Albert Pujols Goes Hitless Again, Awful Start Continues
The Angels are exactly 17 games into the Major League Baseball season. It’s time to discuss how bad Albert Pujols has been in those 17 games. After last night’s 0-for-4 showing, his fourth hitless game in a row, Pujols is batting .232 with 4 RBI, no home runs, and an OPS of .617, nearly a third off of where it normally lives.
Is it because he forgot how to hit line drives to right field? Does he miss St. Louis barbecue? Is Mike Scioscia’s hair not as inspiring as the great Tony La Russa’s? Is his agent, along with the hired help, not allowing him to sleep? Is this simply what he gets for ditching St. Louis in favor of ripe Orange County tits?
We’ve seen this a million times. A-Rod got off to a slow start in 2004 when he made his Yankees debut, and he ended up settling in just fine; kinda. It would be crazy to think we won’t be seeing the Pujols of old soon enough, but the struggle and ensuing mass panic is somewhat entertaining. The question is, are Cardinals fans — the “greatest fans in the world” — enjoying this or are they sympathetic to what Al B. Sure is going through? I imagine the scorned lovers are loving every second of it.
***
In other baseball news…
Yu Darvish blanked the Yankees for 8.1 innings while striking out 10, but that didn’t stop the Yankee captain from going 2-for-4. The man is a machine.
The Reds beat the Giants 9-2 behind seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball from Mat Latos, who continues to struggle with spelling properly. Cincy now sits at 8-9 which, in the comical NL Central, means they’re just 2.5 games out of first place.
The Orioles won their second in a row and find themselves in a four-way tie for first. Yes, that’s a big deal for this franchise. Until they slip under .500, everything they do is a big deal, yet no one cares to talk about them; except for me, right now. Moving on…
In Minnesota, Josh Beckett went six innings and allowed two runs while the Boston bats put up 11 runs. Plus, Beckett yelled at the home plate umpire. Always a good sign when the bloated fella is fired up. Everything is fine with the Sawx.
Jose Reyes returned to Queens! Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post put it best in that Mets fans can’t win with pundits regarding Reyes. They boo, they’re ungrateful; they cheer, they’re naive jackasses.
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April 25th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Break up the Tribe. It’s pretty bad when you’re hoping Johnny fucking Damon can get in the lineup to replace some of the horrible offensive players. Can Damon play 1B?
April 25th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
should go back to the NL, where the competition is a little easier.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Air Tran? You expect me, a superstar, to fly Air Tran?
April 25th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Sucks for the Nationals that Ryan Zimmerman is likely headed to the DL. AC joint sprain and he didn’t play for the third straight game yesterday. Guy’s health has been a question mark for the last two years or so. They need him to be 100% to keep in contention.
Seemed like Kuroda was getting squeezed a bit in Texas last night. Darvish was definitely on though.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Brandon Inge could secure an everyday job in the NL.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Cubs walked off against the Cardinals for the 2nd straight night last night. Bryan LaHair with the 4th best wOBA in baseball right now. Makes me happy because it’ll keep Rizzo down at AAA for as long as possible if he keeps hitting well. Great to see Sori get the game winning hit. He’s overpaid as hell but he’s been busting his ass this year. Small victories are nice. First series win of the year, couldn’t have come against a more satisfactory opponent.
Samardzija was on point last night too. Averaged just under 95 MPH on both the 2 and 4 seam fastballs. Mixed in some changeups last nice which was new. Finally using his splitter and slider in 2 strike counts instead of 0 or 1 strike counts. Can’t believe this is the same guy that tormented me for the last 3 years.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
I don’t know about most Cardinals fans, but I am not rooting for Albert to fail with the Angels. He gave us a lot of great seasons and he took the highest offer when he became a free agent. I would have done the same thing and I am happy that the Cardinals didn’t match an offer that big. I wish he was still on the Cardinals, but I don’t have any ill will for him or the Angels. I will probably always root for him unless they are playing the Cardinals.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Is this simply what he gets for ditching St. Louis in favor of ripe Orange County tits?
The walls in Anaheim are further back than those at Busch Stadium. Some of his line drives or pop flys would’ve been homers back in STL. He’d then have HRs, more RBIs and hits, as well as increased slugging and on-base percentage.
