One of the saving graces of living in yet another National League city has been the opportunity to watch one of the greatest hitters in major league history.
Albert Pujols has, in every year of his career–for 10 seasons–had a batting average of at least .300, at least 30 homers, and at least 100 RBIs. No other major leaguer has ever done that. After an extremely slow start this season, he’s recovered to an astounding extent. But, with three games left, he’s barely above .300, and could lose it if he slumps in Houston, and he’s only got 98 RBIs.
This is to me, an astonishing streak, a tremendous streak, and I’ll be rooting for him to continue it.
Pujols is hitting .300 - or .29965, if you want to go way past the usual decimal point and be technical - with 98 RBI. Brett Myers is scheduled to pitch for Houston, and lifetime, Pujols is hitting .354 (17/48) with four homers and eight RBI against Myers. I hope he does keep the streak going. He’s been one of the greats for a decade and remains one even if this slightly down year ends his streak. Of course it’s also possible that the Cardinals will have to play a tiebreaker with the Braves, so that might give Pujols some extra chances to raise the batting average and get that extra two RBI.
I hope he does come up short. When my great grandchildren are looking at Pujols’ numbers and notice how close he came to 15 in a row or whatever it ends up being, I’ll say, oh yes, I remember 2011. That was the year he was out for 6 weeks with a broken wrist. But he played 146 games, they’ll say. Yes, I’ll say, he did.
Pujols is one of my favourite players on one of my favourite teams. I’d love to see him get a couple more hits tonight and drive in a couple runs to keep the streak alive. On the other hand, I’d also like to see Ichiro bat .300 with 200+ hits for the 11th straight year, but that ain’t gonna happen this season. Oh well.
Another intriguing question is where Pujols will wind up playing next season. I was going through the MLB last night in my head and trying to think of places where they have a) the money and b) a spot for him and it seems to me that list is pretty tiny. I still have my fingers crossed that he and the Cards can reach an agreement that would see him wrap his career in St. Louis, but I’m not sure they can pony up the kind of dough Pujols is apparently seeking.
Albert would look great in a Indians’ cap playing in Jacobs’ - er, Progressive Field next season. Do you think he’d be amenable to being paid in Trading Stamps, which is all the Indians’ owner claims he can afford to pay?
Here’s a wild and crazy thought that might, theoretically, fit the bill: the Chicago Cubs. They’ve been known to spend like drunken sailors on occasion and I’m pretty sure their current first baseman is not a future Hall of Famer. Seeing Pujols move to a hated division rival and a hitter’s park is an interesting way for things to play out, IMO. Admittedly, this scenario would be extremely unlikely, but fun to think about.
Imagine all the cool gear one could buy, when getting paid in Cleveland Indians Gift Certificates*.
*Non-Transferable. Good up to an amount not to exceed 50% of merchandise value.
Since the Yankees and Red Sox are sitting this one out, the Cubs are the only other option I’ve heard discussed in a serious way. I don’t think it’s going to happen, but we’ll see.
Yep; still counts. That’s how Maury Wills once played a 165 game season, back when the tiebreaker was a 3 game series that didn’t count as a playoff series.
The Cubs have been considered a serious option for Pujols for a while now. I’d say, after consulting my extensive network of contacts, which is me and my dog, that the Cubs, Angels and Nationals are the top 3.
I’m under the impression that he got lowballed last off season. Yes, he wants to get paid well, and I think he would like to stay with the Cards, but the negotiations went nowhere in a hurry. The Cards are going to have to decide what keeping him is worth to them.
1 for 1, with an RBI so far.
The team seems to have realized that all they have to do tonight is win, and then the worst case is playing again tomorrow.
Y’know, I’m not certain that would be bad. They’re improving, 80-81 this year; Strasberg has come back great guns, and Zimmermann’s not half bad either; Pujols might be just what they need.
