Comments on: A Boy Who Loves Baseball

By: Twitted by matclub

Twitted by matclub — Wed, 27 May 2009 03:08:31 +0000

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By: Quent

Quent — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:21:22 +0000

He does try to do to much sometimes, but when you are that good, I would rather him try to make the play than to count on someone else. Above all else that was said, you keep waiting for the negative comments and rumors to surface about A.P. Luckily so far they have all been false. He is definitely the best all around player on and off the field I have seen in my short 30+ years of watching baseball.

By: mriehn

mriehn — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:00:39 +0000

The 2009 Cardinals have an outfielder playing second base, I think range is a significant plus! Seriously though, the plays Pujols makes are to his left and right and anything he can cut off gives the Cardinals a better chance to make the play or doesn’t become an extra base hit (down the line).

I also believe you are trusting a bias of a few plays rather than the overall play. Pujols is usually great at scooping out balls, starting double plays and making the right play to get the out. My bias is that he is a great fielder, and the statistics back me up.

By: Pitchers Hit Eighth

Pitchers Hit Eighth — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:46:20 +0000

But does his range sometimes hamper the players around him?

I can think of probably two or three times already this season that he has gone so far to his right that he’s essentially cutting off the second baseman, who would arguably have a better throw toward the pitcher at first.

There’s no doubt he’s taken on the role at first base with great preparation and excelled. But as is the case with many superstars and great ballplayers, I sometimes wonder if he tries to do too much.

These aren’t the 2007 Cardinals, Albert doesn’t have to do it all.

By: mriehn

mriehn — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:38:04 +0000

Pujols has had a few lapses in the field to be sure, but his overwhelming range has more than made up for it. UZR takes into account his errors (and his range). Fielding is one of Albert’s most underrated features to his game. You don’t realize how much better he is than everyone else, and he consistently does it year in and year out.

By: Pitchers Hit Eighth

Pitchers Hit Eighth — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:27:11 +0000

I’m with you on most points, but AP’s fielding has left a lot to be desired so far this season.