And while I’m not a Cardinals “fan,” I do live here, and it is somewhat amusing to see Mr. “I’m just going where God wants me to” struggling at the plate.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Ryan Zimmerman is reminiscent of Scott Rolen (at Rolen’s peak) to me, with the way he plays….even right down to nagging injury problems.
April 25th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Hispanic Panic
April 25th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Roarke49, that was a very reasonable, fair take. -1
April 25th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
ms621 – thoughts on Jose Altuve? I haven’t watched hardly any Astros baseball (surprise!) but I just nabbed him in a league. BABIP is a bit high so he’s going to regress but it looks like he’s got decent discipline at the dish. Some speed too. Where do the Astros normally hit him?
April 25th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
sc did you shave that ‘beard’?
April 25th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Jeez – comment #7 was a horribly written piece of shit comment. My apologies. I think you get my drift though.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Now I just feel awful. I’m flying out of Baltimore to Disney World on AirTran. My family and I are just a bunch of scrubs.
/Goes back to menial job and pathetic life.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Now that he finally got the big contract, he’s off the steroids. That was the plan all along – saving the family jewels for the future Mrs. Pujols-es.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
+1. You better trademark that.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
What did you think was going to happen when you pay him 100s of millions of dollars, WAYY past his prime.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Beckett threw 40 pitches in the first inning last night. I didn’t see any of the game, just saw some tweets on it. Nick Blackburn will usually cure any ailment for a struggling team. Sawks teed off on him last night.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Everything is fine with the Sawx.
….when they play the Twinkies.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Sorry, Tim, I’ll try and be more “internet-y” next time.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
To clarify: I’m amused because Albert’s “I’m just going where God wants” really meant, “I’m going where the money is.”
April 25th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
ms621 – thoughts on Jose Altuve? I haven’t watched hardly any Astros baseball (surprise!) but I just nabbed him in a league. BABIP is a bit high so he’s going to regress but it looks like he’s got decent discipline at the dish. Some speed too. Where do the Astros normally hit him?
Not ms, but I really like Altuve. Always hit for high avg in the minors and has some nice speed. He should bat .310-.315 and if they let him bat 2nd more often he can be a nice fantasy 2b.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Remember around this time last year when Derek Jeter was done?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
I was kidding, we could use more grounded comments like that one.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Hispanic Panic
+1. You better trademark that.
in the interest of tight writing, something we should all strive for, let’s go with..
His Panic
April 25th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
HISPANICPANIC.COM is already taken per GoDaddy.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
RAISE IT
April 25th, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Thanks, LVM. I’ve got Dustin Ackley too. Safeco tends to rob players of power though. I plan on platooning Altuve and Ackley. Altuve doesn’t strike out a lot and I lose points in this league for Ks.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Remember around this time last year when Derek Jeter was done?
as far as old guys go, chipper hit his fourth or fifth birthday home run last night. he leads that category, i think in history of mlb
April 25th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Wait I thought Chipper was out for the season.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Pujols and Octavio Dotel were on the same Little League team in the DR. Albert is possibly a lot older than he’s letting on. And his numbers have already declined for three straight seasons.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Not as machiney as Ortiz
Kind of interesting that it’s all Jeter in the media(Ok maybe it isnt). Boston has 2 starters batting over .400!
April 25th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Altuve took 5 walks in like 250 plate appearances last year. That said, he was waaaaay more disciplined this year in spring training and at least started out the year with 3 walks in the first few games. Haven’t checked on him lately, but by all accounts he’s improved a lot in that area.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Which team is still below five hundred?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
looks like a nice birthday all around for larry
“Jones has connected on his birthday on four different occasions since coming up to the big leagues in 1993, including his 24th, 29th (twice) and 36th. He has played on his birthday 13 times, going 21 for 49, and the Braves are 11-2 in those games.”
and classy dodgers:
“After the third inning, the left-field video board flashed the message: “Happy birthday Chipper. The Dodgers salute your remarkable career,” while organist Nancy Bea Hefley played Think Of Me from the musical Phantom of the Opera”
April 25th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Shit never mind, Sweeney’s fallen to .392. Loser.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
RAISE IT
Raise it is right. After Tough Tony Watson gave up the go ahead HR on his 1st & only AB last night I was ready for another crushing Buccos loss. Nice win. Let’s get 2 today and the Battlin Bucs will be .500 — oh wait, they should be contracted.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Thanks, LVM. I’ve got Dustin Ackley too. Safeco tends to rob players of power though. I plan on platooning Altuve and Ackley. Altuve doesn’t strike out a lot and I lose points in this league for Ks.
