The All-Star Break reset.
You needed it, I needed it, the boys needed it.
Don’t believe me? Go check out your favorite players IG Story because they are on a jet home or on a quick vacation to Mexico. I truly think the internet blurs our perception on how much of a grind 162 is over a season, and with the Houston Astros looking to be the first team to repeat as a champion since the VHS highlights Yankees, this is the perfect reset. This first half of the season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster that could be described as the Tower of Terror to some and to others the thrill of the Texas Cyclone.
Perception vs. Reality
Yes, it is okay as a fan to demand excellence from your favorite ball club and feel that expectations have not been met to your standards as a fan. You also have to realize that Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve have only appeared in the lineup together like 13 times this season out of 91 games. You also have to realize that this rotation lost a Justin Verlander plus 60 percent of the starting rotation to injuries. The reality of a division rival spending a billion dollars to field a competitive team that will just be a pace horse. Sitting at 50-41, 2 games back of the division and that the first half was held together by bubblegum, duct tape and a dream. Let’s jump into the first inaugural annual Apollo First Half Roundtable Award Show.
Astros First Half MVP
Dez – Obliques aside, My son Yordan Alvarez was on pursuit of a monster franchise historic season. Even with missing a month, he will be able to flirt with that possibility.
Tony – Yordan
Stoney – Yordan
Astros Future – Framber
Garrett – Tucker
Joshstros – Yordan
Dalton – Yordan
JP – Yordan
Astros Fans UK – Yordan
Yordan Alvarez is your Apollo First Half MVP.
Yordan Alvarez crushes his 99th career home run!pic.twitter.com/ZA6XCOuRnN
— APOLLO MEDIA (@ApolloHOU) March 31, 2023
Astros First Half Cy-Young
Dez – The Framchise
Tony – Framber Valdez
Stoney – Framber
Astros Future – Valdez
Garrett – Framber
Joshstros – The Framchise
Dalton – Framber
JP – Valdez
Astros Fans UK – Framber
Clean sweep for The Framchise.
The Framchise 1st half of 2023
— APOLLO MEDIA (@ApolloHOU) July 9, 2023
111 IP
116 K
2.51 ERA
1.05 WHIP
😮💨🤘 pic.twitter.com/Xo5eJ8s4Oh
Astros First Half Defensive MVP
Dez – Yanier Diaz, Rocket Arm and has some pretty good play calling metrics.
Tony – Dubon. But Diaz deserves mention. He has a great arm (thrown out 7 of 17).
Stoney – JP3
Astros Future – Dubon
Garrett – Chazzy Fizz
Joshstros – JP3
Dalton – Dubon
JP – JP3
Astros Fans UK – Dubon
Mauricio Dubon adds a piece of hardware to his collection with his very first Apollo First Half Defensive MVP.
That's a hell of a play to save a run by Mauricio Dubon pic.twitter.com/hUl1OKlEta
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) June 26, 2023
First Half Surprise
Dez – Brown, France, Blanco and Bielak stepping up and taking the ball and holding serve.
Tony – J.P. France
Stoney – Corey Julks
Astros Future – Julks
Garrett – J.P. France
Joshstros – France
Dalton – France
JP – Julksy
Astros Fans UK – Dubon
In a tight race, J.P. France takes his very first, Apollo First Half Surprise award.
Favorite Moment
Dez – Putting that shiny gold 22 flag out in LF.
Tony – Comeback against the Rangers
Stoney – 12-11 Astros/ Arlington July 3rd game
Astros Future – May 17th walk-off win against the Cubs.
Garrett – Comeback win vs. The Cardinals
Joshstros – Yordan against the Braves
Dalton – Comeback win vs. the Cubs
JP – Comeback win vs. the Cubs
Astros Fans UK – Jose Abreu’s sprint around the bases and slide into the dugout after his hugely-belated 1st Astros homer.
The winner of Favorite Moment of the First Half goes to KING TUCKS WALKOFF vs. The Cubs.
This angle of King Tuck's walkoff 🤯@CapitalOne x #Ready2Reign pic.twitter.com/18RxxAWSvx
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 18, 2023
Astros First Half Rookie of the Year
Dez – J.P France he’s got that DAWG in him
Tony – Hunter Brown
Stoney – Hunter Brown (Honorable Mention J.P. France)
Astros Future – Brown but France right behind him.
Garrett – Yanier Diaz
Joshstros – Yanier Diaz
Dalton – Hunter Brown
JP – J.P. France
Astros Fans UK – J.P. France
Our first ever Co-Apollo First Half Rookie of the Year Award is split between Hunter “The Ace who was promised” Brown and J.P. France!
Bad, Bad, Hunter Brown 🎶
— APOLLO MEDIA (@ApolloHOU) April 21, 2023
Some footage from @astros 🎥 pic.twitter.com/kHNfik8RLf
Viva La France 🇫🇷
— APOLLO MEDIA (@ApolloHOU) June 30, 2023
7 IP
4 H
2 BB
2 K
3.13 ERA in 60.1 IP this season 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/6ogtUeXSqL
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