Albert Pujols, underappreciated superstar

[boa]

The fact of the matter is that this article is true. Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball, and is also the most consistent player in all of baseball. His AB totals the first 5 years he played - 590, 590, 591, 592, 591 (which have dropped to 535, 565, and ~540 this year, due to a combination of minor injuries along with a higher walk rate). That type of consistency is remarkable. His OPS+ has ranged from 151 to 187. There is NO player more consistent than Pujols, and that Pujols does it at the level that he does is just all the more remarkable.

He is the best player, hands down. But just like Jonah Keri makes ridiculous articles like this one, journalists need 'something' to spark reader interest.

[boa]

Actually, it'd be perfectly accurate. "Between 30 and 50" does not include the number 50.

Over the last 3 years, Marcus Thames has hit between 18 and 70 home runs per year.

[justanewguy]

Over the last 3 years, Marcus Thames has hit between 18 and 70 home runs per year.

That would just be an obviously misleading statement. It's not the same.

[HoustonGM]

He is the best player, hands down. But just like Jonah Keri makes ridiculous articles like this one, journalists need 'something' to spark reader interest.

What exactly is "ridiculous" about this article? Besides nitpicking tiny things that aren't even wrong or are intentionally wrong, and besides criticizing the grammar of one sentence in a casual opinion article?

That would just be an obviously misleading statement. It's not the same.

Pretty much.

[HoustonGM]

So, never doubt ESPN. Page 2 runs this Manny for MVP article, I suppose as a "counter" to Keri's article.

[OregonDuck1989]

Ugh Scoop Jackson...

I guarantee you he doesn't support Sabathia for Cy Young though because he has only been there half of a season...

[RedsoxRockies]

He shouldn't support CC, it should be Lincecum

[OregonDuck1989]

He shouldn't support CC, it should be Lincecum

I agree but he supports Manny for MVP after only half a season and makes an argument for him that doesn't...exactly...make any sense talking about his "leadership" and "impact" more then the fact that Pujols beat him in stats.

So shouldn't he at the same time never make the same argument on the flip against CC Sabathia?

[metsguy234]

Pujols is the best player in the NL this year, hands down, but he SHOULD NOT, and I repeat SHOULD NOT win MVP.

He obviously isn't clutch, because his team is in FOURTH PLACE. This guy can't even keep his team in the playoffs!

[Arctic Blast]

Pujols is the best player in the NL this year, hands down, but he SHOULD NOT, and I repeat SHOULD NOT win MVP.

He obviously isn't clutch, because his team is in FOURTH PLACE. This guy can't even keep his team in the playoffs!

How is it his fault that his team stinks? Why blame Pujols for the fact his team's pitching staff is a disaster, and that Carpenter missed pretty much the whole year?

[RickD]

Pujols is the best player in the NL this year, hands down, but he SHOULD NOT, and I repeat SHOULD NOT win MVP.

He obviously isn't clutch, because his team is in FOURTH PLACE. This guy can't even keep his team in the playoffs!

Last time I looked there were 8 guys in the field and a pitching rotation of 5 guys with at least 6 in the bullpen. This would make sense if Albert Pujols played every position. As it is he is an MVP player and totally underappreciated. I would love to see him move to the Yanks!

[HoustonGM]

Pujols is the best player in the NL this year, hands down, but he SHOULD NOT, and I repeat SHOULD NOT win MVP.

This is a ridiculous statement.

He obviously isn't clutch, because his team is in FOURTH PLACE. This guy can't even keep his team in the playoffs!

This is an even more ridiculous statement.

One player CANNOT get a team to the playoffs, and it has NOTHING to do with "clutch."

Pujols has done everything he can, and then some, to help the Cardinals, but he cannot play 8 positions and pitch and bat 9 times.

Take a look at his splits this year - he's an absolute monster at the plate in EVERY situation imaginable. His clutch stats themselves are ridiculous - .315/.509/.631 with RISP. .293/.567/.683 with 2 outs and RISP. .314/.432/.600 in late and close games. .386/.473/.591 in tie games. If there's any hitter that's "clutch", it's Albert Pujols (and that's because he's the best hitter in the game in any situation, clutch or not).

You take away Albert Pujols from the Cardinals, and they're fending off the Pirates for 5th place, instead of contending into early September. No player can take one team and get them to the playoffs by themselves.

Albert Pujols can't control the fact that the Cardinals have run out Cesar Izturis and Adam Kennedy out to the plate 782 times, and he can't control the fact that those two players have combined for an OPS+ below 70. Albert Pujols can't control the fact that the Cardinals bullpen has been unable to hold leads. Albert Pujols can't control the fact that their two best pitchers, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, have both missed significant time due to injury.

The Cardinals are LUCKY to be where they are. How many people expected Todd Wellemeyer, Kyle Lohse, and Braden Looper to combine for nearly 600 innings of above-average pitching?

As Muzzy from Leicester said in Rob Neyer's ESPN chat today, "The best player is the most valuable player. The quality of his teammates is irrelevant when discussing a player's value."


But, as always with you, I feel like I've wasted my breath. I don't think you even take the time to read anything anybody else says when they try to explain to you why you're wrong.

[OregonDuck1989]

Pujols is the best player in the NL this year, hands down, but he SHOULD NOT, and I repeat SHOULD NOT win MVP.

lol This may be the most oxymoronic statement I have ever read in my life. (I know there is a lit term for a statement that contradicts itself but I forgot it).

The best player shouldn't win the MVP, eh? You sound like Skip Bayless.

[HoustonGM]

lol This may be the most oxymoronic statement I have ever read in my life. (I know there is a lit term for a statement that contradicts itself but I forgot it).

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms...like jumbo shrimp, pretty ugly, etc. I think oxymoron would fit there.

[RedsoxRockies]

Haha LOL. Metsguy, you are a strange person