ARLINGTON, Texas — In the worst of times for Jose Abreu, among the many days and weeks of professional failure for someone who had had so much success, he ran into Reggie Jackson, the Hall of Famer who serves as an adviser in the Houston Astros organization, at Minute Maid Park. The two men walked across the outfield early one May afternoon, and Abreu, speaking in Spanish, quietly «talked and talked and talked,» Jackson recalled late Thursday night. And Jackson listened.
Maybe Abreu sought out Jackson because he's a former MVP, someone who could relate to Abreu's challenges as a slugger with high expectations for himself. Maybe it was because Jackson is part of the Astros' leadership. Or maybe it was because Jackson understands what it means to be a star moving from one team to another and feeling like you're letting new teammates down. What Abreu said to Jackson that day — the feelings he expressed — now must feel like some nightmare, one that he has moved beyond to assume his intended role as a clubhouse and production leader.
Abreu clubbed a pivotal three-run homer in the Astros' 10-3 wipeout of Texas in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series Thursday night, and after he waded through 20 minutes of media questions about his restored preeminence, describing a strange tag that he made to blunt a Texas Rangers rally and laughing about his first stolen base in 925 days, Abreu walked over to teammate Martin Maldonado, grinning. He lifted a fist, as if he was going to club his friend, before gently tapping Maldonado on the back. Each chuckled, sharing silent emotions.
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