At the conclusion of the final day of the 2023 regular season, after the Houston Astros had completed their improbable rally to snatch the AL West crown out from under the Texas Rangers — who had held a 2.5-game lead with just four games to play — Houston third baseman Alex Bregman couldn’t resist talking a little smack.
In his defense, it was understandable. After all, people had been doubting the Astros all year long — they couldn’t withstand injuries to Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez, their offense wasn’t what it used to be, and on and on. And yet, when the dust settled, there they were, division champs for the sixth time in seven years. “People were wondering what it was gonna be like if the Astros didn’t win the division,” Bregman told his teammates amid a champagne-soaked locker room. “I guess we’ll never know.”
“People were wondering what it was gonna be like if the Astros didn’t win the division
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) October 1, 2023
I guess we’ll never know”
– Alex Bregman pic.twitter.com/TXGKwpmnDx
Flash forward a little over a month. The Rangers have gone from fading Wild Card team to World Series champions, beating Houston on their home field in Game 7 of the ALCS along the way. World Series MVP Corey Seager is given the mic and asked to say a few words to the crowd who’s come to celebrate their favorite team’s first-ever title. Naturally, he couldn’t resist taking a little shot at Bregman and the ‘Stros.
Corey Seager: “Everyone was wondering what would happen if the Rangers didn’t win the World Series. I guess we’ll never know.” pic.twitter.com/uXRhWnjmyJ
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) November 3, 2023
“Everyone was wondering what would happen if the Rangers didn’t win the World Series,” Seager told the crowd, the Commissioner’s Trophy gleaming next to him. “I guess we’ll never know.”
Look, as I’m sure Bregman would be the first to admit, this is how this works. If you want the joy of running your mouth when things are going well — which, hey, go nuts! you’ve earned it! — then you have to be willing to deal with the consequences when things aren’t going well. Seager and the Rangers got the last laugh this year, and they deserve to take a little victory lap after finally dispatching their arch rivals. One thing’s for certain, though: If you thought this rivalry had already developed some awfully bad blood, just wait until they meet in 2024.
