Albert Pujols News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"If the Cardinals' season had progressed to the point that many had thought, first baseman Albert Pujols would have been on hand before Game 4 of the World Series in St. Louis to personally accept the Hank Aaron award for offensive excellence in the National League. But the Cardinals didn't win any playoff games, Pujols had another elbow operation recently and, with that reason being cited by Major League Baseball, Pujols was not on hand Sunday night to receive his second Aaron award. New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who has some unfinished business in Philadelphia, was on hand to accept the American League award. The award winners are derived from online fan balloting. Pujols had ..."

Pujols wants to stay in STL

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October 30

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bryan Burwell

"The last time we saw him, Albert Pujols didn't say a word. It was nearly three weeks ago, a little more than an hour after his season had come to an abrupt halt when the Cardinals were swept unceremoniously out of the postseason. All around the Cardinals clubhouse, players milled about expressing the awkward regret that always comes when a great season ends far too soon. But we never got to hear what was on Pujols' mind because he slipped almost unnoticed out the clubhouse door, down the back hallway and out of Busch Stadium with an orange and green bag draped over his shoulder before a TV minicam or digital recorder could get close. Finally, on Thursday morning — 19 days after his season ..."

Pujols Clears Up Contract Speculation, Praises McGwire

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October 29

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Appearing on St. Louis sports station WXOS 101.1 FM on Thursday morning, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was asked to explain comments made during an interview in the Dominican Republic. In the interview, Pujols suggested he was in no hurry to sign a contract extension with the Cardinals. "I'm not desperate to sign a contract extension. I still have one year remaining in my contract for 2010 and a club option for 2011. I leave the rest in God's hands," Pujols told Dominican radio station CDN 92.5 FM. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said he was "surprised" by Pujols' stance, given that the Cardinals had repeatedly expressed an interest in opening negotiations with Pujols this winter. ..."

St. Louis Cardinals buoyed by Albert Pujols surgery

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October 25

Chicago Tribune

"The Cardinals were hugely relieved when Albert Pujols (above) needed surgery only to remove bone chips and debris from his right elbow, not Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament. They believe his elbow was a big factor in his going 89 at-bats without a home run to end the season, even though Pujols wouldn't use it as an excuse. The Cardinals may not have as tumultuous of an offseason as it appeared they might, as free-agent manager Tony La Russa is leaning toward returning for his 15th season. The decision could be announced before the World Series."

Cardinals are upbeat about Albert Pujols' surgery

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October 22

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Once inside Albert Pujols' right elbow, doctors decided not to reconstruct the MVP's torn ligament, choosing instead a procedure the club hopes will end the annual suspense about the valuable elbow's health. Pujols had several bone spurs and loose bone chips removed from his elbow Wednesday morning by Dr. James Andrews at his office in Birmingham, Ala. Pujols is expected to begin his rehab next week in St. Louis. The Cardinals described the arthroscopic surgery as a "success," but are going to wait to monitor their first baseman's immediate progress before mapping his return. "The outlook is very positive," general manager John Mozeliak said. "He should be able to resume baseball ..."

Pujols' elbow surgery a 'success'

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October 21

MLB.com

"The Cardinals announced that Albert Pujols underwent arthroscopic surgery on his problematic right elbow on Wednesday. In a statement, the club referred to the procedure as "a success." Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Birmingham, Ala., with Cardinals head team physician Dr. George Paletta present. According to the statement, Pujols underwent both debridment -- or cleanup -- of bone spurs on his elbow and removal of bone chips from the joint. It was determined during the operation that Pujols does not currently require "Tommy John" reconstructive surgery in his elbow. He has a significant injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in the joint, but has dealt with it since 2003 ..."

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols set on surgery for elbow

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October 21

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Apparently, it was the elbow after all. After denying for weeks that his fragile right elbow contributed to a career-long late-season power fade, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery today in Birmingham, Ala., to remove bone chips from the area. The finding was made Tuesday following Pujols' visit to noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews and, according to club officials, called for the removal of no fewer than five chips. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called today's "a small procedure" that should not jeopardize Pujols' availability next spring training. "We're very relieved it wasn't major surgery," Mozeliak said, referring to ligament ..."

