Somewhere in the concourse beyond Minute Maid Park, there lies a stretch of concrete that will one day be the site of a statue in honor of Astros infielder Jose Altuve. Saturday night’s 9th inning saw the diminutive second baseman launch a towering shot into the night air of a tied elimination game in the American League Championship Series, sealing with one swing his place in postseason lore.
But Altuve’s ascension to Game 6 October glory is an unlikely development. While this seems like a pat statement at first glance–perhaps referring, as observers often do, to Altuve’s small, 5’6 frame–the truly unlikely thing about Altuve’s story concerns a nascent failure in his native Venezuela. As Alex Putterman’s 2017 story for The Atlantic explained, Altuve was cut by the Astros after appearing as a teenager in a club tryout camp because the organization considered him too short. At the behest of his father, Altuve returned to tryout for the club again, where he ultimately showed enough to earn a $15,000 signing bonus from Houston officials–hardly a considerable sum in an international signing landscape where seven-figure deals often grab headlines stateside. While a recap of Altuve’s many career exploits following that signing would be redundant at this point, tonight seems a fitting occasion to remember that tonight’s hero achieved his place in history due, in part, to familial encouragement and a little bit of old-fashioned determination. Apparently, even the tiniest of prospects can develop into statues, given the right conditions.
Looking onward to the 115th World Series, beginning play on Tuesday evening…
- With champagne still raining in the Houston locker room, it’s obviously a bit early to talk pitching matchups–but that didn’t stop Nationals beat writer Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post from giving it a shot (link). As Dougherty sees it, Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole should square off in Game 1, Stephen Strasburg and Justin Verlander could conceivably follow in the second game, and Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke project as the matchup for Game 3. For their careers, those six pitchers have combined for 269.3 bWAR. Cole, as has been stated ad nauseam this postseason, is slated for free agency this winter, and Strasburg could follow should he decline the remaining four years and $100MM sitting on the other side of his contractual opt-out.
- Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle shares that reliever Ryan Pressly had some “scar tissue in his knee [break] off” during his third-inning appearance of Game 6 of the ALCS (link). Said scar tissue is, presumably, the result of surgery Pressly underwent in August to address soreness in his right knee joint. Pressly intimated to Rome that he will be “ready to go” for the World Series. If the pitching lineup Astros manager AJ Hinch used in the ALCS is any indication, then Pressly’s services would be especially vital in Game 4, which could be a bullpen game for the ’Stros. Todd Dybas of NBC Sports Washington shares that Hinch said in his postgame presser that he is “expecting” Pressly to be ready for World Series action (link).
I’m picking Sherzer v Verlander game 1 then Strasburg v Cole game 2
Verlander pitched on Friday so he will be pitching Game 2 of the World Series on regular rest. Cole will get Game 1.
Cole g1
Collar bone g2
Verlander g3
I’m anticipating that this World Series will be the highest for tv ratings ever for the MLB.
You’ll never make it on the comedy scene with jokes like this.
NYY vs LAD or HOU vs WAS
don’t be stupid. lol. fox is upset.
There’s 30 teams but only like 4 of them “matter”, right?
SMH
Anything better than reading “who are these guys?” type stories that the terrible MLB media literally is saying they don’t do their job right by writing them? We don’t know who Whit Merrifield is because you are too busy writing 10000 articles about every A-ball Yankees farmhand. Or is it dumber to kowtow to NY, LA and Boston and then act like its “bad” for the game if those teams dont win? None of this happens if we stopped acting like the Yankees and Boston own the damn game – make MLB network and ESPN give equal time for ONCE.
Why would Fox be upset? Houston has the best record in baseball and won it all two years ago and has terrific pitchers and everyday players v. a Nationals team with great starting pitching and the best record the last 3-4 months of the season with two of the younger phenoms in baseball about to be showcased.
That seems more exciting then watching the Dodgers for the third straight year or Yankees with no pitching
Yeah, Houston vs. Washington, a showdown of tiny little backwoods towns with one stoplight, two cops, and three bars
You do know Houston is the 4th largest city and will pass Chicago soon.
True baseball fans want this matchup. Great starting pitching, great young superstars, solid all around talent… this will be a great series.
If it were Yankees dodgers it would just be a home run contest. No stealing bases, no hits other than home runs. No great defense because it would either be strike out or home run.
The thing is there aren’t enough “True baseball fans” to make a dent in the ratings.
That is so true. Gotta cater to the larger audience. That’s where the money is.
