For the second straight season Your Houston Astros stalled out in the NLCS. It was the second consecutive season the Astros began the NLCS with out their 3 or 4 hitter. In 2013 they were missing Teagarden's bat and in 2014 it was Flaherty (and Triunfel which indirectly led to a costly error by SS replacement Wladimir Sutil). That being said, actually making it to the NLCS in three consecutive seasons is something to hang your hat on. GM DJ Collora was quoted as saying "It's obviously disappointing. In some ways it's more frustrating than completely missing the playoffs. It's more difficult to take an honest look at yourself in the mirror when you've had so much success. You don't want rock the boat, but you don't want to remain stagnant either."
Here's the best of what the 2014 Astros had to offer:
Team MVP: Ryan Flaherty (.312/.411/.581 39HRs 137 RBIs)
This is a no-brainer. Having set career highs in BA, OBP, SLG%, HRs, RBI, 2B and hits Flaherty finally put together the full season he hinted at in 2012/13. His most impressive feat, however, has to be smashing 16 more home runs than any other 2B in all of FCM. He's a league-wide MVP candidate and his season is arguably the most productive at 2B in the history of the MLB.
Team Cy Young: Ardolis Chapman (20-4 3.69 ERA 223K/202.2IP)
Leading all of FCM in Ks/9IP and tied with Pat Venditte for wins Chapman was far more dominant than his ERA indicates. He had a few starts that ultimately may have cost him the NL Cy Young this season, but in Houston we can forgive him. Lindblom deserves an honorable mention but it was Chapman's dominance that lead the rotation in 2014 for Houston.
Team Rookie of the Year: Jerry Dyce (.284/.363/.551 25HR 52RBI in only 356 ABs)
Getting no national love due to his late call-up, Jerry Dyce was incredible for Houston in 2014. Some fans still lament Alonso would've been better suited for October but Dyce shut them up hitting .375/.412/1.000 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs int he NLDS and cemented himself as a front office favorite in Houston. Expect big things from this masher and don't be surprised if he crosses the 50 HR mark with a full season's worth of ABs.
Team Comeback Player of the Year: Andy Marte (.297/.370/.524 9HR 29 RBI 145 ABs)
Andy Marte was brought in to help shore up Houston's defense at the end of 2013 and ended up finally showing some of the offense prowess that was promised to us over a decade ago. He was shipped out to Baltimore where all he did was up his game and become a key cog in bringing Baltimore it's first October games in over a decade.
Team Relief Pitcher of the Year: Shou Makoto (3.29 ERA 93IP)
Shima got hurt and Broxton took most of the year just to get back to form with Houston, so we give this award to Makoto. He doesn't have the gaudy stats as Shima or Broxton, but he was the equivalent of a utility guy for Houston's pitching staff in 2014. Making 3 spot starts and 39 appearances out of the pen he was the man for any job and no single person in the pen is more responsible for Houston's sustained 2014 success.
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