By the end of American League Championship Series Game 4 on Thursday night, the lawyers left in the crowd at Globe Life Field must have been thumbing through the Texas Constitution to see if what they’ve been watching all year is actually legal. When they came upon Article 1, Section 17, they realized what has been happening: eminent domain, the taking of public property.
With 76 runs in eight games, including 8–5 and 10–3 thumpings of the Rangers in the ALCS, the Astros own Globe Life Field, if not the ALCS itself. The batters’ eye, the fast playing surface and the lack of depth in the Texas pitching staff all contribute to Houston becoming the Arlington Astros here. It may be a quirky narrative, but it’s a real one with real momentum.
Now the ALCS will pivot on whether Rangers Game 5 starter Jordan Montgomery can put a stop to such forceful ownership. The Astros are a very different team than the one Montgomery carved up in Game 1 five days ago (6 1/3 shutout innings). Their lineup is ferocious. Jose Altuve and Mauricio Dubón have become hitting wizards who turn even good pitches into hits. José Abreu has 39 RBIs in his past 34 games. And Yordan Alvarez is so locked in that Houston catcher Martín Maldonado said without a trace of mischief, “Is he the best hitter you ever saw?”
