He hasn't scaled the WAR peak of Biggio (9.4) or Utley (9.0) yet, but he does all those flashy things nobody cares about anymore (200 hits, batting titles, colourful narrative), and if he keeps it up for three or four more years before decline sets in, I expect he'll sail into the HOF. (He's already got 125 HOF Monitor points, although James is supposedly revising that.) Lots of black ink, an MVP, and one WS win so far. He may end up being the best second baseman since Morgan when he finishes (which I probably would have pegged Cano as before the season started).
― clemenza, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 11:47 (five years ago) link
Nothing especially noteworthy on the JAWS list thus far (47th among second basemen), but he has passed Mazeroski and a couple of other HOF guys more famous as managers.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 11:51 (five years ago) link
http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jose-altuve-urinal.jpg
― Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 19 June 2018 15:51 (five years ago) link
I should have included this in the original post.
http://s.hdnux.com/photos/62/22/06/13181341/3/920x920.jpg
― clemenza, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 16:03 (five years ago) link
he now leads all-star balloting
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 19 June 2018 16:50 (five years ago) link
I follow the league relatively closely but I really have no idea how popular any of the players are
― k3vin k., Tuesday, 19 June 2018 17:14 (five years ago) link
Now that's a sentimental guy.
http://phildellio.tripod.com/altuve.jpg
― clemenza, Tuesday, 21 August 2018 03:49 (five years ago) link
I missed that he got his 2,000th hit the other day. Turned 33 in May; I'd put him somewhere around 30-40% for 3,000 (should run him on the Favorite Toy).
― clemenza, Sunday, 20 August 2023 20:38 (eight months ago) link
He seems pretty widely hated by everyone except Astros fans (and clemenza, apparently). I saw him play a couple games in Balmer two weeks ago, he was the only player who got booed every time he came to the plate. He also lit up the Orioles, and even at 33 he's got rockets in his feet.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Sunday, 20 August 2023 20:40 (eight months ago) link
Oh, he's widely hated all right--talked about that in the baseball books thread (and someone else said that won't matter, or the scandal, re his HOF chances). Projecting him for 47 hits the rest of the year, the Favorite Toy only gives him an 8% chance of 3,000. It comes down to whether you think the last four seasons are understandable blips--scandal, injury, COVID--or a true reflection of declining ability. Seeing as he's back in the .320 range right now, I lean towards blips.
― clemenza, Sunday, 20 August 2023 20:52 (eight months ago) link
Hit for the cycle tonight. Having a great half-season...The COVID year is really the only obvious anomaly in his career box, although he did come back with a great post-season.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 29 August 2023 04:44 (seven months ago) link
Two HR yesterday; today, three HR in his first three AB. He's due up again soon--which will be the top of the 5th!
― clemenza, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 01:20 (seven months ago) link