Has any player ever hit 19 homers in his team's first 37 games with as little fanfare as Albert Pujols is generating? The answer is no, because nobody (sports.espn.go.com) had ever hit 19 so fast before Pujols did it Saturday night. The previous record was *40* games.
Pujols is having an incredible season. Incredible doesn't even begin to describe it. Do I expect him to to hit 80 home runs and drive in more than 200 runs like he's on pace to do? No, of course not. But not even a quarter of the way into the year, he his looking to have a HISTORIC season. He's hitting .341 with 19 HR and 47 RBI. I smell a triple crown this year.
At 26 years old and in his sixth season, Pujols has *220 home runs*. At this rate, Bonds is only chasing the right to be second after Pujols retires.
So why does it seem to me like Pujols is under the radar? I mean, obviously everyone knows who he is and what he's doing. But The guy is off the probably the best start in baseball history, you'd think he'd be opening Sportscenter every night or something. Instead, I usually have to wait til the bottom of the hour to catch my Cardinal highlights.
Maybe it's because right now, everybody is watching Bonds so they don't miss Nos. 714 and 715. But man it just doesn't seem to me like this ridiculous season Pujols is having is really getting any attention.
I heard on the local sports radio here the other day (when Pujols was still at 18) that Bonds had 15 HR's at this time in the year he hit 73. I would so love to see someone break Bonds record for HR's in a season. Hopefuly he can keep the pace up.
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I have to agree I think Pujols kinda flys under the radar. I mean the sports talk shows will take ten seconds to say "wow that guy's great" and then move back onto talking about the Yankees or Bonds.
I think it kinda relates to something I thought about the other day. Cowherd or maybe SportsBash was talking about how the Cardinals and Braves have never been a big draw around the nation like the Yankees or Red Sox and he didn't get why. I think it's pretty simple. People either love or hate the Yankees.
Other than Cubs fans, does anyone hate the Cardinals all that much? Anyone really feel hatred towards the Braves? I think people respect them, but don't feel any particular way about them. And Albert is a similar type of guy. He's quiet and doesn't say or do much in the public eye. People don't know if they love or hate him at this point.
And though I'm a homer let's not cut him short here. This guy isn't just off to possibly the best start to a season ever, he's off to possibly the best start to a career ever. Do we have to call it a start still at the sixth year? I mean his numbers match or surpass just about anyone you can think of. It's crazy that he doesn't get talked about more.
It was funny on Dan Patricks show the other day he asked Olberman how many homers he thought Pujols would hit this season and Keith's reply was something like "please god let him hit 74 and wipe Bonds right out of the record book".
I have no clue what yall are talking about I hear or see something about Pujols about once every 15 minutes. Sure Bonds is getting a lot of attention, and he should, he's about to pass Babe Ruth. But just because Pujols is getting the second most attention doesn't mean he's not getting any.
And yes people absoultely hate the Braves, I do and I bet every Mets fan would agree with me. Most of us hate the Braves more than the Yankees. I wouldn't be surprised if all the NL East team's fans felt the same way because really who cares about the Yankees? They're in the AL, the Braves are the team that beat up the teams in the NL East every year.
(edited by Quezzy on 13.5.06 2047) Lance's Response:
Pujols is incredibly underappreciated. Sure he gets some press, but he's the best player in the game today, and has a legitimate shot to be at least a top 10 all-time player (and probably more).
ALbert Pujols is this generations Stan Musial. Enjoy him.
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I'm currently living in St. Louis. I hear about Pujols nonstop in local coverage (duh) but I also hear about him nonstop on all of the big ESPN talk shows, so I don't know what you people are talking about saying he flies under the radar. It's kinda hard for me to take it all because I hate the Cardinals. Not really sure why, but I think it's the same reason my transplant friends in Boston hate the Red Sox: too many homers.
