At the top of their game
As perceived favorite over Judge, Altuve can score infrequent win for second basemen
Barring their front office making an unforeseen big splash in free agency or via a trade, Thursday is arguably the most important day remaining in a historic 2017 for the World Series champion Astros. • During the 5 p.m. hour, as part of an hour-long MLB Network special, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce whether Jose Altuve is the American League’s Most Valuable Player. If he wins the award, Altuve will be only the second MVP in Astros history and the first since Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell won the NL version of the award in a strike-shortened 1994. • Thirty members of the BBWAA, two from each of the 15 AL markets, make up the electorate. Voters were asked to rank their 10 best candidates in order of most deserving to least deserving. Ballots were cast before the beginning of the postseason. • Altuve, the superstar three-hole-hitting second baseman who led the Astros to 101 regular-season wins and their first title, is perceived as the favorite over New York Yankees phenom Aaron Judge, who on Monday won the AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously.
In its simplest terms, the debate between the 5-5 Altuve and the 6-7 Judge boils down to whether voters believe it matters how a player achieved his cumulative numbers. From April through September, Altuve was the most consistent producer in baseball. Judge’s overall numbers are loudest, but his six-week tailspin after the All-Star break could certainly affect his candidacy.
Altuve, 27, led the majors in batting average (.346) and hits (204). He became the first player in major league history to lead his league outright in hits for four consecutive seasons. His .957 OPS tied fellow MVP finalist Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians for third in the AL. Among qualified hitters, Altuve trailed only Mike Trout (1.071) and Judge (1.049).
Judge, 25, set a rookie record with 52 home runs, most in the AL and second in the majors to the Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton, who slugged 59. Judge led the AL in walk percentage (18.7) butwas also third in the league in strikeout percentage (30.7).
The 25-year- old Ramirez, the expected third-place finisher, batted .318 and led the majors in doubles with 56. By Baseball Reference’s version of the metric, Altuve was worth the most Wins Above Replacement at 8.3. Judge was worth 8.1 WAR, Ramirez 6.9. Via Fan Graphs, Judge led with 8.2 WAR, while Altuve was worth 7.5 and Ramirez 6.6.
No second baseman has been voted his league’s MVP since Boston’s Dustin Pedroia in 2008. Before that, the White Sox’s Nellie Fox was the previous such AL winner in 1959. Joe Morgan (twice), Ryne Sandberg and Jeff Kent are the only second basemen to be named NL MVP in that span.
Altuve placed third last season behind Trout and Boston’s Mookie Betts. His 2016 finish was the best by an Astro since Lance Berkman placed third in the National League in 2006.
Altuve has already taken home several endof-season awards in recent weeks. During the playoffs, the Sporting News announced him as its player of the year. He was announced during the World Series as the AL’s winner of the Hank Aaron Award. More recently, his fellow players voted him their player of the year in both the AL and the majors.
National League MVP results will also be revealed Thursday night. Stanton, Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks (and The Woodlands) and Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds are the finalists.
Of the six finalists in either league, only Votto has previously won, in 2010. Goldschmidt placed second in 2013 and 2015.