Long wait over for some Astros, National in 1st World Series

HOUSTON (AP) — What a relief for Houston Astros pitcher Joe Smith that manager AJ Hinch was only joking about his team's makeup for the World Series.

"I would bring (him) in my office and pretend like he's not going to make the roster, just to get a reaction from him, and he wouldn't buy it," Hinch said.

Smith has waited 13 seasons, playing for six big league teams and overcoming a ruptured left Achilles last winter, for the opportunity to pitch this late in October. He was left off the postseason roster three years ago by the Chicago Cubs, the only other team he has been with that made it to the World Series.

"I'm proud for him. I'm anxious to get him in the game. It will probably be one of the first games he's nervous," Hinch said. "He's hardly ever nervous, but I bet he'll be a tick nervous just because of the stage and the World Series and the excitement of having to endure all that before he gets to throw his first pitch in the World Series."

The 35-year-old right-hander, whose 782 regular-season appearances are the most for an active pitcher without a World Series game, isn't the only player for the Astros and Washington Nationals that has waited a long, long time before finally making it this far.

Zack Greinke, Houston's big trade deadline acquisition this season, is scheduled to start Game 3. That will come after 16 seasons and 447 regular-season starts, the most by an active starter without a World Series game.

Howie Kendrick, the 36-year-old who became MVP of the NL Championship Series, is expected to be Washington's designated hitter in the opener Tuesday night in Houston. He is finally on a World Series team in his eighth postseason appearance over 14 major league seasons, this being his third team to reach the playoffs.

"This is a dream come true,"...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Long-wait-over-for-some-Astros-National-in-1st-14552098.php