As Defending Champions, Astros Will Be Hunted All Season

Opponents will be dialed in to make sure the Houston Astros don't see another World Series Championship.

The Houston Astros won 106 games and plowed through the postseason on their way to their second World Series title since 2017.

Along the way, they weren’t liked very much by the opposition.

Baseball players have long memories and the sign stealing scandal of ’17 may never fully go away.

And when you’re winning that much, no one likes you.

On Friday in a pregame ceremony, the Astros unveiled a gold pennant attached to a pole on the left field wall at Minute Maid Park. It symbolized the World Series title from last season.

The ceremony also included owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney, riding into the ballpark on a wagon pulled by Clydesdale horses while the couple held the team’s two World Series trophies.

While ’17 doesn’t have anything to do with ’22, it still stings for every other team.

With such a stocked roster back for another run at a championship, the Astros will be hunted once again.

They don’t seem to mind, either. Not with a veteran-laden team led by the likes of Jose Altuve – despite being injured – and Alex Bregman along with arguably the best pitching staff in baseball.

The Astros have the perfect manager in Dusty Baker to handle any adversity. It was a solid match last season and it will be again in ’23.

There doesn’t seem to be any further scrutiny that can affect this team. If the Astros are healthy, they’re going to be dominant. Even if they’re hunted all season.

By now, they’re used to the role.

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

1. Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Houston Astros?
2. Mariners Fans Inexplicably Outraged Following Houston Astros' Social Media Post About Sweep
3. Report: Former Astros Pitcher Fiers' Contract Terminated By CPBL Club
4. Six Houston Astros Declared Free Agents
5. Watch: Yordan Álvarez's Home Run Wins Astros World Series
6. Lucas Giolito Claims All Teams Were Cheating in 2017
7. Dusty Baker Makes His Thoughts Known on Bonds and Judge Records
8. Is it Time to Move on From the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal?
9. Is There Any Hope for an Aging Yuli Gurriel?
10. Astros' Álvarez Stopped Striking Out and Became the Best Hitter in Baseball

---

Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!