When it comes to dynamic duos, there is almost always an undisputed leader, a loyal squire.
That doesn’t happen in the case of second baseman José Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa, the pair in the middle of Houston’s inside four. The two shine equally for the Astros.
“A lot of times you have an All-Star caliber (player) and another like a … Robin,” manager Dusty Baker said. “But in this case we have two Batman.”
The pair played their 66th postseason game together on Saturday, the most by a shortstop-second base duo in MLB history.
The two strongholds of the franchise, or to use Baker’s term, the vertebrae of the team, have played together since Correa’s debut in 2015, a year in which he made his first playoff appearance.
Altuve does not recall having a specific conversation then about their expectations, but it is clear that they often talked about “winning and playing together for a long time.”
They have more than met both goals. This year marks their sixth postseason together, helping the Astros find themselves in a fifth straight American League Championship Series – they are tied 1-1 with the Boston Red Sox.
The Astros are looking to advance to the World Series for the third time, their first since losing to Washington in 2019. They were crowned 2017 World Series champions, a consecration that was muddied by the signal theft scandal.
Houston has won more than 100 games in three of the seasons since Correa made his major league debut. They are coming off a 95-win regular season to claim their fourth AL West title in five years.
“It’s hard to imagine something like this,” Altuve said. “What we are living is a dream come true. Every day we thank God for the opportunity to play together, for what we are doing. It has been amazing. “
Altuve hit a two-run home run to tie the first game of the American Championship Series on Friday night before Correa’s solo homer in the seventh inning put them up for a 5-4 victory. Boston responded with a pair of grand slams in Game 2 to win 9-5 and level the series 1-1.
Game 3 will be Monday night in Boston, where the Astros will have to rely more on Altuve, Correa and the rest of their powerful offense after several casualties due to pitching injuries.
Altuve’s home run on Friday was the 20th of his career in the postseason, tying him with the legendary Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees for third place all-time.
Not to be overshadowed, Correa’s drive left him with five RBIs this postseason and 55 for his career, to overtake Albert Pujols on the list of active players.
“I don’t know if they are trying to outdo each other, but they are trying to do the best they can every time,” Baker said.
Although Altuve now views Correa as an equal, Correa still admires Altuve as the boy who idolizes his older brother.
When asked about Altuve, Correa listed some of his many accomplishments: the 2017 AL MVP, all five Plate Batting awards and his three AL batting titles.
But what impresses Correa de Altuve the most is not that he has won so many awards, but the way he continues to search for more.
“When you have the best player on your team, that captain, that franchise player that everyone admires working so hard, it is contagious,” Correa said. “Everyone else in the organization does the same, and that’s why I feel like he inspires everyone in that dressing room every day.”
Correa will be declared a free agent at the end of the season. And in Houston, they are growing uneasy that they won’t be able to keep him, even though owner Jim Crane recently said he thinks they have a chance. Correa would like to stay in Houston and his teammates and coaches want him to stay with the team.
But Altuve seems to be the only one who is really convinced of it. Without question, he is quick to say that he does not believe that these are the last games he will play with Correa.
“I still feel like we can sign him,” Altuve said. “We have to do it. If we want to continue doing what we are doing, we have to sign Carlos ”.
Since Altuve has been so emphatic in expressing his desire for his friend to continue as his gambling partner in Houston for years to come, he believes Crane should have gotten his message loud and clear.
But in case you haven’t, Altuve is prepared to argue for Correa against Crane himself.
“I have to talk to him,” Altuve pointed out. “I’m going to call him and tell him that we have to stay with Carlos.”
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