This should be a great series. I’m not rooting for either team, just going to enjoy the series.
FYI, I was hoping this series would have gone 7. It was a great series by both teams. I think the yankees are just a starting pitcher away and maybe a couple left handed bats would help too. Cole, Severino, German, Paxton would be a very solid rotation. A guy like Brantley would have made a huge impact in that lineup.
German is probably toast in that town. Cole is not gonna sign with the Yankees. Dude the Cashman fanboys will argue with you till their last breath about Gardner over Brantley, these are the same ones that justify the CC signing. Lest we forget how these same dunces applauded the Happ contract.
And throw stuff at opposing players on the field
Yep, sure does suck “true baseball fans” have to bow to bandwagoners and posers, huh? Why do we let this happen, btw?
Hell why not just say it’s gonna outperform the Super Bowl if you’re living in fantasy land.
Not even close
Who’s in the World Series anyway? Sorry call me old school , I used to be a guru deep in to baseball … that was till they started signing $200 million contracts , then pouting … now I watch my team from a distance.
Yeah, the owners should keep that money for themselves
Brooklyn is back tune in you’ll love it.
Nah
It’ll be a quick sweep
As a Phillies fan I’m as excited for all the “haha Phillies enjoy Bryce Harper while we enjoy the World Series” takes like I am excited for a root canal.
Fair point. Were their positions reversed, the Nats fans would be getting the root canal from y’all. Baseball gives, and baseball takes away.
I mean, Nats fans can say all they want but the Phils are better with Harper than without. There’s no question about that. So just because they weren’t great this year doesn’t mean after another offseason of additions we can’t come back next year and be good. Especially when the Nats lose Rendon and Stras.
Remember he said he wanted to win a World Series with the nationals in spring training this year
Do you think Rendon goes to the Phillies to join back up with Bryce?
Rendon could not care less about that. If the Phillies offer the most money he will go.
I hope the Nats win, just cuz Astros done it before, but it should be a great series. I’m a bit surprised the Evil Empite went down, but if I were to really think about it, they stood no chance. Not athletic enough. Great sluggers.
The Astros out Yankeed the Yankees. Houston is technically the “Evil Empire.”
Complain about overpaid players all you want, but it’s great seeing other teams spend money.
Houston is the evil empire? Not until they have 27 Championships, the biggest payroll in baseball year after year after year and the belief that they are the ONLY team in baseball. The EVIL EMPIRE is, was and always shall be the NYY
Yankees played like 100 games against tanking teams this year, no wonder they bowed out so easily to the superior Astros, who had to play good teams all up and down their div – the Mariners were literally in 1st place at end of April lol
Is anybody else gonna miss hearing New York, New York?
Nope. Maybe the Yankees fire Cashman no World Series appearances in the last 10 years.
Maybe Judge can get the cabdriver to blast it on the way back from the airport.
Yankees 1 title in 20 years with unlimited money sure does paint a picture of how terrible Cashman is at his job.
Cashman made a very serious mistake when he did not get Cole from the Pirates two years ago.Hindsight is always 20-20 but they needed a horse at number 1 and Cole would have been that.It is especially true when he goes to your main competitor,Boston notwithstanding.
The same thing is true with LA and having to pitch Joe Kelly in the most crucial game of this year.Friedman should have made sure that he got a guy like Vasquez to fortify his mediocre bullpen.
Sometimes the manager or the players do not lose the game.It is predestined by the GM.
First time in 100 years yankees dont make a world series in a decade.
It was a great series. Exciting and well worth staying up late to watch.
Ever heard of the 80s?
They made the WS in 81 lost to the Dodgers
Man you sounded so convincing
Should really research before looking foolish
Yankees were in the WS in ‘81
Not specifically within a decade, but hey didnt make a WS for 15 years from 82-95 aka Don Mattingly’s curse.
There is still hope. There is no year zero; the first decade consists of the year 1 through the year 10. This decade begins in year 2011 and will end the year 2020. That works for Baseball. The AL began in 1901.
When you are born, you are 1 year old?
So 2020 is in the teens? And 2030 is in the 20’s? 2040 is in the 30’s?
Remember back in the ’60’s… you know… 1970?
Sorry to intercede but this thread could go on forever!
The true decade ends in 0 as the year 10 AD would have.
It is convenient,however,to use the 70’s for instance as a baseball decade because the previous 10 year starts with the same number as the rest of the subsequent years.
By the way,the celebration at the millennium was off by one year in the same manner!The year 2000 was the last year of the twentieth century.