Also, I'm a Braves fun, but I know that plenty of people hate the Braves. Obviously division rivals don't like them, but I think plenty of others dislike the Braves as well. It probably stems from their TV deal with TBS as well as being labeled (at one time or another) "America's Team." Over-exposure is a sure fire way to become everyone's favorite team to hate. So is prolonged success. Braves have both.
Originally posted by StingArmyI'm currently living in St. Louis. I hear about Pujols nonstop in local coverage (duh) but I also hear about him nonstop on all of the big ESPN talk shows, so I don't know what you people are talking about saying he flies under the radar. It's kinda hard for me to take it all because I hate the Cardinals. Not really sure why, but I think it's the same reason my transplant friends in Boston hate the Red Sox: too many homers.
Also, I'm a Braves fun, but I know that plenty of people hate the Braves. Obviously division rivals don't like them, but I think plenty of others dislike the Braves as well. It probably stems from their TV deal with TBS as well as being labeled (at one time or another) "America's Team." Over-exposure is a sure fire way to become everyone's favorite team to hate. So is prolonged success. Braves have both.
- StingArmy
I don't know what shows you listen to but I drive around a lot for my job and listen to Mike and Mike, Cowherd(don't ask), Dan and Sportsbash and they really don't talk about Pujols much at all. Again, they mention him briefly but they spend way more time on anything else they can think of it seems.
I guess I'm just soooooo annoyed at the continuous Yankees-Red Sox coverage. Do they really think the whole country cares that much about these two teams playing? I know, I know the ratings are good when they play on tv. Maybe it's because they get prime slots or maybe because it's the only game ESPN will talk about all day so it sticks in your head. I dunno. Of course I live in St. Louis so I'm slanted, but I don't know anyone who gives a rip. We're all sick to death of it being shoved down our faces as the greatest thing going in baseball. Gimme more Albert news, lemme hear some more about how bad the Cubs are. Pretty please.
I'm wondering if the lack of coverage is simply because ESPN is hesitant to jump the gun over the possibility of looking silly later. Almost 20 games into the season, the guys at ESPN already started posting up countdowns to 70 wins for the Detroit Pistons and were making comparisons to Jordan's Bulls that won 72. Look how idiotic that was in retrospect. If ESPN begins the countdown to 73 and Pujols ends up hitting only 30 more jacks (which would put him up to 47, STILL a damn good number), they would look ridiculous. Wait for the All-Star break and Pujols will get a little more of the spotlight.
And let me reiterate that it would be so poetic if Bonds were to go down in the midst of steroid allegations this season and have to watch his single-season home run record get wiped out from the sidelines. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Hey, let's face. ESPN's choices of what to talk about always has and probably always will stink. They usually don't talk about what should be the top story first and they usually don't give enough time to important stuff like say highlights and instead go on and on about the same topic all show. I don't like most of their programming anymore, but I watch it (or listen to it) anyway to get my sports fix. Thank goodness for something like PTI where A) they only talk about a topic for a certain short period and B) Tony always throws something fun into the mix like the trampoline bear. But even that show isn't really good at picking it's topics I don't think. Especially during football season when the first 8 topics are NFL and college football pretty much doesn't exist. I mean seriously, I know NFL is considered THE sport by ESPN, but you could atleast go with the top college game as the 2nd or 3rd topic. I now have MLB radio and I'm considering never listening to or watching ESPN again and just listen to baseball games every night.
Then again, if it were up to me the top story this weekend would've been the Women's Softball conference championships, so what do I know?
Originally posted by TheBucsFanAt 26 years old and in his sixth season, Pujols has *220 home runs*. At this rate, Bonds is only chasing the right to be second after Pujols retires.
I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but they said the same things about Griffey. I'd suspect he'll be chasing A-Rod by then, anyhow. (Oh, there *I* go doing it.)
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Originally posted by wmatisticAnyone really feel hatred towards the Braves? I think people respect them, but don't feel any particular way about them.
*raises hand* When I was a kid, and up until the end of High School, I hated the Braves with a PASSION for the reasons that Sting Army pointed out; being on TBS and being labeled (some would say by themselves) as "America's Team." Same reason I've always hated the Dallas Cowboys.
