Absence of Altuve creates a major void
It has become more noticeable with each passing day.
Something missing. A spark that isn’t firing. George Springer blasted batting-practice baseballs out of a cage Tuesday, moving toward an expected Friday return.
Justin Verlander took the mound two hours later for the third-best team in baseball, again aiming for history and career win No. 200.
But No. 27 for the sport’s reigning champs? Still on the mend, and with no set timetable
for his on-field return.
“I don’t,” was all that manager A.J. Hinch said, when asked whether he had a feel for whether Jose Altuve could play for the As-
tros on the team’s upcoming nine-game road trip, which is against three-fifths of the American League West.
I wouldn’t read too much into Hinch’s minimal reply. He also said this when asked about a tightening division, which featured his club, Oakland and Seattle separated by just 4½ games, and the still-surging Athletics only two games behind the Astros.
“I feel like we’re playing the Rockies,” said Hinch, turning to NFL-coach speak. “I appreciate how hard our division is. But our entire focus is the Rockies.”
Your focus has been on all four games the Astros recently dropped to the resilient Mariners at Minute Maid Park. And the still-stacked disabled list, which includes five former AllStars. And the fact that, despite their 73-46 record entering Tuesday — tied for the best mark in
franchise history through 119 games — things haven’t felt right for the Astros since the All-Star break.
Hinch’s club is 9-12 since the orange and blue were represented so well in the nation’s capital. More telling, they are 6-8 since Altuve (right knee discomfort) went on the DL for the first time in his eight-year career.
“Not a ton (new),” Hinch said. “He’s run inside on the treadmill. I think he’s going to try to hit either (Tuesday or Wednesday). That’s the next step. But other than that, no.”
The manager also provided daily updates on all the other missing names.
Friday eyed for Springer
Springer hopes to return to official action Friday at Oakland. Chris Devenski was set to throw for Class AAA Fresno on Tuesday. Brian McCann is expected to join the same minor-league team Thursday at Tacoma,
Wash. Lance McCullers Jr. played catch.
“It doesn’t feel any different until these guys get back,” said Hinch, who played rookie Kyle Tucker (.146 batting average) in left field Tuesday and has been relying on too many recent exGrizzlies in the last week.
Then the manager, who turned an 11-17 August a year ago into a 20-8 September (and a World Series ring), opened up a little more about being without No. 27.
Springer has ignited the Astros since 2014. Correa again stands tall at short and has October written all over him. Alex Bregman is turning all the injuries all around him into a career year. Gerrit Cole and Verlander lead the best rotation in the game.
But no one can replace Altuve — reigning AL MVP; heart, soul and sparkplug of his club — and the Astros simply haven’t been the same without him.
“It’s the first time that all of us realize he’s not Superman. It is hard not to have him in the lineup,” Hinch said. “He’s an energy provider. He’s a central figure of our entire organization on the field. No matter how well you’re hitting or how well you’re not hitting, when the lineup rolls around and his spot comes up, there’s an expectation there’s going to be a hit. And he’s ultimately been one of the most productive Astros in the last decade. So we miss him.”
I am sure that Altuve misses it all even more.
A team player’s team player. An old-school throwback, who has to be convinced to take days off during a season that seems to last longer than ever.
“He’s frustrated. He’s tired of being on the DL,” Hinch said. “It’s the first time ever. He’s never been hurt. He’s never had to take an extended period. His days off are a day off where we fought him to take the day off or
the day after the All-Star break.” Nothing to panic about
Altuve’s teammates relied on patience and referred to everything they overcame last year. Five consecutive losses in August — three by two runs or fewer — is nothing compared to being down 3-2 to the Yankees in the AL Championship Series.
Springer should soon join Correa and Bregman between the lines.
“We’re fine,” Springer said. “It’s so funny how you can have the same exact record and all that stuff, but last year we had a 15-game (division) lead. It’s not every year you’re going to have a 15-game lead.”
Two games. One. Five. Fifteen.
For the 2018 Astros, it won’t feel right again until Altuve returns.