That is my take on this subject.
Mlbtr writers are in mourning over yankee loss. So many of their regular readers are no longer interested in baseball once their team is out. Yankee fans arent baseball fans. They just care about their team.
Mlbtr might get them to stick around if they promote some conspiracy theories… different ball, different strike zone.. whistling… ???
If you are going to speak for me, get your facts right. Right now it looks like you’re channeling your inner Al Stump.
I am a Yankees fan. I am a baseball fan. The Yankees got beat. It happens. No conspiracies. No excuses.
Most importantly, the Yankees aren’t the dumpster fire that the Mets are.
A decent amount of the yankee “fans” that sit in the bleachers are low lifes and are not baseball fans. They genuinely are terrible people. Please don’t associate all yankee fans with these morons.
Absolutely right! They are the absolutely most obnoxious fans anywhere. I avoid going to any home games when the Yankees come to town coz I hate listening to them!
Yeah I’m sure all the fans who sit in the bleachers are going to your stadium. Sorry the Yankees have more fans than your team.
Overlooked…this is the 1st decade Yankees dont win a WS in a long time….finally ots not an evil empire
Recent fan behavior notwithstanding
Uber, uber… hey, what was with all the empty seats at the yankee games? When the camera scanned the stadium you saw huge areas of empty seats. Were they all in the restroom giving each other “Jeters”?
Thanks, needed the laugh
Let’s be technical here——-a decade, century etc actually begins at 01 and runs through the 10th year……thus this decade, in reality, is 2011–2020. This century is actually 2001-2100.
When you tell your three year old to count to ten, they never start with zero. Feel free to throw all the dirt on the Yankees you wish, but they aren’t officially buried….yet!
That’s not how decades work mike. 1970’s are from 1970 thru 1979 for example. Nice try in your justification. God I’m a Yankees fan, and knew when to quit that crap.
@steven—-google is your friend….a very simple search of “when does a decade begin” provides a very simple answer. Now, if someone who just say they haven’t made a World Series in 10 years, they would be correct…but to say they haven’t made it THIS decade is correct to this point but they still have time.
A decade is ten years. Any 10 years.
Sports decades are 0-09. Sorry but you can keep holding onto the technicalities to keep your narrative but you are wrong on this one.
Also, I did your google search. Every source other than Wikipedia disagrees with your assertion. Didn’t your school teachers ever tell you not to trust everything you see on Wiki?
I think the important thing here is that the Yankees didn’t make the World Series.
When your three year old was born, was she 1? After a year, she was 1.
lofl..Mike’s gonna need skin grafting after that burn.
Yeah but to bad it’s not math class and sports decades are different
Under that logic, the year 2000 was part of the 1990’s. So….. no.
Mike127 is correct. The Anno Domini numbering system for a decade begins with 1. Example: 2011-2020.
CFAP………………………..and yet……….
Offord Dictionary
decade -NOUN
1A period of ten years.
‘he taught at the university for nearly a decade’
1.1A period of ten years beginning with a year ending in 0.
‘the fourth decade of the nineteenth century’
You will find conflicting reports all over the internet. Even the overly used and unreliable Wikipedia has conflicting definitions. “list of decades” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_decadesshows the “0’s” A.D. (or C.E.) as 1-9 noting that it is not a true decade but “Decade” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decade cites A.D.
So 1960 is part of the 50’s and 1950 isn’t? This doesn’t make sense.
People will say anything to keep their traditions.
Cat what did these kids do before the internet? Probably just contradict their teachers.
That sounds about right Cereal Sorry about your Yankees but at least you had meaningful games a lot longer than I did…lol
exemplifying the typical sentiments about Yankees fans.
? Are you kidding me? The last time the Yankees won was 2009. Okay, now what is 2009+10 years? IT AIN’T 2020. Decade originates from deka which translates to ten. To clarify, yes this is the first time since the 1910’s that the Yankees have gone ten years since they have won a pennant. (Or a trip to the World Series) Do you also round up or down your age?
1981 to 1994. They didn’t win a pennant or division in-between. 1982-1994 they didn’t play a postseason game. Both more than 10 years.
ATTENTION YANKEES: Tee times for Tuesday are available at several metro area golf courses.
The Evil Empire has been defeated. All is right in the world.
I wonder what was behind the grin on Chapman’s face as Altuve circled the bases.
Free Agency
I thought it was like “did that really just ****ing happen?”