Pujols set on surgery for elbow

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October 21

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Apparently, it was the elbow after all. After denying for weeks that his fragile right elbow contributed to a career-long late-season power fade, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery today in Birmingham, Ala., to remove bone chips from the area. The finding was made Tuesday following Pujols' visit to noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews and, according to club officials, called for the removal of no fewer than five chips. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called today's "a small procedure" that should not jeopardize Pujols' availability next spring training. "We're very relieved it wasn't major surgery," Mozeliak said, referring to ligament ..."

No deal! Pujols, Jackson have to stay

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October 20

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"Slugger Albert Pujols essentially has two years left on his current Cardinals deal, a final contract year plus a team option year the franchise would exercise. Running back Steven Jackson is in the second year of a six-year, $44 million contract with the Rams. Some Cards fans believe their club should deal Pujols this winter, while his trade value is at its peak. Some Rams fans believe their club should move Jackson, if not by Tuesday's trade deadline -- a tricky proposition, due to salary cap rules -- then after the season. Both proposals come up often on my live chats at STLtoday.com. Sports fans love to propose blockbuster trades, even if the deals could prove ruinous to their teams. ..."

St. Louis Cardinals in bad spot with Albert Pujols

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October 18

Baltimore Sun

"When Albert Pujols went a career-worst 89 at-bats without a home run to end an MVP performance in 2009, it was shocking. But it also may have been more. It may have been the beginning of the end for him in St. Louis. The time may be coming, faster than Cardinals fans could dream, when general manager John Mozeliak may have to do the unthinkable - solicit trade offers, most likely from the Red Sox, Yankees or Mets. Pujols, baseball's best player in the last decade, left Busch Stadium without talking to reporters last weekend. But in the little bit of communication he has had since then, he has raised doubts about his desire to spend his career with the Cardinals. In an interview with a ..."

Albert Pujols' comments surprise St. Louis Cardinals

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October 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols finished the 2009 season in much the same way as his previous eight seasons: as the major leagues' most productive, most consistent player. The Cardinals first baseman ended up with 47 home runs, 135 RBIs and a .327 average, extending the conversation regarding a possible Triple Crown run into September. Pujols won the home run title, remarkably only the second time in his career that he has led the National League in a Triple Crown category. Continuing a sense of sameness, Pujols is expected to earn a second consecutive and third overall Most Valuable Player award when results of balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America are announced next month. However, ..."

Cardinals' MVP Pujols "not desperate" for extension

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October 15

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The St. Louis Cardinals, spearheaded by chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., have stated that a chief goal of this offsesaon is to address the contract of MVP and team icon Albert Pujols. General manager John Mozeliak recently said discussing an extension with Pujols, whose contract expires after a team option for 2011, is "viewed as a priority." Pujols, in an interview with a Dominican Republic radio station, implied it isn't a front-burner topic for him. The Cardinals first baseman said he is "not desperate" to negotiate with the Cardinals, and that he would "leave it in God's hands." This has been taken in some reports as a rejection of the Cardinals' plan, but that appears to be a reach when ..."

Conspicuous Lack of Power for a Dangerous Hitter

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October 10

New York Times

"With a gruff "not right now," Albert Pujols declined an interview request and breezed past reporters Friday afternoon in the Cardinals' clubhouse. But if he had spoken, chances are pretty good that Pujols would have deflected questions - and said he was not at all worried - about the oddest and most uncharacteristic aspect of his outstanding season. One month has passed since Pujols hit his last home run, a mammoth blast off Milwaukee's Chris Narveson that capped a two-homer afternoon. Every pitcher since then has figured out a way to contain the uncontainable Pujols, keeping him stuck at a major league-leading 47 home runs through the final three weeks of the regular season - and zero ..."