Originally posted by wmtasticI guess I'm just soooooo annoyed at the continuous Yankees-Red Sox coverage. Do they really think the whole country cares that much about these two teams playing?
Of course they do! They're the top two teams in terms of revenue, and they have fans all over the country. I've seen the Yankees play in small markets where it might as well be a home game considering the amount of Yankee fans that show up. Should it get as much coverage as it does seem to get? Probably not, but if you ask any person on the street what the single biggest rivalry in Baseball is, I guarantee you nine times out of ten they'll say Yanks/Sawx.
Anyway, back on topic.
Pujols is getting the coverage on talk radio and Sportscenter, however the issue is that none of it's really made him a household name. I attribute it to a few factors. For one, we're still only starting the seventh week of the season. And of course, as others have pointed out, the Bonds issue is the biggest deal in baseball right now.
However, and somewhat related to Bonds, I suspect that at least a small part of it is that while people aren't really vocalizing it, there's a natural suspicion inherent with any player hitting a freakishly high number of home runs because of the steroid issue. I'm worried that if he keeps up a decent pace by the All-Star Break, the average fan is going to start tossing out the accusations, especially since he's not exactly a small guy.
That being said, while he's off to a fantastic start and I personally believe that he's hands down the best (and most consistent) hitter in baseball today, I think it's too early in the season to start talking about 74 and too early in his career (remember that it is only his fifth season even though all five have been fantastic) to start talking about what he's on pace to do when all is said and done.
Pujols is not getting as covered as Red Sox-Yankees stuff on the Eastcoast SPorts Network? I'm stunned.
If it didn't happen between New York and DC or between LA and San Fran it didn't happen. If they aren't playing somewhere in there, they are not as important. Just take comfort knowing baseball fans everywhere are watching Pujols in amazement this year. Of course, he's going to have to keep up this pace because Jim Thome is on course to approach 70 this year as well...
Originally posted by Deputy MarshallHowever, and somewhat related to Bonds, I suspect that at least a small part of it is that while people aren't really vocalizing it, there's a natural suspicion inherent with any player hitting a freakishly high number of home runs because of the steroid issue. I'm worried that if he keeps up a decent pace by the All-Star Break, the average fan is going to start tossing out the accusations, especially since he's not exactly a small guy.
I wondered for a short time why Pujols' name was never even mentioned as a possibility for using steroids, but now I don't think it's an issue. First of all, he came through the minors when they had much more thorough steroid testing. Bonds, Palmeiro, McGwire, Sosa, etc., can't say the same. Also, Pujols' body does not appear to have changed one bit since testing began in the majors. He's a big, muscular guy, but doesn't appear to have lost any mass this year or last.
And I wasn't really talking about Pujols hitting 74. There's obviously a chance, but I think he should be getting more attention just because he's so damn amazing. EVERY time Pujols steps to the plate and I get a chance to see it (aka never), it's an event. I stare at my computer watching live play-by-play, holding my breath until that page reloads so I can see what he did.
He's the best hitter in baseball, on one of the best teams in baseball, off to maybe the best start in baseball history and he gets one at bat and about 30 seconds of discussion on a one-and-a-half-hour-long episode of Sportscenter on Sunday morning.
On a bit of a tangent, while they aren't the Yankees, I think the Cardinals do have a large fan base. Most fans today started watching in the '60s, when the Cards were dominant, or the '80s, when the Cards were pretty damn good, too.
And I HATE the Braves. More than the Cubs. There was a certain three-games-to-one deficit they overcame that I'd like to forget.
Originally posted by Deputy MarshallShould it get as much coverage as it does seem to get? Probably not, but if you ask any person on the street what the single biggest rivalry in Baseball is, I guarantee you nine times out of ten they'll say Yanks/Sawx.
I would tend to believe that it works both ways in this instance - i.e. people probably think Yanks/Sox is the biggest rivalry because it gets so much media coverage.
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