Altuve proves anything is possible
Anything is possible. For a city that went more than 55 years before it won its first World Series.
For a team that couldn’t play baseball on its home field because of Hurricane Harvey, then beat the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers on the way to a title.
For a 5-6 – or is it 5-5? – second baseman from Venezuela who was initially ignored and fought through three consecutive 100-plus loss seasons before becoming the best overall hitter in Major League Baseball.
Jose Altuve isn’t underrated anymore. And the Astros’ heart and soul is the 2017 American League MVP.
Hollywood could make a movie about this team. Carlos Correa, George Springer, Justin Verlander and A.J. Hinch would all tell you the same thing: Altuve would be the biggest star.
This was old school, tradition and common sense dominating modern power and hype. A constantly debated award wasn’t even close, with Altuve capturing 27 of 30 first-place votes and 405 total points. This was also batting average and the throwback value of bringing it every day respected again. Big Apple, East Coast bias? Houston overlooked? Not in 2017, when the Astros became the undisputed best team in MLB and Altuve clearly was the best player in his league: .346 average, 204 hits, 24 home runs, 112 runs, 81 RBIs, 32 stolen bases, a super-smooth glove and so much more. The MVP award — just the second in franchise history — was the final peak for the greatest Astros season since it all began in 1962. Altuve being recognized and rewarded the right way for everything that makes him so special is the current crowning achievement for a five-time All-Star on an early path to the Hall of Fame. What a year. What a baseball player.