How Many HR will Pujols Hit?

[Bob Saccomano]

I just checked the on-going boxscore on the Cards game, and saw that Pujols had hit his 12th of the year in 19 games. Seems to me like he's a lock for hitting over 50 this year. The man does not understand the meaning of a slump.

[JDPNYY]

I'm not sure how many he will hit, but I don't think you'll ever hear him say that he doesn't think he'll beat Aaron's mark.

[DontHateOnNumber2]

I think he'll hit 49. That's just my guess though.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

If he continues to flip the bat like he did against the Pirates the other night (the HR made it 6-1 Bucs), I hope that NL pitchers make a concerted effort to move him off the plate.

Absent that strategy, teams are crazy not to start giving him the Bonds treatment (the rest of the Cards line-up was hitting .226 going into tonight).

I say that he gets 45, but I won't be happy about it.

[Bob Saccomano]

If he continues to flip the bat like he did against the Pirates the other night (the HR made it 6-1 Bucs), I hope that NL pitchers make a concerted effort to move him off the plate.

Absent that strategy, teams are crazy not to start giving him the Bonds treatment (the rest of the Cards line-up was hitting .226 going into tonight).

I say that he gets 45, but I won't be happy about it.

He's an excellent bad-ball hitter, though, probably second only to Vlad. I've seen him take a ball at the ankles deep for a homer.

[ChewieTobbacca]

I believe he hit a 90+ mph fastball on the outside edge of the plate - a very good pitch - and he drove it over the wall opposite field.

This guy WILL get the Bonds treatment soon - with Rolen the only effective hitter now (like Kent was with the Giants), Pujols will get fewer good pitches to hit.

That said, it's ridiculous he's had 12 HR's in April already and there are still 6 games left

[wexy]

If he continues to flip the bat like he did against the Pirates the other night (the HR made it 6-1 Bucs), I hope that NL pitchers make a concerted effort to move him off the plate.

Absent that strategy, teams are crazy not to start giving him the Bonds treatment (the rest of the Cards line-up was hitting .226 going into tonight).

I say that he gets 45, but I won't be happy about it.

I saw that , I would've decked his ass in a hurry, He is a great hitter but if he pulls that stuff someone will hurt him.

[Dynasties R Forever]

He's good for at least 12 more...for sure.

[NYDCYankee]

He has big muscles.

[DaPip1998]

a lot

[YankeeNut42]

I think he will hit at least 50, prob. around 55, but thats if he doesnt get the Barry Bonds treatment, and they walk him all the time!

[DaBomber25]

If he continues to flip the bat like he did against the Pirates the other night (the HR made it 6-1 Bucs)

That drives me nuts. I'm not a fan of the show-boating crap to begin with but when you're getting your ass kicked I hate it even more.

I remember a game last year where Manny pulled this crap and Posada called him out on it.

[gdn]

74...

[SoCal Pinstriper]

That drives me nuts. I'm not a fan of the show-boating crap to begin with but when you're getting your ass kicked I hate it even more.

I remember a game last year where Manny pulled this crap and Posada called him out on it.

Unfortunatly the NL manager most likely to have him dusted is............Tony LaRussa.

[DaBomber25]

Unfortunatly the NL manager most likely to have him dusted is............Tony LaRussa.

That'd teach him a lesson.

I think Dusty and Zambrano wouldn't have an issue with doing that either though.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

That'd teach him a lesson.

I think Dusty and Zambrano wouldn't have an issue with doing that either though.

After watching Zambrano (who I love and is the ace of my main fantasy team) last night, I'm not sure that I'd trust him to do that on purpose. He still doesn't really seem to know exactly where it's going all the time, and I want Albert dusted, not beheaded.

[RhodyYanksFan]

I would like it if he hit 74 but realistically I see 52-54.

[thecaptain]

12 already . i think he will hit 61*

[DaBomber25]

After watching Zambrano (who I love and is the ace of my main fantasy team) last night, I'm not sure that I'd trust him to do that on purpose. He still doesn't really seem to know exactly where it's going all the time, and I want Albert dusted, not beheaded.

After last night I think if Pujols flipped his bat Zambrano would rush over, pick it up, break it over his own knee and then tackle Pujols.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

After last night I think if Pujols flipped his bat Zambrano would rush over, pick it up, break it over his own knee and then tackle Pujols.

That. Was. Awsome.

....and it fired up the Cubbies for a comeback.

[ChewieTobbacca]

DIdn't he do that against the Pirates when their pitcher was showboating too?

It was probably hanging out with Ortiz too much during wbc...

[DaBomber25]

That. Was. Awsome.

LOL. That reminded me of Tommy Boy, "I swear I've seen a lot of stuff in my life but that....was....AWESOME!"

[JeffWeaverFan]

50. If he hit 62 HR's this year, would people consider that the HR record? Personally, I still feel 61 is the record.

[ChewieTobbacca]

50. If he hit 62 HR's this year, would people consider that the HR record? Personally, I still feel 61 is the record.

I would - he's a great ballplayer (consider the company he's compared to daily), a great person off the field as well, and has no associated taint

FWIW on the bat flip... he regrets it:
http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=stl

[DaBomber25]

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=stl

LOL!

