HOUSTON — Jose Altuve requested supervisor Joe Espada to maneuver him out of the leadoff spot and into the second gap for the Houston Astros.
The explanation? He needed extra time within the dugout to get able to hit within the backside of the primary inning after coming in from left subject.
Altuve is enjoying left for the primary time in his profession after spending his first 14 main league seasons at second base.
“I simply want like 10 extra seconds,” he stated.
The 34-year-old Altuve made the transition to the outfield this season after the commerce of Kyle Tucker and the departure of Alex Bregman shook up Houston’s lineup.
Jeremy Peña was within the leadoff spot for Monday evening’s recreation in opposition to Detroit. Altuve didn’t counsel that Peña take his leadoff spot.
“I simply instructed Joe that possibly he can hit me second some video games in some unspecified time in the future and he did it right this moment,” Altuve stated. “I simply want like that little further time to return from left subject, and he determined to place Jeremy (there).”
Peña entered Monday hitting .255 with three homers and 11 RBIs. He hit first in Sunday’s 7-3 win over Kansas Metropolis — with Altuve getting a break day — and had two hits and three RBIs.
Together with giving him just a little further time to get able to bat, Altuve thinks the athletic Peña batting leadoff might improve a lineup that has struggled at instances this season.
“Jeremy is a type of guys that has been enjoying actually good for our crew,” Altuve stated. “He’s taking actually good at-bats. He’s very explosive and dynamic on the bases, so when he will get on base lots of issues can occur. Possibly I can bunt him over so Yordan (Alvarez) can drive him in.”
Altuve is a nine-time All-Star. The 2017 AL MVP is hitting .274 with three homers and 9 RBIs this season.
Espada stated he and Altuve typically share completely different concepts concerning the crew they usually had been speaking about this as a risk for some time earlier than the supervisor made the transfer.
“He’s at all times searching for methods to get everybody concerned and he’s enjoying left subject, is available in, possibly give him just a little bit extra time to prepare between at-bats, simply lots of issues that went into this choice,” Espada stated. “He’s been round, he is aware of himself higher than anybody else right here, so hopefully this might create some alternatives for everybody right here and we are able to rating some runs.”
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