The conversation that changed George Springer
George Springer had a World Series for the ages last year, becoming the most potent bat in a destructive Astros lineup en route to being named the Most Valuable Player of the Fall Classic.
But many quickly forget that Springer was in an ugly funk at the beginning of October.
If not for a crucial pep talk, Springer’s postseason – and that of the Astros – may have seen a different outcome.
To appreciate Springer’s assault on the postseason record books, it pays to look back at the advice that continued to pay dividends on Friday afternoon as he helped the Astros beat the Indians 7-2 in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park.
Down, Not Out
The strain of a prolonged postseason slump was evident on Springer’s face as the usually fun-loving outfielder headed toward the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium before Game 2 of the 2017 World Series.
Springer was hitless in Game 1 of the last World Series, a continuation of the issues that led to him posting a less-than-ideal .115 batting average and .115 slugging percentage in the 2017 American League Championship Series.
Before Game 2, however, Springer was pulled aside for a conversation with manager A.J. Hinch and teammate Carlos Beltrán, a veteran who had one of the best postseason resumes in history.
The conversation that took place a few hours before Game 2 would alter Springer’s approach and change the postseason narrative for the Astros.
After going 0-for-4 in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series, the All-Star slugger with Puerto Rican and Panamanian roots went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs in Game 2 to help the Astros collect the first Fall Classic victory in franchise history while evening the best-of-seven Series.
He didn’t homer in Game 3 of the World Series, which the Astros won, but he then became the first player in history to homer in four consecutive World Series games.
Postseason Success Continued
Springer’s tear continued when he extended his postseason home run streak to five games with a blast in the fifth inning of Game 1 on Friday.
Since that brief chat with Beltrán and Hinch at Dodger Stadium, Springer has hit six postseason home runs, including homers in his last five postseason games to join Beltrán and Daniel Murphy of the Mets as the only men to homer in five consecutive playoffs games.
“It’s an honor,” Springer said of moving within one game of Murphy’s record for consecutive postseason games with a home run. “There’s been a ton of guys to play this game who have had Hall of Fame careers and a lot of guys who haven’t.
“For my name to be with some good company is always great. But honestly, I’m happy that I was able to help us win in all of those games and be a spark plug from that standpoint.”
Teammates Follow The Leader
As Springer continues to attack the record books for the Astros organization and MLB in the postseason, his teammates have understandably followed his lead.
“He’s just doing some special things where he’s not missing pitches,” Astros outfielder Josh Reddick said of Springer. “That’s what makes postseason hitters special. When they get pitchers in the right spot and they get pitches in the right location and they don’t miss it, that’s what makes you heroes and legends in this postseason.
“He’s putting together a really good resume of a guy who’s going to be really successful in the postseason and a guy who can turn it on when the postseason comes around. Specially in the leadoff spot, a guy who is doing what he’s doing in the leadoff spot is unbelievable.”
Reddick’s opinion is not hyperbole. What Springer, 29, has done rates among some of the game’s all-time greats.
With five home runs in the last Fall Classic, he tied a World Series record that was set by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson in 1977 and tied by Chase Utley in 2009.
Any time you’re on a postseason list with Jackson, who is known as Mr. October, you’re in impressive company.
With the Astros nursing a 2-0 lead in Game 1 of the best-of-five Division Series against the AL Central champions, Springer led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a towering home run off the left-center field facade.
With that shot, Springer became only the third player in baseball history to hit home runs in five consecutive playoff games. He joined an exclusive list that includes Beltrán, who accomplished the feat in 2004 during his first of two productive stints with the Astros, and the Mets’ Murphy, who homered in six consecutive postseason games in 2015.
The game-changing conversation
Springer has been a new man at the plate since Beltrán and Hinch interrupted him as he walked from the team bus to the visiting clubhouse at Dodger Stadium last Oct. 25.
“They stopped me and just said, ‘Have some fun and kind of enjoy the moment,’” Springer said.
Springer has definitely been enjoying the postseason.
With his leadoff home run in the fifth Friday, Springer also became the Astros’ all-time leader in postseason extra-base hits with 15, breaking the tie he had with Lance Berkman.
Springer set the bar quite high last year when he set a World Series record for extra-base hits with eight and total bases with 29 to help the Astros win their first World Series title.
He added a broken-bat single to right in the seventh inning, prompting him to go home with the bat he had used for his two hits in Game 1.
“It’s broken, so I might as well take it home and enjoy it,” he said. “It’s special, so I’m going to hold on to this and kind of enjoy it on my wall.”
Springer is at it again, and that’s a good sign for the defending World Series champions.
Featured Image: Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport