Star Performer of the Week: June 23 – 29

A 3-3 week at Minute Maid Park against the Braves and Tigers has to be considered a success  for the Astros — especially after losing the first two games to Atlanta. The Astros bounced back, winning the finale against the Braves and coming within one out of sweeping a red-hot Detroit team. Although the pitching staff deserves a lot of credit, his week long assault on the record books makes Jose Altuve the runaway winner of this week’s Star Performer Award.

Altuve just kept hitting …and running — treating us to one of the most outstanding individual performances we’ve seen in a long time. A couple of numbers that really stand out are: 10 for 10 in the stolen base department, and zero strikeouts.

Jose is currently riding a streak of four straight games with at least two hits and two steals. According to Astros radio broadcasters Steve Sparks and Robert Ford, Altuve is the fist player to accomplish that feat since Ray Chapman did it in 1917.

For the week, Jose was 13 for 27 (.481) with five runs scored in six games. The Astros second-baseman continues to lead the American League in hits, batting average, and stolen bases. It’s the second straight Star Performer of the Week Award for Jose — and his third of the season. Altuve should also be in the conversation for the American League Player of the Week Award. Chicago’s Jose Abreu along with Seattle teammates Kyle Seager and Felix Hernandez figure to be his biggest competition.