I think Altuve will be a better fantasy play than Ackley this year. Slightly less power but better speed and like you say, he makes contact. He was known for his contact rate in the minors and if I’m not mistaken I think he was hitting over .400 before being called up last year. He was never a prospect because he’s like 5’9” but he’s produced at every level. If you can trade Ackley based on his name and prospect status I would be fine with rolling with Altuve.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Correction: Loozah
April 25th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
3.5 out of first
April 25th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Um……
April 25th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
You’re right, you’re right, the Red Sox get no media love.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
He’s nowhere the fielder he once was but he can still produce. Proving the valtrex slogan true, he is living the life he wants.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Yu is only 25. There are a lot of “real” rookies that 25. I was worried we wouldn’t have a true #1. Not worried about that anymore. Need a new 1st basemen though, Mitch Moreland is fat and terrible
April 25th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Link?
If Albert played with Dotel, then he is definitely older than he lets on, since Octavio is 38.
/Think its likely that Albert is a helluva lot older than 31
April 25th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
At this rate they’ll be 35 out when the season’s over.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
If Albert played with Dotel, then he is definitely older than he lets on, since Octavio is 38.
/Think its likely that Albert is a helluva lot older than 31
or DR LL teams have a wide age range, like 5-6 years, which is not insane considering a smaller population
April 25th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Love? Nah, but thats only because it’s much more fun to poor gasoline on their dying bodies, light a match and dance a jig on their corpses.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Eh.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Pissed that I didn’t put him in the lineup last night for the King of No Pants juggernaut.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
or maybe dotel is younger than he claims, just to fuck with folks
April 25th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Eric Hosmer is starting to wake up. Royals might actually win a game in the next 3 weeks.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
I like this dark turn you’ve taken.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
I drafted Altuve in one of the last rounds of my fantasy draft and have been plesantly surprised. He’s played great.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
it’s much more fun to poor gasoline on their dying bodies, light a match and dance a jig on their corpses
wheew, so glad someone else feels this way too
April 25th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
CJ is Jada Fire?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Mitch Moreland is fat and terrible
What is wrong with him? I had hopes for him to improve on last year. Picked him up late for my team in an 18 team league and he’s borderline playable even in a league that deep. Any chance he’s just in a bit of a slump?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Little League is 11-12, which would have made Albert 5 at the time. He would have been 7 in a league with 13 & 14 year olds. I’ve coached a lot of youth ball and never seen a kid at 7 able to hang with 13 and 14 year olds.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:17 AM
AirTran has in flight WiFi. That ain’t scrub.
/not free so Dwight will bitch
April 25th, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Yes. No.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:17 AM
they also have quite a few pitchers allowing this kind of opponent batting average, too.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
As long as they wait until this weekend to start playing better, I’ll be OK with that.
/Wahoo
//Break Up The Tribe
April 25th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Melancon had a .667 against. Thats simply amazing.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
I drafted Altuve in one of the last rounds of my fantasy draft and have been plesantly surprised. He’s played great.
fantsasy baseball was invented by royals and pirates fans
April 25th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
How many shit “melancholy” puns have been made?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Little League is 11-12, which would have made Albert 5 at the time. He would have been 7 in a league with 13 & 14 year olds. I’ve coached a lot of youth ball and never seen a kid at 7 able to hang with 13 and 14 year olds.
you coached in the DR? say something in spanish
April 25th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
We need someone to cheer for…..
April 25th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
it’s a little tough to exceed or match 47 HR, 135 RBI, .327, .443obp and a 189ops+
April 25th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Just picked up Altuve for Zobrist.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:24 AM
gesundheit mole
April 25th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
even i had a better BA against when i pitched in little league.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Im sure Pujols will get it together.
/Sin Soo Choo
April 25th, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Just picked up Altuve for Zobrist.