Not sure that was a grin, looked more like a teeth clenched grimace.
Game 6 reminded me of the 1986 Mets-Astros classic game 6 extra inning win. Diehard Mets fan rooting hard for Astros last night. In span of about 1/2 hour went from depressed (DJ HR) to euphoria. Unfortunately game too late to read about it Sunday print papers.
Who reads “Sunday print papers” anymore?
That ‘86 series was the dawn of my love for baseball and my Houston Astros.
Not a critique, but what’s “champaign”? It’s Champagne, a drink named after the location in France where it comes from, not a place in Illinois.
The question isn’t why a guy like Altuve, one of the best hitters in all of MLB hit a walkoff home run off Aroldis, the question is why didn’t Boone put him on first and pitch to Marisnick who was on deck, with no disrespect intended to Jake Marisnick. Why let Altuve beat you?
Good point
Because it’s Aroldis Chapman?!?
I was saying that during the at bat. Marisnick was the weak link in the strength of the lineup. The odds he beats you are slim, Altuve is hitting well, he’s been clutch, big mistake on the part of Boone and Chapman imo… Boone had several other blunders throughout the series as well.
You don’t put the winning run on second base. Altuve was 49th in slugging this year. When a player is on first, you worry about slugging, not batting average. I doubt Mike Trout would have been walked in that situation. .
Side note, Houston is one of the smartest teams in baseball. They had zero intentional walks this year.
you also dont pitch to the much better hitter when the guy after him has a significantly higher chance of ending the inning.
First a correction, Altuve was 20th in slugging, not 49th.
So it is your contention that Altuve had a better chance of getting an extra base hit which would have scored Springer from first than Marisnick scoring Springer from second?
Even if the outfield wasn’t back, I’m pretty sure data doesn’t support your conclusions.
In 104 ABs this year, Altuve had 10 extra base hits with a runner only at first.. In 104 ABs, that runner actually scored 7 times. In this case, the odds were lower than that, because the outfield was back.
Are you saying the odds of Marisnick getting a hit to score a run was less than that?
You’re too good of a poster to believe that.
Good post macstruts
Macstruts
Of course you put Altuve on. Who do you want to pitch to here? Altuve is a contact hitter and one of the best hitters in all of baseball irrespective of his slugging % v Marisnick who had no AB’s in the game. Furthermore, you’re gambling here that Aroldis is going to strike out Marisnick and that’s the gamble that was required, not trying to strike out Altuve. It is the Manager with the most unconventional moves when required or those capable of thinking outside the box that wins most of the time, guys like eg. Tony La Russa. The dice had to be rolled in the situation, and that is exactly why you do put Altuve on and attempt to strike out Marisnick. Yes, high leverage but still better percentages in favour of Aroldis v Marisnick as opposed to Aroldis v Altuve.
The best part of last night was that both domestic abusers blew it for their teams.
I would say that Aroldis didn’t blow it, I’d say Aaron Boone blew it by not putting Altuve on 1st and pitching to Marisnick. I know who I want to pitch to with 2 outs in that situation, and I’m not going to let Jose Altuve beat me.
Marisnick would have a greater chance of driving in the run from 2nd than Altuve did from 1st
Altuve does hit significantly more homers and for a significantly better average.
As I wrote earlier. In 104 ABs this year with a runner at first, Altuve drove in the runner on first seven times.
Marisnick would have to hit like a pitcher not have a better chance to drive in that run.
So what. You do not walk Altuve and put the winning pennant run on second base. Altuve against your alleged ace closer. Altuve wins. Astros win but lets face it Astros are the better team
The Astros could also counter that by putting in Kyle Tucker as a pinch hitter for Marisnick especially since he is better against lefties than righties… statistically speaking that is.. Altuve is still a better hitter than both.
Really? A career .227 hitter in Marisnick v Altuve a career .315 hitter…..Right…….Sometimes you have to be a gambling Manager, and that’s the gamble that was required.
Been a Yankee fan since Mets traded Tom Terrific but this should be a truly great baseball series.
Outstanding SP on both sides (how many CYs between them all?)
Should come down to managing
Crazy to me that the potential game 3 starters were both members of the Diamondbacks a year ago. Goldschmidt and Pollock too, who were both on playoff teams this year. They really missed a window to capitalize on the under the radar talent they had
the talent they got back at least was great. getting Weaver alone for Goldy might be a steal given how both preformed last year, and Miami gifted them another great Zac(k) in Gallen, plus not to mention all the other goodies they got back for Greinke. Pollock and Corbin hurt in the short term, but both of those contracts could eventually go south. imagine if Weaver had not gotten injured and Taijuan was healthy – they might have won the second wild card spot without those 4. now that would have been impressive.
