ALCS: Astros Rolling Even as Jose Altuve Struggles
By
Andrew Kahn
April 8, 2013 3:10 pm ET
Astros shortstop Jose Altuve, left, watches a play during a game against the Orioles Sunday, April 5, 2013, in Baltimore. Altuve is batting just.172 through his first 16 games. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Astros shortstop Jose Altuve is batting just.172 through his first 16 games. But even as he continues to struggle, his teammates, by and large, are getting help from the Astros’ offense.
Astros shortstop Jose Altuve, batting just.172 through his first 16 games, is doing his best to help his team stay afloat. (AP)
Astros shortstop Jose Altuve, batting just.172 through his first 16 games, is doing his best to help his team stay afloat. (AP)
Astros manager Bo Porter, left, watches his shortstop Jose Altuve bat down a pitch during a game against the Orioles Sunday, April 5, 2013, in Baltimore. Altuve is batting just.172 through his first 16 games. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Astros manager Bo Porter, left, watches his shortstop Jose Altuve bat down a pitch during a game against the Orioles Sunday, April 5, 2013, in Baltimore. Altuve is batting just.172 through his first 16 games. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Jose Altuve doesn’t have to be the team’s best hitter to help the Astros win games. He doesn’t have to be the team’s best baseman to help the Astros win games. He doesn’t have to be the team’s best pitcher to help the Astros win games.
And the Astros don’t necessarily need any one of them.
But they’re going to need all of them to win this season—and beyond.
This past week, Altuve has hit just.172. He has two home runs. He has struck out in 24 of his first 32 at-bats. Last week, his average dipped lower still, and his on-base percentage dropped by a full percentage point.
The Astros will take nothing from these numbers. They have to. But Altuve isn’t the only one who has struggled this season