Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
I have a lot of respect for the consecutive games streak by Cal Ripkin Jr. but I in no way would expect anyone to duplicate that feat anytime soon. I fully understand that many players play a ton of games in a row but I truly think that Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros deserved the day off he received on Sunday. It is interesting that Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander almost no-hit the Astros in the game Altuve wasn’t starting.
Someone wound up breaking up the no-no anyway but I have to think that the no-hitter would have had an asterisk by it at least in Astros fans minds if it had gone the distance. I mean, sure you almost no-hit the ‘Stros but you did it without the American League’s best second baseman in the line-up. That would be my thought if it happened. It speaks to how good Altuve really is that I automatically nodded my head when I saw he wasn’t starting in the game where a no-no bid happened.
Sure, they are no-hittable with Altuve as well but this was less of a once in a lifetime performance than it was the Astros just being over-matched. Altuve isn’t over-matched by Verlander or anyone from the mound. With the well deserved off day he now will have two days off going into a big series with the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels are the team directly in front of the Astros in the division and surely a team that they really want to beat. It will be interesting to note if Altuve looks even stronger than he has in recent games after the restful days.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
