Pujols questions

[micsmith]

1. What is the most home runs Albert Pujols has had at the All-Star break?

2. If he makes it to 62 HR this season, will be the first legit 62 we've seen? He is not in some great hitter's park is he?

[Otis Nixon's Bodyguard]

1. 29 in 2006.

2. I'm not going to touch this one. He'd be the first 62-homer man other than Bonds, McGwire, or Sosa. And no, I wouldn't say that his home field gives him any unusual advantage.

[STLCards2]

1. What is the most home runs Albert Pujols has had at the All-Star break?

2. If he makes it to 62 HR this season, will be the first legit 62 we've seen? He is not in some great hitter's park is he?

1. Pujols will not hit near 62 homeruns. His BABIP is significantly lower than his career trends and his HR/FB % is significantly higher than career trends. As more PA increase, expect his average on non-HR balls-in-play to increase and his HR totals to decrease. Also, as the hype around the man increases, expect more an more IBB an UI/IBB. So instead of a .325 guy with 60 homeruns, expect a .340 guy with 47 homeruns, for example. Either way - the man can mash.

2. Busch has played as a slight pitcher's park over its brief history. Certainly not getting the kind of park assistance that Howard, Ibanez, and others are. Of course, A. Gonzales would love to hit at Busch compared to his current situation.

3. As far as being legit - no way of knowing for sure. Most of us that don't have an ax to grind sure hope so. His references to fear of God and the DS children he works with, and the D.R. work that he does (in terms of cheating and his responsibilities to those individuals) make you hope hard that he really is the real deal.

4. In 2006, he missed almost 20 games too. If healthy in 2006- he would have been far ahead of his pace this year.

[Railsplitter]

The New Busch Stadium is definately not a HR hitter's park. I have their Right Handed HR factor for 06 / 07 / 08 as .86 / .77 / .87

[CandlestickBum]

3. As far as being legit - no way of knowing for sure. Most of us that don't have an ax to grind sure hope so. His references to fear of God and the DS children he works with, and the D.R. work that he does (in terms of cheating and his responsibilities to those individuals) make you hope hard that he really is the real deal.


Thank you, I believe this is the first post I've read about Pujols from a Cards fan that wasn't fanatical.

And I think most all baseball fans would agree 100% with it.

[bob]

In '06 until he got injured (june 4th) he was having the sort of season that only Roided up Bonds has had in the last 50 years. Was at 25 HR's in the first 55 games. This year is certainly less impressive so far, but still very good by Pujols standards.

[STLCards2]

In '06 until he got injured (june 4th) he was having the sort of season that only Roided up Bonds has had in the last 50 years. .

In terms of HR, yes - but he was "only" hitting .315 with an OB% lower than his career average. Lost of guys had similar OPS+ through early June as Albert did that year.

Albert had a similar year in 2003 too. Huge power numbers the first half, followed by much less power, but better average the second half. I think 2009 will be much of the same - just based on career trends and laws of probablilty.

[cardsfanatic]

Thank you, I believe this is the first post I've read about Pujols from a Cards fan that wasn't fanatical.

Ummm, there are a lot of us that post on these forums that aren't fanatical in the least. I rarely drink the Cardinal Kool-Aid. I love them. I'm a fan. I think Pujols is the best player in baseball and has been for several seasons. But I'm hardly fanatical about it.

I wouldn't have held it against a Giants fan if he felt Barry Bonds was the best player in baseball for most of his career. At some point... facts are just facts.