With the season starting in less than two weeks, Dusty Baker likely faces at least two...
Utility man Mauricio Dubón presents one second base option for the Astros as they await Jose Altuve's recovery from a broken thumb.JUPITER, Fla. — After his five-inning appearance against the Miami Marlins ended, Alex Bregman found his cellphone and figured out the news. Two taps on the screen produced a press release announcing Jose Altuve’s fractured thumb and subsequent surgery.
“You can’t try to be him. We just have to have some guys step up and fill in and do their job. You can’t replace Jose, but we have some good guys that are going to get after it.” Barring something catastrophic, Altuve will return this season. Until he does, manager Dusty Baker must maneuver his middle infield and the top of his batting order in ways he never wanted to envision.
It’s worth remembering, too, that Altuve hasn’t undergone surgery yet. Brown said the swelling in Altuve’s thumb needed to go down before doctors could operate. The general manager estimated surgery could occur “sometime toward the end of the week.” Starting the timeline then probably affords a clearer picture of how long Houston must proceed without Altuve.David Hensley and Mauricio Dubón should share the workload at second in Altuve’s absence.
Neither Hensley nor Dubón strikes out much, but Hensley demonstrated a better ability to get on base during his breakout minor league season last year. Hensley started two World Series games last October, passing perhaps the toughest test a player can take. The rigors of a full major league season present another. The league will make its adjustments, and Hensley must find a way to readjust. Hensley might possess more offensive upside than Dubón, but he cannot match him in major league experience.
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