The Houston Astros have mismanaged yet another situation. In this case, they have angered their franchise player Jose Altuve while angering the baseball community in general.
More from Houston Astros
- NY Mets: 4 monstrous trade packages for Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer
- MLB Rumors: Willson Contreras trade suitor, Reds surprise move, Giolito war
- MLB standings ordered by hard hit rate: Struggling Cardinals still cracking bats
- MLB Rumors: Yankees, Astros set for trade showdown for big-name bat
- MLB rumors: Justin Verlander buzz, Astros target All-Star, Reds-White Sox deal
Altuve is holding onto a three-point lead in the American League batting title race (.340), slightly ahead of Victor Martinez of the Detroit Tigers. On Sunday morning the team announced that Altuve will sit rather than play and risk a bad day at the plate.
This initially raised some eyebrows in Altuve’s direction, but the second baseman was quick to say that he wanted to play and that the team benched him anyway.
Jose Altuve: "Yeah I wanted to play, it wans't an option. They just said no. You know, like I said before, I was ready to play every day"
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) September 28, 2014
Altuve said: "I wanted to play. It wasn't up to me."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 28, 2014
In turn, general manager Jeff Luhnow and the Astros’ organization drew the ire of many, including national baseball writers.
Astros benching Jose Altuve to protect batting title against his wishesbut what if VMart goes 3-3? or plays game 163 tomorrow & win? PlayHim
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) September 28, 2014
Hate #Astros’ decision to sit Altuve as he seeks batting title. Altuve’s desire to compete should be model for what team is trying to build.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 28, 2014
So what if Altuve loses title? How much does it really mean to #Astros? Why does Team Sabermetric even care so much about batting average?
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 28, 2014
Here’s another problem: Martinez is so close to Altuve in the race that this plan might not even work.
Jose Altuve's current BA is .3399. If Victor Martinez goes 3 for 4, he's .33985. If 2 for 2, .33928. So 3-3, 4-4, 4-5 or 4-6, V-Mart champ.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 28, 2014
And one final, strange note about the way the Astros have handled this situation.
Altuve said he was told he wasn't playing in a meeting with manager, GM "and three other people I don't know."
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 28, 2014
We should get used to saying the following words: the Astros front office blew it.
More from FanSided.com
MLB Awards Watch: Hello, Corey Kluber
Cincinnati Reds officially extend GM Walt Jocketty
Kansas City Royals clinch first playoff berth since 1985
Arizona Diamondbacks fire manager Kirk Gibson