If he were a rocket, and we’re not talking basketball here; we’re talking about the obvious Cape Canaveral metaphors of baseball’s little big man, now standing on one of those common sight and site Florida launching pads, warming up, hissing and smoking on every lower side of its powerful frame. And so it is too with the compact figure of Jose Altuve in the batter’s box, as he waves a bat that actually, but figuratively smokes on its own, almost to the point of blurring away the impish smile on Jose’s always apparently innocent, but killer-diller champion hitter’s face.
2018 American League Batting Average Leaders
Through Games of 6/06/2018:
| # | Leaders to 6/07/18 | Team | G | AB | H | BA |
| 1 | Mookie Betts | Red Sox | 48 | 184 | 66 | .359 |
| 2 | Juan Segura | Mariners | 58 | 245 | 83 | .339 |
| 3 | Nick Castellanos | Tigers | 60 | 243 | 81 | .333 |
| 4 | Jose Altuve | Astros | 63 | 256 | 85 | .332 |
| 5 | Andrelton Simmons | Angels | 59 | 215 | 71 | .330 |
| 6 | Michael Brantley | Indians | 50 | 203 | 66 | .325 |
| 7 | Manny Machado | Orioles | 60 | 232 | 75 | .323 |
| 8 | J.D. Martinez | Red Sox | 57 | 219 | 69 | .315 |
| 9 | Mike Trout | Angels | 63 | 222 | 69 | .311 |
| 10 | Eddie Rosario | Twins | 58 | 231 | 71 | .307 |
Astro Players Shown Above in Bold Type.
In the past week, Jose Altuve has risen from 8th to 4th place in the American League batting average championship race – and the hitters ahead of him are beginning to thin or not play at all.
Altuve went 3 for 7 in his two games at home against Seattle. His 85 total hits lead the AL, surpassing the injured more limited time leader from the Red Sox, Mookie Betts, by 19 safeties.
With Altuve, it isn’t just the number of hist he puts up, or how far they go. It has everything to do in his case with how varied he is in their production. He can hit pitchers high or low – he can reach them up or down. He can slam the ball against or over the walls – or he can use his speed and alertness to beat out a swinging bunt as a single that would have been an easy grounder out of a less alert and less speedy runner. He can also spray them to the opposite field when a defense wants to give him the opportunity.
We’ll have to wait and see on this one, but let’s not be too surprised if our wonderful Jose Altuve is again leading the American League and, perhaps, the entire big leagues, with the highest batting average by the July All Star Break.
In the short-term, let’s just enjoy the Astros continuing to play (most of the time) the kind of baseball we fans waited over fifty years to see in the Bayou City.
It was worth the wait. So let’s not waste the opportunity.
As long as Astros baseball is hotter than our normal Houston summer weather, things will stay “cool” in our town – and Jose Altuve will be the coolest dude of them all.
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Bill McCurdy
Principal Writer, Editor, Publisher
The Pecan Park Eagle
The Pecan Park Eagle 
June 7, 2018 at 6:00 pm |
Bill, five straight years to lead the leagues in hits? I hope you’re right but I don’t see it. Too much pressure. Let’s keep him healthy. That’s the main thing.