Charlie Morton celebrates getting the final out of the fifth inning in Game 7 of the ALCS. - AP

Pirates

Lysowski: Astros' formula isn't far-fetched

Oct 24, 2017 • 12:00 am

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Charlie Morton wasn't exactly a sure thing. The 33-year-old right-hander missed all but four starts last season because of a torn left hamstring. He underwent three other major surgeries between October of 2011 and September of 2014 — Tommy John on his elbow and one on each hip.

So, the Astros signing him to a two-year, $14 million contract last November seemed like a bit of wishful thinking. However, nearly one year later, Morton threw five shutout innings against the Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS to help lead the Astros to the World Series.

When Morton and the Astros are on the sport's greatest stage Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers, his career renaissance, as well as the blueprint used to build Houston into a contender, will surely aggravate some fans of his former team: the Pirates.

The Astros' matchup against the Dodgers shouldn't exactly be billed as David versus Goliath. These have been arguably the two best teams in Major League Baseball all season. The Astros had the second-best record in the American League with 101 wins — one fewer than Cleveland — and the Dodgers had the best record in MLB with 104 wins.

However, the Dodgers entered the season with the league's highest payroll at more than $242 million. The Astros, on the other hand, ranked 18th at $124,343,900. Sure, they added Justin Verlander at the trade deadline and were active on waivers, adding Cameron Maybin, but this team was built with excellent scouting and player development.

Consider this:

• Dallas Keuchel, who will start Game 1 and won the Cy Young in 2015, was a seventh-round draft pick in 2009 and was outstanding this season with a 2.90 ERA in 23 starts.

• Lance McCullers, a 24-year-old hard-throwing right-handed starter, was drafted 41st overall in 2012 and made his major league debut three years later at 21 years old. He has a 0.78 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings this postseason.

• Second baseman José Altuve, possibly the best all-around player in baseball, was signed as an international free agent in 2007. A native of Venezuela, he received just a $15,000 signing bonus and played three full minor league seasons before reaching the majors.

• Although the Astros benefited from drafting high after three consecutive seasons of 56 or fewer wins from 2011-13, they still selected players who are having a significant impact on this World Series run: Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and George Springer. Drafting early isn't always a guarantee, as displayed by the Pirates' less-than-stellar first-round history since the '90s.

• Via trade, the Astros added Marwin Gonzalez and Jake Marsinick in recent years. Gonzalez, a former Rule 5 draft selection, hit .303/.377/.530 with 23 home runs this season.

That's a nice foundation. However, it takes much more for a team to reach the sport's pinnacle. A wave of young talent gave the Astros a bit of financial flexibility, particularly the ability to add veterans such as Verlander, Maybin, Morton, Josh Reddick, Luke Gregerson and yes, Francisco Liriano.

Plus, the Astros' ownership made a commitment to raise the team's payroll by roughly $36 million from the start of 2016 to the start of 2017. That included trading for Brian McCann at catcher, a weak spot on the team's roster last season, and the signings of Carlos Beltran and Yuli Gurriel, the latter of whom received a guaranteed, five-year, $47.5 million deal last July after a successful career in Cuba.

Ownership could have chosen to continue to rely on young talent, which would have been a sizable risk. But it pushed its chips in.

Would the Pirates do the same?

Their core is in place, as Neal Huntington and Clint Hurdle have said on multiple occasions. This team could have an outfield of Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco and Starling Marté next season, plus Josh Bell, Josh Harrison, Jordy Mercer, Adam Frazier and a starting rotation that has flashed potential.

The Pirates used only seven starters in 2017 — tied for the fewest in one season in team history — and five pitchers had at least 115 strikeouts for the first time since 1984. Only the Indians and Dodgers had more shutouts than the Pirates.

Meanwhile, they committed fewer than 100 errors for only the third time in their 131-year history. They also have one of the game's most dominant closers in Felipe Rivero. However, there are holes to be filled, particularly in the bullpen, and there's no guarantee that previously-mentioned core will remain intact, specifically McCutchen and Harrison.

Ownership hasn't exactly gambled to take the next step, either.

The last time the club traded any prospects of significance was last July, when they used Reese McGuire, a first-round pick in 2013, and outfielder Harold Ramírez to shed Liriano's salary to the Blue Jays for Drew Hutchison.

There isn't a universal blueprint for building a World Series contender. Sure, some luck is involved. And every team is unique. But like any sport, player development, amateur scouting and a willingness to spend a little extra go a long way.

• Morton found a perfect fit with the Astros. Being healthy for the first time in a while has helped. He made 25 starts with a 14-7 record and 3.62 ERA in the regular season. That's his most starts since 26 for the Pirates in 2014, when he had a 1.27 WHIP in 157 1/3 innings.

His fastball velocity is up and his curveball has been as strong as ever. That was obvious against the Yankees in Game 7, when he threw only 54 pitches in five innings, 37 for strikes. What a story.

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

• This is going to be an outstanding World Series. Sure, the pace of play will aggravate some and the games will drag at times because of commercial breaks and replay reviews, but these two teams are filled with exciting, talented players, such as Correa, Altuve and NL rookie-of-the-year favorite Cody Bellinger.

Enjoy it. Let's save the debate about the need for reviews, bullpen usage, strike zones and much more once a champion is crowned.

• The return for Morton when he was traded by the Pirates to the Phillies in December 2015? David Whitehead, a right-handed pitcher who had a 7.83 ERA in 46 innings with Altoona in 2016 and did not pitch this season.

Another veteran jettisoned for nothing in return.

• Hutchison, who spent the entire season at Triple-A Indianapolis, is no longer a member of the Pirates' organization. The 27-year-old right-hander officially declared for free agency Monday after he cleared outright waivers last month, removing him from the 40-man roster.

I spoke to him for a few minutes in Columbus, Ohio, in May when I traveled there for our Below Deck feature. He wasn't friendly. Not to a lot of people, from what I was told. It was an awkward fit from the beginning.

WHAT'S BREWING?

• Katie Brown, DK and Matt Sunday will be at PPG Paints Arena for Penguins-Oilers tonight.

• If you missed it, be sure to catch up on all the Steelers coverage from the past few days. Really, it's all outstanding. That will continue with Mike Tomlin's press conference today, as Dale Lolley will be at Rooney Sports Complex.

• DK will handle our Midweek Reader with a focus on the Steelers and a surprise contribution from Sunday.

STEELERS TODAY

• Event: Tomlin press conference

• Location: Rooney Sports Complex

• Time: Noon

• Our coverage: Lolley

PENGUINS TODAY

• Event: Game vs. Oilers

• Location: PPG Paints Arena

• Time: 7:08 p.m.

• Morning skate: 10:30 a.m.-noon

• Doors open: 6 p.m.