Altuve has overall lead in All-Star voting
Jose Altuve is now the leading vote-getter among all major league players in fan balloting for the All-Star Game.
Seeking his fourth consecutive All-Star start at second base, Altuve has garnered 1,572,101 votes, according to a second ballot update released Tuesday. He trailed Red Sox slugger
Mookie Betts for the league lead during last week’s American League update but now is tops among all position players.
“It means that you’re doing something right for your team,” Altuve said. “Every time somebody votes for you, it means they’re supporting your team.” Said Astros manager A.J.
Hinch, who will manage the American League team on July 17 in Washington: “It’s well deserved for someone who represents our game in exceptional fashion. he voters are getting it right. He’s every bit what’s right about baseball. I love the guy, and I'm happy he’s getting the recognition he should.”
Shortstop Carlos Correa surged two spots up to second place at his position. He now trails only Manny Machado for a starting nod. Designated hitter Evan Gattis, catcher Brian McCann, first baseman Yuli Gurriel and third baseman Alex Bregman are all in third place at their respective positions — improvements for both Gurriel and Gattis from last week’s balloting. Hinch putting off historical analysis
Despite the Astros’ having tied a franchise record with their 12th consecutive victory on Monday, manager A.J.
Hinch — who will be remembered for leading Houston to its first World Series championship — is reluctant to deem this the best era in franchise history.
He considers discussions about recent accomplishments, including the winning streak, distracting from the goal: winning more championships.
“I don’t think it matters while you’re doing it,” Hinch said Tuesday. “History is for looking back. We’re not ready to look back even to yesterday.
“It’s nice when you put things in perspective over time, and we’ll recognize what a championship was like last year or what some of these streaks are like this year or what a rotation we have. I don’t want to rush to judge history until I'm old and realize exactly what it means.”
The Astros got their 12th consecutive win in dramatic walkoff fashion on Monday, beating the Rays 5-4 on Alex
Bregman’s two-run, basesloaded double in the ninth. They will have a soft schedule until they travel to Los Angeles to play the Angels after the All-Star Break.
“It’s fun to do what we’re doing,” Hinch said. “I want to stay present in the moment and not obsess over what we’re doing. Just continue. I refuse to put it into context until I have to.” 3-walk inning takes Cole off short list
Until the third inning of Monday’s Astros-Rays game, Gerrit
Cole had been among a small group of starting pitchers who had not allowed the bases to become loaded this season.
It is a testament to how much of Cole’s success in his first season with the Astros is due to his ability to strand runners and prevent rallies from starting.
There are four starters left who have not pitched with the bases loaded: Corey Kluber, Max Scherzer, Fernando Romero and — a teammate of Cole’s — Justin Verlander.
More merciless than Cole, Verlander has faced 18 batters with multiple runners on base. He has surrendered a hit once.
“They don’t walk guys, and they don’t give up hits, so that would be my first expert analysis,” A.J. Hinch said, pointing out the obvious but noteworthy point about his two best starters this season. “But it is rare for guys to give up minimal damage and minimal base runners. They don’t hurt themselves. It centers around walks.”
Walks are what hurt Cole on Monday. He walked three consecutive batters to load the bases, but he recovered to retire 13 of his final 14 batters he faced and complete seven innings.
The experience, Hinch said, taught Cole: “Yeah, don’t walk people. That’s a good lesson.” Smith plays catch, might return in July Righthanded reliever Joe
Smith played catch Tuesday for a second time since being sidelined for elbow discomfort.
“Thing about these things is you need to see how you feel when you show up tomorrow,” Smith said. “He did not project when he might throw off a mound or if he would require a rehab assignment.
“He put a little extra on his throwing program, which is a good test for him,” manager A.J.
Hinch said. “If we have no issue, we’ll inch toward the mound. Then we’ll get toward facing a hitter. We’re on our way.”