Machado, like Altuve, has early MVP cred
The top two answers might be interchangeable and could depend on where in the country you reside.
Who is the American League’s Most Valuable Player a quarter of the way into the season?
No matter which way fans lean, the two likeliest answers — with no disrespect to White Sox ace Chris Sale — are in Houston this week.
On one side is Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who went into Wednesday among the AL’s top 10 in a number of categories, leading the majors in stolen bases, and topping all big league position players in wins above replacement.
“He’s a great player — everybody’s known that,” said Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, the other piece of the discussion after being named AL Player of the Month for April. “A great defender, steals bases, and just all around — I love watching him play.”
Machado, among the America League’s top five in home runs, doubles, slugging percentage and OPS, is turning heads as well.
“Every night,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “I’ll look around, and (bench coach) John Russell will go, ‘It ain’t that easy.’ Maybe it is.
“I don’t know what it’s like to play at that level, but it’s something.”
Last week, USA Today released a poll regarding league awards, and Machado and Altuve were first and second in the AL MVP voting. The two received all 10 first-place votes.
An SI.com watch list flipped the two in its opening two weeks, starting with Machado atop the MVP list before moving Altuve to No. 1 last Thursday.
“We’re just trying to play ball,” Machado, 23, said. “I know he’s trying to help his team win in whatever way, take them to the playoffs and take them to the (championship), as well as it is on this side. Whatever we have to do to help the team and get the team where it needs to be, we just have to step up.”
That’s where Machado has the edge.
Despite Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to the Astros, the Orioles are 26-18 and two games out of first place in the AL East. They had won five of their last six series before coming to Houston.
The Astros are 19-28, putting them last in the AL West.
It hasn’t stopped Altuve from making his case. He recently had a 12-game hitting streak and has caught the most attention for a power stroke resulting in nine home runs.
“What’s been most impressive is he’s been driving the ball out of the ballpark,” Machado said.
Altuve, a three-time AllStar at 26, hit a career-best 15 homers last year, not getting his ninth until July 23.
Machado hit a careerhigh 35 homers last year, earning his second All-Star nod and finishing fourth in the MVP voting. He’s been on a fast track since the Orioles picked him third overall in the 2010 draft. He made his big league debut at 20.
A natural shortstop, Machado has moved to third with J.J. Hardy, a three-time Gold Glove winner, playing next him. Machado has excelled, winning a pair of Gold Gloves himself.
“Manny has great imagination defensively,” Showalter said. “They used to talk that way about Brooks Robinson. … He’ll catch a ball, and I’ll go, ‘How in the hell’s he going to make a throw?’ And then all of a sudden it’s, ‘Really? That was perfect.’ ”
Machado has spent all but two games this month at shortstop with Hardy on the disabled list with a left foot fracture. During that stretch, he has six multi-hit games.
“It’s been fun to go back over there (at short),” Machado said. “But at the end of the day, I know I’m there to help the team maintain where we’re at and take it to that next level.”