Maybe now, they can start a dynasty that actually is one

 Thirty years ago, the Atlanta Braves & Houston Astros were divisional rivals in the National League. The Braves began their string of divisional titles under Bobby Cox in the NL West, moving to the NL East a few years later, and won it all in 1995, defeating Cleveland. 

Ten years later, with each league now three divisions, and Houston in the NL Central, the Astros reached the World Series for the first time, after being denied in the 80's, most notably by the Mets in 1986. Unfortunately, it wasn't Houston's time yet, losing to the Chicago White Sox. It would be Houston's only World Series appearance as a National League team, as they left for the American League seven years later.

We all know what's happened since then. The 2017 run tainted by the cheating scandal still lingered as this season began. Fans vented their anger when the season began. Still, the Astros persevered, and reached the Series for the 3rd time in 5 years, losing two years ago to Washington.

Most folks had picked Houston to win the Series this year. Not ye scribe. Oh, sure, there were still some ex-Tri-City Valleycats on the Astros' roster, one of whom, Jason Castro, on his 2nd tour of duty in Houston, was removed from the roster due to COVID. Atlanta also had 518 ties in the form of Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson, who would be pitching tonight if they needed to.

And that's a big 'if' we don't have to worry about.

Consider the moves Atlanta made in July at the trade deadline, or even earlier. Moves that were key to this Series.

The Braves traded for Joc Pederson, who won with the Dodgers last year, getting him from the Cubs. Jorge Soler came over from Kansas City. Eddie Rosario was heisted from Cleveland, and was NLCS MVP against the Dodgers. Once Charlie Morton, acquired from Tampa Bay in the off-season, went down with a broken leg in game 1 of the Series, the Braves went to "Next Man Up", giving rookies Kyle Wright and Tucker Davidson some prime time shine.

Anderson, in particular, was ridiculous in game 3, no-hitting the Astros for five innings. All of America found out what we in the 518 already knew. Anderson became an even bigger star in his 2nd postseason.

On Tuesday, then, came the coronation.

Soler launched a three run bomb in the visiting 3rd, which was all the offense Atlanta starter Max Fried needed to avenge a loss in game 2 a week ago. Dansby Swanson & Freddie Freeman added homers in the 5th & 7th innings, and the Braves, 22 years after losing to the Yankees in their last Series appearance, 26 years after dispatching Cleveland, may have written fini to the Astros' AL West dynasty.

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For Houston manager Dusty Baker, in his first Series appearance since his playing days with the Dodgers, the postseason frustrations he's had as a manager resurfaced. This was the closest he's been to winning a championship since the Dodgers upset Oakland in 1988, but will Houston owner Jim Crane give him another year? We'll soon see.

Keep in mind that the Braves had to make the moves to get Pederson & Soler after injuries sidelined rising superstar Ronald Acuna, Jr. and, along with legal issues, may have marked the end of Marcell Ozuna's time in Hot-lanta. Acuna most certainly will be back next season, but would Atlanta hang on to Pederson, who was on a one year contract when he signed with Chicago last off-season, and/or Soler? We'll know soon enough.