Can you move Zobrist to OF? I like Zobrist a lot too he is worth holding on to.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
In my league yeah. But I have Braun, Cespedes, Jacoby (when he’s off the DL), Bonifacio, and Morrison so I felt like mixing it up in the infield.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Hasta La Vista, baby.
And show me a 7 year old who can play with 13 and 14 year olds anywhere and he will be the first one that can do so…
April 25th, 2012 at 11:39 AM
In my league yeah. But I have Braun, Cespedes, Jacoby (when he’s off the DL), Bonifacio, and Morrison so I felt like mixing it up in the infield.
I’d keep Zobrist over Morrison but that could just be personal preference. I like his speed/power combo and position versatility.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:41 AM
This is a money league where someone picked up Varitek last week. I’m confident he will be there if I decide to dump Infante.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:45 AM
And show me a 7 year old who can play with 13 and 14 year olds anywhere and he will be the first one that can do so…
you just want to see a 7-year old
April 25th, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Mole, your league has retired players?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:48 AM
If he grounds into another double play with the bases loaded and one out, I’m going to destroy my TV. I say we bring up Mike Olt, put him at first. Either that or trade one of the farmhands for a 1st baseman, maybe Justin Morneau from MIN.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:51 AM
If he grounds into another double play with the bases loaded and one out, I’m going to destroy my TV. I say we bring up Mike Olt, put him at first. Either that or trade one of the farmhands for a 1st baseman, maybe Justin Morneau from MIN.
Can’t you just play Mike Young there and play whoever you want at DH? Not that I want Moreland benched but I don’t think you need to trade for Morneau or anything that drastic.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
I have no idea why he is available on Yahoo.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:55 AM
anything that drastic.
why is that drastic? you have a great farm system for two reasons and one of them is for trades
April 25th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
why is that drastic? you have a great farm system for two reasons and one of them is for trades
Because he’s one of Minn’s 2 best players and they are not just going to give him away. Plus he makes a good amount of money and will significantly increase their payroll after paying for Yu and Kinsler in the offseason and needing to re-sign Hamilton this offseason.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Altuve is on pace for about 60 walks this year, which is good enough. Any player who walks less than 30 times per 600 PA rarely sustains long term success. Obviously there are exceptions: Pudge, Juan Gone, Ruben
April 25th, 2012 at 12:51 PM
We have a 2 billion dollar TV contract starting in ’13/’14 we can afford it. Plus I think Torrealba calls a poor game, i’d rather have Napoli back there more often than not. Young is an absolute butcher in the field, I’d rather have him at DH, but Wash lets him play in the field occasionally so he stays engaged in the process. We’ve got some holes in our roster, our bench is terrible. That killed us in the World Series last year. We had Torrealba and Endy fricking Chavez to face the Cardinal relievers. 2 outs, 2 strike twice. I’m still not over that.
April 25th, 2012 at 3:28 PM
If I were an LA Angel fan, I would start considering panicking. I understand that the MLB season is just beginning and there are a substantial amount of games to be played, but the fact is, Pujols just doesn’t look like the young bomber he was with the Cardinals. There is no doubt in my mind that he will turn it around and will end the season with impressive numbers, that most players in the league would love to have, but that’s not what the Angels gave him that ridiculous contract for.
More concerning for Angel fans, in my opinion, should be how well the Texas Rangers are playing. With the best record in the MLB early in the season, the Rangers look determined to prove to people that they are looking to win it all this year after falling just short the previous two seasons. And with Yu Darvish starting to look like the pitcher the Rangers paid for on top of Josh Hamilton having what looks to be and MVP type season the Rangers are going to be tough to beat. The Rangers hot start already has the Angels sitting 7.5 games back of first place in a division that most people thought would be a close race all season. That 7.5 game deficit is a bigger deficit than the lowly Kansas City Royals who are only 7 games back in their division and have lost their last 11 games.
Even though the Angels don’t look like they are going to be able to play at the same level as the Rangers, with the extra wild card spot to get into the playoffs, they might turn their season around enough to make it into the playoffs. I mean, as bad as the Angels have played at the beginning of the season they are only 4 games out of the wild card spot. That’s not too much to ask of them, is it? If they continue to play the way they are now however, they will be planning their offseason trips mid summer while the rest of the league plays baseball.