Well, the NL's record of futility continues, and I, being an NL guy, am disappointed this morning. I thought the top 4 in the NL lineup would be revved up to prove themselves, and there are no four other guys that you want revved up besides Hanley, Utley, the King, and the Hebrew Hammer. Alas, there is one other guy you want apparently, Carl Crawford. That catch was ridiculous.
Still props need to be extended for the first half turned in by last night's man of the hour (and the only bright spot on my dismal fantasy team). For some perspective, let's note that Vernon Wells signed a 7 year, $126 million contract in 2006 after coming off a season where he went .303/32/106. Albert Pujols, AFTER 90 GAMES!!!, has this line: .332/32/87. That is inhuman (and frankly, inhumane to NL pitchers). What's more, the guy has absolutely no protection in his lineup, which makes his performance even more remarkable.
Still, as we at SLAE like to look at the big picture (and, as Longhorns fans, have a decidedly what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude), I have to ask where El Hombre ranks in the Pantheon of greatest baseball players ever. Is he one of the top 5 players ever, as his stats would suggest? He has made the playoffs 5 of his 9 years. He has won 7 out of 11 postseason series, and hit a collective .323/13/35 in those series. However, he has only 1 World Series title (compared to a guy like Jeter who has 4). His performance at such an early age puts him alongside guys like Foxx, Aaron, DiMaggio, Mantle, and Gehrig....and yet I feel like there is just something separating those guys from Albert. Am I wrong? Am I swayed by the "romance" of old-time baseball?
For that matter, is it fair to judge baseball players along the same lines (championships) as we would, say, quarterbacks or basketball stars? Baseball is the ultimate individual game (pitcher versus hitter), but at the same time it is the ultimate team game (a hitter generally has four chances total to really change a game). So how will Albert be remembered?
Also being a National League guy (whose wife thinks the designated hitter is cheating - it's one thing she's actually correct about), I am disappointed in last night's result as well. I completely understand that the AL has been the superior league for the better part of the last decade. They can mostly thank the Yankees and Red Sox for that. However, 1996?!? Are you kidding me? That's downright embarrassing. If you match up the Nationals and the Red Sox for 13 games, the Nats are sure to win at least a couple. But the NL can't pull off one win in the last 13 All Star games? Goodness gracious.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, at least the NL can claim the best player in baseball. Your question about where Pujols currently stands among the historic baseball greats is a good one.
I think it's safe to say that he is the best first baseman in National League history. We can stop there and it would be high praise indeed.
Right now, I think Pujols is in the discussion with Foxx, Aaron, Mantle, Gehrig, etc. He just has to do it for another 6-8 years to accumulate the same kind of numbers.
Take a look at Pujols' career numbers to date. Keep in mind he's only 29 years old (he was actually born on the same day as Jessica).
Career OBP of .427 (!)
Career OPS of 1.057
Never hit less than 32 HR in a season
Never driven in less than 103 RBI in a season
Career AVG of .334
The guy was a Hall of Fame caliber player from DAY ONE. Let's just hope he never gets stuck with the PED label.
As for your last question, I do not think championships should be an important standard by which individual players are judged. Post-season baseball is just such a different animal. What you do over a 162 game schedule is far, far, far more important and indicative of your skills (both good and bad). Now, if Pujols had never made the playoffs or fallen flat on his face in October, then that's a different story. But as you note, that certainly hasn't been the case.
Matt:
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I want to give you a “thanks” for giving a shout out to the Cardinals once again. I am keeping track and it is the third reference you have made to the Birds on the Bat in the last three months; not bad for a Longhorns fan.
I have been watching Pujols since he first came on the scene in 2001 as a rookie. I left Saint Louis that summer for Houston and I recall, before I left town, there was a big push to get this kid into the All Star game as a write-in candidate (and it worked). I think Pujols is hands down one of the best players in baseball. There are very few players who come along that have a egitimate shot at and breaking just about every hitting record in baseball. It was about five years ago, I believe, he had a hitting streak that went close to forty games; he has a legitimate shot at the Triple Crown every year; he should have at least two more NL MVPs if it was not for Bonds; he has the potential to take the all time home run record, career RBI record (he will be halfway there after this season); and I am sure the list can go on and on. If this guy continues playing and is healthy for the next eleven years (reaching the twenty year mark) we are going to see some incredible things, I am certain.
As for remembering him even though he has one World Series ring, I think it will not matter. The World Series ring(s) will only be the icing on the cake. However, I think the Cardinals are arguably one of the best teams of this decade, if not the best in the NL, and I believe Pujols has been a big contributing factor, i.e., he should have at least four NL MVPs by now. The Cardinals went to the Playoffs in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006; they were in the NLCS in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006; they were in the World Series in 2004 and 2006; and they won it all in 2006. The only other team that has come anywhere close is the Red Sox and the big difference is the Red Sox won one more World Series. The Cardinals were also in the 2000 NLCS but Pujols was not there at that time; I only mention it for purposes of supporting my theory that the Cardinals are the best NL team of this decade.
Once again, I appreciate the props to the Birds on the Bat.
Sam