Jose Altuve’s World Series triumph gives shattered Venezuela something to celebrate By Samantha Schmidt November 2 at 6:24 AM

[truth_seeker]

Jose Altuve’s World Series triumph gives shattered Venezuela something to celebrate

By Samantha Schmidt November 2 at 6:24 AM

Just as Jose Altuve scooped up a grounder for the final out Wednesday night, securing the Astros’ first-ever World Series Championship, the national anthem for his native Venezuela rang out across all broadcast stations in Venezuela, as it always does at midnight.

It was as if the entire South American country were reveling in the moment, in the historic win by two of their native sons: Altuve and fellow Venezuelan Astro Marwin González.

“All of Venezuela was rooting for the Astros,” Walfer Silva, 26, told The Washington Post after the game.
But in Silva’s town of Maracay, “it’s all about Altuve.” In Maracay, Altuve’s hometown, the middle infielder’s name is up there with the pope. 

Altuve, the 5-foot-6 superstar, is a top candidate for the American League’s most valuable player. His boundless energy, lightning speed and fierce yet joyous competitiveness won the hearts of thousands of people who had never seen him play before the World Series.

He was already an inspiration to every small kid trying to prove that baseball stardom isn’t just for those who tower.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/11/02/jose-altuves-world-series-triumph-gives-shattered-venezuela-something-to-celebrate/?utm_term=.019c6912a92d

[truth_seeker]

Indeed, Altuve’s earned that respect. As The Post’s Dave Sheinin wrote:

A 27-year-old Venezuelan, he is a wizard with both the bat and the glove and a speeding blur on the bases, a three-time AL batting champ, the first player in history to lead his league in hits outright four straight seasons.

He hit three homers in Game 1 of the Division Series against Boston — joining a short list, which includes Babe Ruth and Albert Pujols, of players who have done that in a postseason game — and almost single-handedly willed the Astros to victories over the Yankees in Games 1 and 2 in Houston, scoring the go-ahead runs in each with daring baserunning and robbing the Yankees of hits in the field.

He won the American League’s batting title this season with a .346 average, hit 24 home runs and stole 32 bases.

He epitomizes olde school baseball. Get on base, steal bases, hit,  field, cheer the team on, and smack it out of the park too. With a smile and a laugh. 

[TomSea]

Fine player to watch. Is the team going to get broken up? I'm sure some are under contract.

 Both teams played very well. As I said, there was a pattern for the Astros coming back after every loss; but I guess one could have said vice-versa as well, if they were playing a game 8, LA might well win. But that's not how the series is run.

LA, lots of left-on-base, really did them in. And LA's starting pitcher, really, he's the one that came up short but it's all down to the team.

[thackney]

Fine player to watch. Is the team going to get broken up? I'm sure some are under contract.

YOUR 2018 CHAMPS: Why the Astros Will Repeat Next Season as World Series Champions
https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/11/02/astros-world-series-champion-2018

Ben Reiter–the man behind SI's initial Astros 2017 championship prediction—is cashing in on his fortune telling skills. Here's why the Astros will repeat as World Series champions in 2018.

...Their four most important hitters, the first four batters in their World Series lineups—Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Altuve and Springer—are all 28 or younger. Bregman and Correa are just 23. Altuve won’t reach free agency until 2020, Springer until '21, Correa until '22 and Bregman until '23, so long from now that the World Series might then be contested between machines....

[IsailedawayfromFR]

For Houston to win the series by beating the legendary teams of New York, Boston and Los Angeles is really special.

Are they first team in history to be in the Series from both leagues?

[thackney]

For Houston to win the series by beating the legendary teams of New York, Boston and Los Angeles is really special.

Are they first team in history to be in the Series from both leagues?

Astros Become 1st Team to Win the Pennant in Both the AL and the NL
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2740060-astros-become-1st-team-to-win-the-pennant-in-both-the-al-and-the-nl
OCTOBER 22, 2017