"Drop it like it's hot."

[Smithers]

i stand by my prediction that at the end of his career he will have taken the title of "greatest hitter ever," barring any injuries of course.

[Hitman23]

Alot of home runs hitter have strong starts. Alot of them have huge months. It's not that I don't think Pujols is capable of having a monster home runs year, I just won't judge until the all star break. Even then you never know what a second half will do.

If I had to guess I think 50 would work.

[effdamets]

i stand by my prediction that at the end of his career he will have taken the title of "greatest hitter ever," barring any injuries of course.

I wouldn't go that far.

A great hitter? Yes. Not the greatest ever though.

[PinstripePride]

Alot of home runs hitter have strong starts. Alot of them have huge months. It's not that I don't think Pujols is capable of having a monster home runs year, I just won't judge until the all star break. Even then you never know what a second half will do.

If I had to guess I think 50 would work.

That's the way I feel. He could easily be having this power surrge in July after hitting 20 homers in the first half. He'll cool off, but I still think he'll get to the high 40s, maybe low 50s.

[Mattpat11]

Several

[Hitman23]

That's the way I feel. He could easily be having this power surrge in July after hitting 20 homers in the first half. He'll cool off, but I still think he'll get to the high 40s, maybe low 50s.

It's gonna happen. Pitchers will adjust. He's gotta slow down.

A good point was brought up to me yesterday.... ever since the steroids issue, home runs are on a record pace. This could be because pitchers are off the juice now and aren't throwing as hard or recovering in time to be 100%. We may see a huge year from a few people.

[DaBomber25]

It's gonna happen. Pitchers will adjust. He's gotta slow down.

A good point was brought up to me yesterday.... ever since the steroids issue, home runs are on a record pace. This could be because pitchers are off the juice now and aren't throwing as hard or recovering in time to be 100%. We may see a huge year from a few people.

That, and all these new ballparks are smaller than the Little League ones I played in as a 10 year-old.

[Bob Saccomano]

I believe he hit a 90+ mph fastball on the outside edge of the plate - a very good pitch - and he drove it over the wall opposite field.

This guy WILL get the Bonds treatment soon - with Rolen the only effective hitter now (like Kent was with the Giants), Pujols will get fewer good pitches to hit.

That said, it's ridiculous he's had 12 HR's in April already and there are still 6 games left

It was a good pitch. Rolen got the same pitch, and Rolen's a good hitter - but he lined it to short.

If Pujols hits one more homer, he'll tie the MLB record for April homers.

[Bob Saccomano]

I saw that , I would've decked his ass in a hurry, He is a great hitter but if he pulls that stuff someone will hurt him.

That drives me nuts. I'm not a fan of the show-boating crap to begin with but when you're getting your ass kicked I hate it even more.

I remember a game last year where Manny pulled this crap and Posada called him out on it.

I should point out that Oliver Perez (the opposing pitcher) has a history of pulling stuff against Pujols. He's done little dances on the mound when he's gotten Pujols out before, and has also had a history of staring him down after getting an out. Pujols issued him a warning that he was going to get treated in kind if he took Perez deep. With regard to showboating, Pujols is pretty humble. He puts his head down and runs the bases. The only exceptions I can think of off the top of my head:

1. 2005 NLCS Game 5 vs. Astros - He hit a moonshot (412 feet only because of the indoor stadium) off Lidge to give the Cards a late lead in the 9th, 5-4. He admired his homer for a few seconds before beginning his trot around the bases. I think that will be remembered as the homer that broke Lidge. In the World Series, 2 of the losses were Lidge's (including a walkoff homer to Podsednik, a guy who didn't hit a single HR in the regular season). He gave up a walk-off grand slam to Nomar yesterday, and has been looking very shaky in several of his other appearances.

2. Walkoff homer against the Reds, capping a 3 homer game - He did a little dance afterwards, when he reached home plate. In his own words, he said, "When you hit a walkoff home run, you get to do whatever you want."

Both of those were pretty big home runs. He's not David Ortiz though, or Manny, or Sammy Sosa.

[ChewieTobbacca]

The only exceptions I can think of off the top of my head:

I'd say if you hit 3 HR's a game or hit a monstrous home run to silence a playoff crowd... a little showboating won't hurt

[Bob Saccomano]

I'd say if you hit 3 HR's a game or hit a monstrous home run to silence a playoff crowd... a little showboating won't hurt

I agree with you there. Manny and Ortiz are absolutely egregious. Pujols' "showboating" is rare and modest by comparison.

[DaBomber25]

I should point out that Oliver Perez (the opposing pitcher) has a history of pulling stuff against Pujols. He's done little dances on the mound when he's gotten Pujols out before, and has also had a history of staring him down after getting an out.

Yeah, I hadn't realized that til I read the article.