Yankees fell short against a better team. It happens. Yanks did everything possible at the deadline to address starting pitching and didn’t overuse their bullpen whatsoever.
Since when did hanging two sliders in a row to Altuve become a good idea?
Memo to Houston; when Osuna shakes off a sign, ask your catcher(s) to call timeout. He did it in 2015 and his veteran catcher let him blow the game. Last night, same thing. He isn’t a good decision maker, on and off the field.
Have you figured out how the luxury tax works yet? After you called me names, misrepresented my position and the gave an example that demonstrated you didn’t know how the luxury tax works, you disappeared.
Just wanted to make sure you understand how the luxury works before you insult the next person you wish to discuss the game with.
Way to stalk him like a crazy ex hope it is was worth it
Stalk him? Maybe. But he disappeared after insulting me and calling me names, I think tracking him down is appropriate.
I don’t call want to call him a name, but he disappeared. He obviously didn’t know what he was talking about and he disappeared after calling me a name. If he ran, I think tracking him down is appropriate.
If he didn’t run, then I’d think he’d want to know how the luxury tax works and that he got it wrong.
Hi Mac….not sure what names you are referring to but I can see I had a better weekend than you did. It’s having a life, and I have one.
That said, given your luxury tax comment you actually helped my argument despite my incorrect presumption. This is me owning my mistake; I did not know it was based on annual average the way other sports adopt that policy. Which makes your Gerrit Cole argument weaker since he will command around $35’ish million per year. The Angels would sign Cole, having nothing left and stroll into 3rd place again.
I suggest finding a dating app, joining a local group or club or maybe calling a family member to hang out. Me being the reason you can’t live your life is too big a burden to carry. I wish you luck.
gotta commend them for getting as far as they did with all the injuries, but the better team does indeed usually win
With champaign still raining in the Houston locker room….
CHAMPAIGN? really? Come on…
Yes, champaign — to celebrate a great campagne!
Baseball is a funny game.. Post trade deadline everyone was screaming about the Astros just won the world series based on signing grienke…..nobody really seen the Nationals coming and honestly their top 3 matches up perfectly with Houston. Oh and trust me, as a Cardinals fan, Nationals #4 is absolutely unhittable when he is on… Astros will lose the Series in 6. I would always bet on Scherzer honestly
Nationals look good but no offense, the Astros are much better than the Cardinals
Nationals have a good offense but Zimmerman will need to hit.
Two best teams because of the three TOR arms on each team.Well over $70M worth of pitching for each team.
That is the reason why only wealthy teams can compete for the WS win.
You have an interesting take. I would like to point out that the Astros played the Cardinals 6 times this year, and your team only won 1 out of 6. Just because YOUR team couldn’t beat the Nationals, doesn’t mean the Astros can’t. I think it will be a good series.
I can’t imagine all the domestic violance calls in ” The City ” as Houston won the game
Why isn’t anybody suspicious of Jose Altuve? 31 bombs for a 5’6 dwarf? Everyone’s talking about how the baseballs aren’t going as far this postseason but for some reason that doesn’t apply to Jose Altuve. He hit one that was 420 ft earlier this postseason which should be out of his reach and then hit a pitch high and away and PULLED IT for a 407 footer to win the ALCS? Give me a break. Two years ago he hit a 453 foot homer to dead center at minute maid park. Yet no one talks about how he’s slugging like a 6 ft 220 lb corner infielder. How are you not even remotely suspicious?
I am suspicious of players who over the off season suddenly become very muscular.I am suspicious of players who one year hit 14 home runs and the next year 52.
Altuve had very few home runs his first few years then went to 15 then to 24.
Last year he had 13 and this year 31.
I am suspicious of the ball.
*Comerica Park (not Minute Maid)
I agree with the 14 to 52 hr comparison
*I’m not a Yankee fan
I would love to see Mallex Smith of the Mariners hitting 30+ no doubter bombs including opposite field. Altuve is the shortest guy in the game. I dont think it has anything to do with muscle definition. This isn’t the steroid 90s anymore
This should be a great matchup I’ll take Houston in 6 due to better offense and a little better bullpen. The Nationals of course have a good chance to win with those starters should be a really interesting series looking forward to it. These are certainly the two teams with the best starting pitching.