Pujols reaches his destination via free passes

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October 8

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"As if the regular season didn't reveal how Dodgers manager Joe Torre planned to defuse Albert Pujols, it took only two hitters into the first inning for Torre to telegraph his intentions for this series. Four fingers will often greet Pujols at the plate. Twice in the first four innings of Game 1 of the National League Division Series, Torre's Dodgers intentionally walked Pujols and dared the two hitters behind him to change the game. Both times the intentional walk came at a strategically dicey moment in the game, where the Cardinals had a scoring rally percolating. Neither time did the intentional walk result directly in a run. "Albert is very special," Torre said. "I mean, you see him ..."

Mauer's hitting historic; Pujols wins HR title

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October 6

USA Today

"Joe Mauer won't know until November if his Minnesota Twins' late surge into a playoff for the American League Central title helped propel him to the Most Valuable Player award, but his individual performance this season already has provided him a place in history.Mauer, taking a 12-point lead into Tuesday's AL Central playoff against the Detroit Tigers (statistics from that game count as part of the regular season), will become the first back-to-back batting champion since the Boston Red Sox's Nomar Garciaparra in 1999 and 2000 and the first catcher to do it."

Albert Pujols' luster grows amid shining season

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October 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols closed his ninth regular season Sunday at Busch Stadium, briefly basking in the standing ovation inspired by his major-league single-season record 186th assist at first base. Another game, another record. Another season, another chapter within what next year, his 10th season, officially will make him Hall of Fame-eligible. And in little more than a month, Pujols may well receive a call from Baseball Writers of America secretary Jack O'Connell notifying him of his third National League MVP award, his second in a row. Pujols dropped the curtain by holding off Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder for his first home run title despite going without one in his final 74 ..."

Pujols lets his glove do the work

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October 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols had a little different spin Saturday relative to his usually off-the-chart performances on the annual Down Syndrome "Buddy Walk" day at Busch Stadium. In seven previous "Buddy Walks," Pujols had hit six home runs and driven in 13 runs. On Saturday, he hit several balls hard but none was deep enough - Pujols, who has 47 home runs, hasn't connected since Sept. 9 - so he made his mark with his defense. The two assists he had at first base gave him 184 for the season, tying the single-season record set in 1985 by Boston's Bill Buckner, who became more famous for the assist he didn't make in the World Series the next year. "I like the fact," said manager Tony ..."

Pujols in homer drought

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October 2

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols returned home Thursday night as he left 12 days before - with 47 home runs. The NL home run leader has now gone 66 at-bats without a home run, his longest such drought this season. He is without a blast since connecting twice against the Milwaukee Brewers' Chris Narveson on Sept. 9. Pujols is since hitting .303 with 10 RBIs while batting .364 with six home runs and 24 RBIs this month. Manager Tony La Russa recoiled when asked about the power anomaly, responding, "Are you kidding me? What's he hitting this month? If you watch, he's getting nothing over the middle of the plate." The presumptive NL MVP, Pujols admits he would love to reach 50 home runs for the first time in ..."

Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez might form 1-2 MVP punch

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September 15

Miami Herald

"Best player in baseball? For Hanley Ramirez, the question is a no-brainer. ``Albert Pujols,'' Ramirez said. ``No. 1.'' Pujols is the strong favorite to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award for a second consecutive season and third time altogether. But there is a growing feeling that Ramirez could finish as high as second in MVP voting behind the Cardinals star. ``I can't disagree,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said of a Pujols-Ramirez 1-2 finish for MVP. ``If Hanley hasn't done what he's done, as a team we wouldn't be in this position. I think, for us, he's probably meant more for us than Pujols has for them.'' Entering Monday's games, Pujols leads the league in home runs ..."

Unanimous MVP for Pujols?

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September 13

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols wouldn't be the first player to be a unanimous selection for the National League's Most Valuable Player Award- which he should be. But he would be just the second since the league expanded to 16 teams (and 32 voters, two from each city) in 1998. Only Barry Bonds, in 2002, has garnered all 32 first-place votes in an MVP election. The runner-up that season? Albert Pujols. Since the leagues began giving out MVP awards in 1931, only six National Leaguers, including one Cardinal, have garnered all the first-place votes. The five others: Carl Hubbell, 1936 New York Giants; Mike Schmidt, 1980 Philadelphia Phillies; Jeff Bagwell, 1994 Houston Astros (strike-shortened season); Ken ..."