[effdamets]

I'd say if you hit 3 HR's a game or hit a monstrous home run to silence a playoff crowd... a little showboating won't hurt

At that point, it's not showboating, it's celebrating! Sometimes you have to let your emotions go. We can tell when it is misdirected or uncalled for....

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Sounds like things are cool between Albert and Oliver.

Pujols addressed last week's exaggerated bat toss after hitting another home run off Pittsburgh starter Oliver Perez and dutifully speeding around the bases on Monday. He said the flip after a solo homer in the Cardinals' loss April 18 at Pittsburgh was because he was irked by Perez's earlier celebration.

He said the flip was wrong.

"I'm human," he said. "I make mistakes."

Perez, a lefty with his own flamboyance on the mound, had to be told by teammates about Pujols' flip. When approached Tuesday about Pujols' explanation for the toss, Perez held no grudge. He knows he did a little dance when he got Pujols on a groundout in his first at-bat April 18 and that he has celebrated after a strikeout.

"For me, this is no problem," Perez said. "Sometimes when I strike out some people I feel good and I do something that's in the moment. So I don't try to intimidate that guy. I do it for myself. ... You feel happy because everybody knows he's the best hitter right now in the major leagues."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spo...A?OpenDocument

The best thing about this is that, now, LaRussa is "irked."

"This is as (miffed) as I've been in the first month," Tony La Russa said to reporters Tuesday afternoon. "I've always been taught you earn the benefit of the doubt. Here this guy's into his sixth year - an exemplary pro - so he flips the bat and right away a number of people start jabbing him. ..."

A story like the bat toss - which La Russa called "invented (gunk)" - morphs into a reputation, La Russa argued.

It could obscure "what he's always been," La Russa said.

"Then there's a consequence because that'll be picked up someplace and it'll get attached to him some and he'll lose some points with legitimate fans and people in uniforms. It's a shame," La Russa said. "How about how hard he works every day? How he cheers for his team when he's 0 for four? And all these other million things he does right? Somebody says he lingers at the plate? That's real tired."

Uhhh, Tony, maybe he shouldn't have done it then.

[DaBomber25]

How come they're making such a huge deal about Pujols doing this and Ortiz gets a pass? I've seen Ortiz stand at home and flip his bat on numerous occasions and Manny always stands at home while watching his HR's (like last night when the ball cleared the fence by about 2.5 inches).

[SoCal Pinstriper]

How come they're making such a huge deal about Pujols doing this and Ortiz gets a pass? I've seen Ortiz stand at home and flip his bat on numerous occasions and Manny always stands at home while watching his HR's (like last night when the ball cleared the fence by about 2.5 inches).

Because Pujols has never done anything like this before. He has always played the game the way it should be played.

Manny and Ortiz have been hopeless grandstanders for longer than anybody can remember.

[Babe Rules]

More than 50 IMO.

[Bob Saccomano]

Because Pujols has never done anything like this before. He has always played the game the way it should be played.

Manny and Ortiz have been hopeless grandstanders for longer than anybody can remember.

It's temporary...the whole thing will collapse and he'll go back to playing "the right way." He's a classy player and a classy guy. As I've said, he only celebrates during the really big ones. He usually just puts his head down and jogs around the bases, like A-Rod and his teammate Scott Rolen.

Ortiz and Manny, though, they never get called out for that stuff.

[flymick24]

pitchers will start walking him, so he'll settle in around the 40's but have a ridiculous OBP

[Jersey Yankee]

I don't know about jacks, but someone on another board said that he'd had 4 GWH (game-winning hits) since Friday. Unreal, and it's supposedly 6 this season.

Seems like he's both clutch & automatic.

[ChewieTobbacca]

Yep, 6 of STL's 14 wins this year have been won by Pujols... the other wins probably had him play a big part in scoring a run or driving in runs also...

He also has more walk off home runs since he broken into the league in 2001 than any other player

[Mystic Merlyn]

i stand by my prediction that at the end of his career he will have taken the title of "greatest hitter ever," barring any injuries of course.

As great as he has been, Ted Williams has the definite edge-some of his seasons were scary good.

[RhodeyYankee2638]

As great as he has been, Ted Williams has the definite edge-some of his seasons were scary good.

both Pujols and Williams started their career at age 21. Pujols has a .333 batting average which is insane. Williams, after 6 full seasons at age 26, had a .353 career batting average. I dont think he will catch up with Teddy at all, home run wise? most likely, but he wont put up 4 of those kinds of seasons

[Arod for President]

this year? 85

[Bob Saccomano]

I don't know about jacks, but someone on another board said that he'd had 4 GWH (game-winning hits) since Friday. Unreal, and it's supposedly 6 this season.

Seems like he's both clutch & automatic.

Yeah, he's about as clutch as they come. There is no other hitter in baseball - including Ortiz - that I would rather have at the plate with the game on the line. Yesterday's win against the Pirates - walkoff single by Pujols to recover the blown save opportunity by Isringhausen.