This is just blind hate...the Astros were in the playoffs in 2015, beat the Yankees in the one game series. Missed the playoffs in 2016...but the difference between the roster 2016 and 2017 is huge.

The 2016 Astros had strikeout machines Jason Castro, Luis Valbuena (RIP), Carlos Gomez and Colby Rasmus taking a huge number of AB's. Bregman and Gurriel were rookies. By the 2017 postseason they had completely overhauled that 2016 team - switching out 5 of the 9 starters.

Additionally, in 2016 they were rolling out pitchers like Doug Fister, Scott Feldman and Mike Fiers on the regular. 2017 traded those guys out for Verlander and Charlie Morton. 2017 was the best roster the franchise had ever had (until 2019 which was an even more talented team) - 2016 was completely average.