The 2015 Houston Astros are so good that they forced Taylor Swift to change her tour schedule
Astros move T-Swift concert for potential playoff run
It wasn't long ago that Sports Illustrated predicted that the Astros would win the 2017 World Series. Last year, their All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve won the AL batting title and the team's super prospect George Springer was promoted to The Show amid a significant amount of what the kids call "hype."
To their credit, the Astros were thinking ahead of even that 2017 schedule. They surprised some folks by making a splash in the offseason, trading for catcher Evan Gattis and third baseman Luis Valbuena while signing infielder Jed Lowrie and relievers Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek.
When Tayor Swift announced in December that she would play Minute Maid Park on her forthcoming "1989 World Tour," the Astros went on the record noting that the date would be tentative if everything came together this season.
Note: the date of the Taylor Swift 1989 tour show at #MMP is subject to change if it conflicts with an #Astros postseason home game.
- Houston Astros (@astros) December 11, 2014Flash forward to July 2015 and the Astros are more than just in the thick of things. At 55-45, they're only a game back of the AL West lead and have a two-game lead in the Wild Card race. Baseball Prospectus pegs their postseason probability at 82.7 percent. Dallas Keuchel started for the AL in the All-Star Game and phenom shortstop Carlos Correa has done nothing but prove he was worth the wait since his highly anticipated debut.
So, it only makes sense that the Astros are getting their ducks in a row for a postseason run. They recently acquired A's pitcher Scott Kazmir and are still poised to be buyers as the non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches.
They're confident enough, in fact, that the team made good on that tweet from December, moving the T-Swift date to accommodate a potential postseason run.
#Astros announce new Houston date for Taylor Swift's The 1989 World Tour will be Wednesday, September 9 at Minute Maid Park.
- Houston Astros (@astros) July 27, 2015Basically, the 2015 Astros are so good at baseball that the biggest pop star on the planet had to rearrange her travel itinerary to accommodate their success.