For anyone who says Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball because he is the most feared hitter in baseball, you’re only half right. Let’s see Manny being Manny try this. You’ll never see if from Big Papi. Barry Bonds and his big head quit doing it and Griffey Jr. was too injured to try it.
Pujols is the most feared hitter in baseball, given the fact that he drew a walk from one of the game’s most dominant closers in LA’s Jonathan Broxton in a 2-2 game in the ninth inning. If I’m Joe Torre, I tell my closer to go at him and be aggressive. If you’re gonna get beat, get beat by a hit, not a walk. But, it’s what Pujols did after that, that makes him the best player in this era.
Looking to get into scoring position for Matt Holliday, Pujols not only stole second base, against a guy who throws 99 mph, but moved to third on a bad throw from catcher Russell Martin. Pujols scampers to third, scores on a sac fly, 3-2 lead, ball game over…thank you.
Now Pujols is not the fastest runner. He almost waddles like Ron Cey of those great Dodger teams…almost like a penguin. But he’s so smart. If you watch the replay , he starts just before Broxton starts his high leg kick. Pujols knows how to exploit the opposition who seem to forget about Pujols when he’s on first.
That play led to the Cardinals 3-2 lead and eventually win after a pitching gem from Adam Wainwright nearly slipped away. He took a no-hitter in to the sixth inning, but gave up solo home runs to Andre Eithier and Casey Blake in the seventh and just like that, the score was tied.
Wainwright allowed just four hits and a walk and gets the no-decision as Kyle McClellan benefits from Pujols’ smarts for the win while Ryan Franklin picked up his 31st save. The Cardinals end up taking five of the last seven against the Dodgers in their two recent series.