Jose already qualifies regardless if he plays again this season. He currently leads the league with .341 and hits (195). He's led the league in total hits the past 2 seasons and had 200+ hits both seasons. Hope injury doesn't stop either number. Jose definitely won't get his 3rd consecutive stolen base title, but he's "bolding" nicely in baseball-reference. Current BA leaders Altuve (HOU) - .341 Pedroia (BOS) - .329 Trout (LAA) - .318 Escobar (LAA) - .316 Lindor (CLE) - .314 Ortiz (BOS) - .314 Jose is the only Astro to ever win the title. Great accomplishment already, but multiple times would put him into an even more special class.
The way he's been going lately.... if an injury requires him to sit, it will probably clinch the title for him.
Sadly, Jose may have been heating up. 3 for 4 on Tuesday with a HR and 1 for 2 yesterday with a double, before getting hurt. He's capable adding 10 points real quick. Getting his 200 hits again would be great... only 5 away. Another batting title is best. One-timers seem more fluky. Great, but flukish.
Altuve might be officially, "un"slumping. He's pretty much 3 consecutive multi-hit games, with 7 hits, 3 for XBs. With health, the 200-hit seasonal streak looks good, currently 198 for the season. 1. Altuve - .341 2. Pedroia - .330
Not to mention he should've had at least 1 other hit on the E6 IMO. I didn't see the E5, but Ashby was saying that could've been a hit too (not that I trust him)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jose Altuve is batting .381 since September 11. Appears to be turning it around after that really rough stretch. <a class="hashtag" action="hash" title="#Astros">#Astros</a></p>— Jordan Ray (@JordanLRay) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanLRay/status/777315854832676864" data-datetime="2016-09-18T01:18:36+00:00">September 18, 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
To keep thread hot like Jose's bat!! Tuve's BA has fallen, but his lead has grown. 1. - .338 2. Betts (BOS) - .321 Betts is nice. His OPS is only 25 points lower than Jose and his defense (RF) rates better than Springer. He's basically a younger George, plus 105 OPS with better defense..... currently 2nd in WAR to Trout. Both Trout and Betts are well ahead of everyone else.
His recent lack of patience concerns me. Since mid-August he's only walked 6 times, and 2 were intentional. It has uncoincidentally coincided with his slump. Is the slump causing the poor patience, or is the lack of patience causing the slump? We know Altuve can still be a great player even if he can't repeat his plate discipline of the first 3/4 of the year, but that selectiveness was the backbone of his ascension to superstar level play. If he can't repeat it, this season will likely be a one year outlier. Regardless, it has been one damn impressive year. Chance for a batting title, and a 25/100/100 season.
