PUJOLS: UNDERAPPRECIATED, DOMINANT
Tip of the hat to valued reader dhaab for passing this along: The Most Underappreciated Player in Baseball. That would be Albert Pujols. The article touches on something I wrote just a few weeks ago: Pujols is so awesome year in and year out that his accomplishments sometimes take a back seat to the player who has a career year. We need to stop that.
The other thing I wanted to mention about Pujols is that if he can just stay healthy (another one of his amazing qualities: playing through injuries seemingly every year), he will indeed be considered the best right-handed hitter of our era. I had previously held Frank Thomas in such high esteem, as well as Jeff Bagwell. And people talk a lot about Manny Ramirez. But it’s clear that Pujols is the best. This year Pujols walked twice for every time he whiffed. That’s incredible for any player, let alone a power-hitter that slugs over .600.
So click the link at the top and see why the man deserves his due. And if you don’t, that’s ok. Pujols will remind you again next year why he is the best in the game.
[tags]Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, Frank Thomas, MLB[/tags]
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Thanks Matty. But I don’t get the part about him reminding us he’s the best in the game. He came out once in the media a few years back and complained about the MVP award, but some of his words were taken out of context. Plus, who can blame him for being a little bitter about how that award is voted on? The guy could easily have 5 MVP’s right now and probably should have at least 3. Instead, he has but one Most Valuable Player Award to show for dominating the game over the past 8 years. And he may not even win it again this year.
In fact, I would even say that he’s generally more subdued about his talent than the majority of professional athletes. And that’s saying something, considering how much better he is than most.
Yes, that’s right. I have a man-crush on Pujols. But so would you, if he played for the Cubs.
I just meant that he’ll go out and do it all again next season. Maybe even better considering he just had his surgery.
As for being subdued, I agree mostly. But he’s better off letting other people make that argument for him.