Luvofthegame
09-08-2006, 03:03 PM
Despite DL stint, Cardinals first baseman one of league's best
By Matthew Leach
MLB.com
9/7/06
Albert Pujols spotted the rest of the league 2 1/2 weeks, and it's still having a hard time catching him.
In his sixth Major League season, the 2005 National League MVP is putting up another season for the ages -- despite having spent more than half of June on the disabled list. He's already reached 30 homers and 100 RBIs for the sixth time in as many years, and he's a leading candidate for a second MVP.
And with every piece of hardware Pujols picks up, he furthers his standing among the elite players in baseball.
"I don't want to be the next Barry Bonds," Pujols said earlier this year. "I want to be Albert Pujols and that's it. Hopefully, I do the best I can to help my team out and take the advantages that God has given me."
The first phase of balloting for the Hank Aaron Award was conducted from Aug. 2-31, allowing fans to vote for the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. One nominee from each club was among the choices, and that fan vote reduced the field to the top six vote-getters per league.
The final phase now will be conducted on MLB.com through Sept. 30, and again fans will choose one player from each league. Those two players with the most votes will be announced at a presentation ceremony during the World Series.
Since 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21.
Besides Pujols, past recipients include Barry Bonds (three times), Alex Rodriguez (three times), Manny Ramirez (twice), Todd Helton, Sammy Sosa and Carlos Delgado. Last year's winners, selected during balloting during the regular season's final month on MLB.com, were Boston's David Ortiz and Atlanta's Andruw Jones.
That's right -- in his MVP season, Pujols didn't win the Aaron Award. Fans can help him pull off the double this year. And it's hard to see him as anything but deserving, as Pujols is once again doing it all. He hits for average, hits for power, gets on base and runs the bases well.
"I just think he's a perfect player," manager Tony La Russa said. "I don't know how you improve him. Because he does it for all the right reasons."
At the start of the season, it appeared Pujols might make a run not only at some postseason hardware, but at a truly historic season. He set a team record with 14 home runs in April, reached 19 homers in fewer games than any other player in history. He was at 25 by the end of May.
Soon thereafter, however, his pursuit of Bonds' single-season home run record was interrupted by a strained oblique muscle. That sent him to the DL for the first time -- the slugger had played at least 154 games in each of his previous five seasons.
Now he's back and doing it the old way -- not quite so many home runs, but cranking out singles, doubles, plenty of long balls and a slew of key hits at key times.
By Matthew Leach
MLB.com
9/7/06
Albert Pujols spotted the rest of the league 2 1/2 weeks, and it's still having a hard time catching him.
In his sixth Major League season, the 2005 National League MVP is putting up another season for the ages -- despite having spent more than half of June on the disabled list. He's already reached 30 homers and 100 RBIs for the sixth time in as many years, and he's a leading candidate for a second MVP.
And with every piece of hardware Pujols picks up, he furthers his standing among the elite players in baseball.
"I don't want to be the next Barry Bonds," Pujols said earlier this year. "I want to be Albert Pujols and that's it. Hopefully, I do the best I can to help my team out and take the advantages that God has given me."
The first phase of balloting for the Hank Aaron Award was conducted from Aug. 2-31, allowing fans to vote for the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. One nominee from each club was among the choices, and that fan vote reduced the field to the top six vote-getters per league.
The final phase now will be conducted on MLB.com through Sept. 30, and again fans will choose one player from each league. Those two players with the most votes will be announced at a presentation ceremony during the World Series.
Since 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21.
Besides Pujols, past recipients include Barry Bonds (three times), Alex Rodriguez (three times), Manny Ramirez (twice), Todd Helton, Sammy Sosa and Carlos Delgado. Last year's winners, selected during balloting during the regular season's final month on MLB.com, were Boston's David Ortiz and Atlanta's Andruw Jones.
That's right -- in his MVP season, Pujols didn't win the Aaron Award. Fans can help him pull off the double this year. And it's hard to see him as anything but deserving, as Pujols is once again doing it all. He hits for average, hits for power, gets on base and runs the bases well.
"I just think he's a perfect player," manager Tony La Russa said. "I don't know how you improve him. Because he does it for all the right reasons."
At the start of the season, it appeared Pujols might make a run not only at some postseason hardware, but at a truly historic season. He set a team record with 14 home runs in April, reached 19 homers in fewer games than any other player in history. He was at 25 by the end of May.
Soon thereafter, however, his pursuit of Bonds' single-season home run record was interrupted by a strained oblique muscle. That sent him to the DL for the first time -- the slugger had played at least 154 games in each of his previous five seasons.
Now he's back and doing it the old way -- not quite so many home runs, but cranking out singles, doubles, plenty of long balls and a slew of key hits at key times.