Pujols set record

[Mel]

First player to hit at least 30 home runs in his first 5 seasons... only player in MLB history.

Albert Pujols Makes Homer History
No one has started a major league career the way Albert Pujols has. The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman became the first player to hit 30 homers in each of his first five seasons. No. 30 came in the first inning Friday night and it helped the Cardinals to an 11-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves that ended John Smoltz's eight-game winning streak.

The milestone didn't seem to be that big a deal to Pujols.

"If I can stay healthy, I know I'm capable of doing that," he said. "So, I don't think about it. The thing I want is a championship, that's what I want to appreciate at the end of my career."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa appreciates it now.

"He is a classic high-average hitter because he takes a relentless approach every at-bat," La Russa said. "Every at-bat he's the same way. He battles the great pitchers, he battles the real good ones, the good ones, the ones that are trying to make it."

Smoltz is arguably one of the great ones and Pujols is 5-for-12 against him with two homers. Smoltz said the fastball that Pujols hit out "was a terrible pitch, just a flat-out terrible pitch."

"Sometimes 90 percent of the guys you might get away with it once in a while," Smoltz said. "You're not getting away with it with him. He's dominant, he really is."

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Still think Ichiro is better, Mel ;)

[Mel]

Still think Ichiro is better, Mel ;)

I don't think I ever said "better" (I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong). :)

They both bring competely different skills and benefits to the table. What got me was the age factor which I really didnt' think about until it was pointed out to me.

Any way, theoretically speaking, (no age factor) there can be an argument for Ichiro to be a more valuable asset. Pujols is a stud obviously. He's a slugger. But as good as he is he is not the first and won't be the last top notch slugger to come along. Lots of guys rack up the power numbers.

Ichiro offers aspects where he dominates which are low-key stats. He gets on base and runs the bases like very few others. He has a .379 career OBP and over 35 SB's per year. He's also got the defensive skills. He broke a record for most hits in a season last year. He brings intangibles to a team, so sluggers like Pujols get easy RBI's.

Obvioulsy I'm not putting down Pujols or I wouldn't have started this thread. Is he going to break career records? Who the heck knows... he's off to a nice start, that's for sure. He's got a long way to go even to catch Sammy Sosa or A-Rod, who just turned 30. He could blow them away or he could wind up like Griffey junior. Never the less, he deserves accolades for what he has accomplished to this point for such a young man.

I also like how he downplays the feat. He wants to win a championship. I love guys with that attitude in any sport. He demands excellence from himself, and no less. I heard that even veterans got close to Pujols and took notice because of his work ethic. He's a star for sure.

That whole Ichiro comparison was just something I read at ESPN that I thougt might make for some interesting discussion.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

I don't think I ever said "better" (I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong).

Yeah I know you didn't, but this thread reminded me of that nice little discussion :)

And for the record, I'd take Ichiro over any leadoff hitter or right fielder in the game today :thumb:

[leaferfan87]

Albert Pujols might very well become the greatest player that this game has ever seen and I tell you if he continues to hit 30 home runs year after year it will be him and not Mr. Bonds that will be breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. The guy is so good he has it all: contact hitter, power hitter etc.

Ichiro is valuable in his own way. He and Pujols have very different roles on their teams however Ichiro has "struggled" this year (well for Ichiro) and Pujols has had an outstanding season.

[Mel]

Albert Pujols might very well become the greatest player that this game has ever seen and I tell you if he continues to hit 30 home runs year after year it will be him and not Mr. Bonds that will be breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. The guy is so good he has it all: contact hitter, power hitter etc.

Ichiro is valuable in his own way. He and Pujols have very different roles on their teams however Ichiro has "struggled" this year (well for Ichiro) and Pujols has had an outstanding season.

True, Ichiro is having a bad year by standards he set for himself. As for breathing Pujols name in the same sentence as Bonds or anyone near the 600-700 HR club... read the article I posted at the bottom of this thread

http://www.hockeystation.com/showthread.php?t=485

There's just no way to tell if he can sustain his high level for the next 10+ years. He's off to a great start, that's for damn sure. But, if you read that article... A-Rod recently became the youngest player in MLB history to notch his 400th homer (29 years old). And yet even so, his chances to break the career HR record are less than 50/50, statistically speaking. It's a very enlightening and interesting read. Baseball sluggers lose it at some point. That's life.

The Pujols you see now might be very different than the Pujols you see 8 or 10 years from now. Look at Sammy Sosa or Bernie Williams. These guys were superstars in their prime. Now they are both shells of their former selves.

But a big :thumb: to the young Pujols for setting this record. :pimp:

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Pujols is one of my favorite players because he would rather take home chamionships than records. Everyone talks about how Derrek Lee may hit for the Triple Crown, well not now after his slump, but look at Pujols. I'm pretty sure that he is right behind him in BA, ahead in RBIs, and 2 behind in HRs. Pujols is a monster and I would take him over any player in baseball. He may not be racking up Gold Gloves but he is still a solid infielder and that's all he really needs to be when he can bat .335, with 130 RBIs, and 38 HRs. I would love for him to break Aaron's record just so I don't have to hear anymore crap about how someone that may or may not have been juicing is the most prolific home run hitter in history.