1999 team’s 45.0 WAR.

Result: 1998 in five games (one tie)

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