We’ve reached the World Series finale. Misleadingly called that for many years, the American championship is coming to an end with a final between the Astros of Houston and the Phillies of Philadelphia. While this is a surprise for the Phillies (they earned a wild card), it’s less so for the Astros, who, given their regular season, are surely more capable of winning it. However, in terms of star power and resonance, Bryce Harper and his sporting charisma could tip the scales against the more reserved Jose Altuve. The prediction from the Baseball TV France editorial team: Astros win 4-3.
This 2022 season will be remembered for its chaotic start with endless strikes. It was also a year for sluggers, with two records broken. First, Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs in a season, placing him among the all-time greats. Then, Albert Pujols joined the 700 career home run club.
From 2022, we’ll also remember the knockout stages of the World Baseball Classic, a global competition organized by MLB that rivals the World Cup organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). In March 2023, Europe will be represented by Italy, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Israel, and the Czech Republic. During this competition, we briefly saw a French team (just two games). They were led by an MLB legend: Bruce Bochy, a three-time World Series champion with the San Francisco Giants. It’s worth noting that Bochy has come out of his managerial retirement to coach the Texas Rangers in 2023. Barring a major surprise, we won’t see this baseball great in France managing the French team again. However, the connection is made, and his network can always be useful for our progress. We’ll also note that another star, Shakira, came to a French field to support her son during a baseball tournament. The media coverage was more significant than for Bochy’s visit. Such is our world…
Finally, we’ll note that MLB match coverage in France is increasing year by year thanks to the partnership with Bein Sport. This channel, through its MLB partnership, is now the home of American baseball in France. But from there to seeing a French baseball match one day…
