4 strong connections between the Astros and Dodgers
The World Series is almost here and for the first time in major-league history, the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers will square off for the most prestigious prize in baseball.
As Houston and Los Angeles prepare for the series opener - scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET in Chavez Ravine - a number of strong connections associated with the two franchises have come to the surface.
Formerly of the Friarhood
Although the Astros' connection to the Dodgers and the National League West stems back to when they both played in the division from 1969-93, a different team from the West links the two clubs together. World Series managers Dave Roberts and A.J. Hinch are good friends from their time in the San Diego Padres organization. Before taking over as skipper of the Astros, Hinch was vice president of professional scouting in San Diego for nearly four years. During that time, Roberts filled various roles with the Padres, including first base and bench coach.
"To be able to manage against him in the World Series is going to be pretty special," Hinch said of Roberts after the Astros won the ALCS, according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince. "They're really good. We had our hands full with the Yankees. I watched some of their series, and we'll study up on the plane (to Los Angeles). We'll be prepared by Tuesday, but they have the most wins in baseball for a reason."
The aids of Puerto Rico
Dodgers' Game 5 hero Kike Hernandez may have been drafted by the Astros in 2009, but the 26-year-old holds a different type of connection with the Texas squad, and it involves his native land. Hernandez is Puerto Rican and was not only teammates with Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran of the Astros at the last World Baseball Classic, but he and the duo have also been active in helping their homeland recover from two devastating hurricanes. Correa sent more than 100,000 pounds of food and water to his hometown of Santa Isabel. Beltran pledged $1 million to help with recovery efforts and continues to raise funds through his Crowdrise foundation, while Hernandez raised more than $100,000 through a Youcaring page.
Razorbacks
When Logan Forsythe steps to the plate to square off against Dallas Keuchel in Game 1 on Tuesday, it won't be a first for the Dodgers infielder. Yes, Forsythe has 20 plate appearances against Keuchel from his time with the Padres and Tampa Bay Rays, but the history between the pair goes back to their college playing days at Arkansas. Keuchel was an impressive 7-3 in his junior year with the Razorbacks before he was drafted the following season by the Astros, while Forsythe's 2008 campaign - where he hit .351/.479/.530 - made him the 46th overall selection of the 2008 draft. Both played two seasons together at Arkansas.
Cuba's finest
When the Astros and Dodgers face off on Tuesday, there will be a certain Latin flare associated with the contest, courtesy of 'The Wild Horse' Yasiel Puig and arguably the greatest Cuban player of his generation, Yuli Gurriel - whose hair is always on point. The duo have strong Cuban links, both having played for the Cuban national team and are highly regarded as two of the best talents to ever come out of Cuba. Puig is seven years younger than Gurriel, but made a reputation for himself as one of the game's most dynamic and enigmatic superstars in the U.S before veteran Gurriel arrived in the majors last season.