Mattingly
08-03-2006, 04:52 PM
Zambrano gives Pujols fits (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers_phil&id=2537963)
Do you think there was ever a time when Jack Nicholson tried but couldn't quite get that crazy look in his eyes? Or when Warren Buffett paid interest on a credit card? Does Neil Young ever write songs that aren't worthy of being recorded? Does Dave Chappelle's act ever bomb? Does Jennifer Aniston ever have a bad hair day?
The answer to all of these questions, of course, must be yes. But try to find any of the more mundane moments of life on their career résumés.
In most professions, even some with the highest profiles, you get to struggle privately and succeed before an adoring public. Baseball isn't one of those.
Everything a player does is charted and analyzed. And when somebody like Craig Grebeck hits a home run off Nolan Ryan, we never forget.
Every great hitter has a pitcher he hates to face. Every great pitcher has a hitter who wears him out like a good excuse. Here's a look at some of the guys who currently cause nightmares for some of baseball's best players:
Albert Pujols
Summary: With Barry Bonds declining, no hitter in baseball is more effective against all kinds of pitching. It's a tribute to his sweet, short swing and great eye that no pitcher has ever held an advantage over him for long, with the possible exception of Luis Vizcaino, of all people.
He's already dreading: Facing Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano, possibly in a series Aug. 18-20 at Wrigley Field. The last time the St. Louis Cardinals faced Zambrano, Tony La Russa gave Pujols a mini-breather, taking him out of the lineup. That says a ton. For his career, Pujols is only 8-for-36, a .222 average, against the powerful Zambrano. He has homered twice but has a strikeout every 5.2 at-bats.
Others who give him fits: Jason Schmidt, whose stuff is similar to Zambrano's, has held Pujols to only two hits and no home runs in 17 at-bats. Pujols hasn't homered in 24 regular-season at-bats against Roger Clemens. The surprising Astro who has consistently gotten Pujols out is lefty Andy Pettitte, who is holding him to a .200 average with no homers and only one walk in 20 at-bats. Vizcaino, a Brewer most of the time he faced Pujols and now a Diamondback, has run up an 0-for-8 with one strikeout.
Do you think there was ever a time when Jack Nicholson tried but couldn't quite get that crazy look in his eyes? Or when Warren Buffett paid interest on a credit card? Does Neil Young ever write songs that aren't worthy of being recorded? Does Dave Chappelle's act ever bomb? Does Jennifer Aniston ever have a bad hair day?
The answer to all of these questions, of course, must be yes. But try to find any of the more mundane moments of life on their career résumés.
In most professions, even some with the highest profiles, you get to struggle privately and succeed before an adoring public. Baseball isn't one of those.
Everything a player does is charted and analyzed. And when somebody like Craig Grebeck hits a home run off Nolan Ryan, we never forget.
Every great hitter has a pitcher he hates to face. Every great pitcher has a hitter who wears him out like a good excuse. Here's a look at some of the guys who currently cause nightmares for some of baseball's best players:
Albert Pujols
Summary: With Barry Bonds declining, no hitter in baseball is more effective against all kinds of pitching. It's a tribute to his sweet, short swing and great eye that no pitcher has ever held an advantage over him for long, with the possible exception of Luis Vizcaino, of all people.
He's already dreading: Facing Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano, possibly in a series Aug. 18-20 at Wrigley Field. The last time the St. Louis Cardinals faced Zambrano, Tony La Russa gave Pujols a mini-breather, taking him out of the lineup. That says a ton. For his career, Pujols is only 8-for-36, a .222 average, against the powerful Zambrano. He has homered twice but has a strikeout every 5.2 at-bats.
Others who give him fits: Jason Schmidt, whose stuff is similar to Zambrano's, has held Pujols to only two hits and no home runs in 17 at-bats. Pujols hasn't homered in 24 regular-season at-bats against Roger Clemens. The surprising Astro who has consistently gotten Pujols out is lefty Andy Pettitte, who is holding him to a .200 average with no homers and only one walk in 20 at-bats. Vizcaino, a Brewer most of the time he faced Pujols and now a Diamondback, has run up an 0-for-8 with one strikeout.