Braves manager awed by Pujols

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September 12

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Atlanta manager Bobby Cox - like the Cardinals' Tony La Russa headed for the Hall of Fame if he ever stops skippering - reached the 2,400-victory milestone Friday night, which was news to him. "I had no idea," Cox said. He did know, however, that he saw some plays Friday he rarely, if ever, had seen before, and most of them had come from the Cardinals' Albert Pujols, even though the Braves held Pujols hitless. First things first. Braves righthander Jair Jurrjens, no doubt the best 11-10 pitcher in baseball - his earned run average is 2.81 - blanked the Cardinals for eight innings in the Braves' 1-0 triumph at Busch Stadium. "Tonight was just a spectacular performance against a real good ..."

Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols lead St. Louis Cardinals past Brewers

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September 10

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The story of the Cardinals pitching staff isn't limited to quality starts. It's increasingly about a quality finish. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright penned another chapter Wednesday at Miller Park. With first baseman Albert Pujols as co-author, the Cardinals rolled to a 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers to complete a three-game sweep in front of an afternoon crowd of 37,784. Holding an 11 1/2-game lead with 21 games remaining, their season no longer qualifies as a suspense thriller. A how-to book may be more like it. Wainwright (18-7) stretched his major league lead in wins while becoming the National League's first pitcher to reach 200 innings. Pujols generated his 10th multi-homer game ..."

Pujols beats Pirates

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September 5

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"A few hours before the Pirates took the field last night at PNC Park, John Russell went over the two most important facets of facing St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols: 1. "Do what you can to keep guys off the bases in front of him." 2. "Don't let him beat you." Well, after strikes one and two on those counts, strike three took the form of Pujols' three-run home run that carried the Cardinals to a 14-7 rout. And the big man surely had many in the crowd of 15,258 nervous well before stepping into the box against fresh reliever Denny Bautista. Not without cause. "Albert's the best," Bautista said. "You can't make a mistake.""

Pujols's HR in 9th Sends Nats to Defeat

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August 29

Washington Post

"The 83rd loss of the Washington Nationals' season didn't look like a loss until the game's final pitch -- a Jason Bergmann slider in a tie game -- was roaring somewhere toward the Missouri-Illinois state line. Albert Pujols, the game's most dangerous hitter, watched it hiss into the night, nearly clunking the second deck in left field. Busch Stadium whipped into a frenzy. Pujols chucked his bat aside, almost in defiance, and began his 360-foot trot. Washington's players walked off, 3-2 losers against the Cardinals on Friday night. St. Louis's players crowded at home plate, as catcher Yadier Molina held everybody back, opening just enough space for the walk-off home run hitter to walk into ..."

Venable-Pujols matter is over, right?

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August 24

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Afterward, the Padres were saying the incident was no big deal. But to hear Albert Pujols tell it, his confrontation with Will Venable Sunday at Petco Park might be continued next year. "Next time, maybe I'll try to hit him in the face with my glove," said the Cardinals first baseman. Although no punches were thrown and any shoving was limited to restraining teammates, both benches and bullpens rushed to the scene of the incident at the end of the sixth inning."

Pujols surpasses Musial

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August 23

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Rick Hummel

"With almost every record-breaking step Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols takes these days, the first inevitable comparisons are made to Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial, who is one of Pujols' biggest fans. But, quietly, though he has played less than half as long as The Man, Pujols already has passed Musial in one statistical category. Pujols, a sneak thief, has 12 stolen bases to lead the Cardinals this season. Musial, once dubbed the Donora (Pa.) Greyhound for his speed, never had more than nine in a season, and that was in 1943, his second full season in the majors. Granted the game was a little different in those days when parks generally were much smaller and teams didn't ..."

No way to prove players are clean

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August 23

Philadelphia Inquirer

columnist Jim Salisbury

"Albert Pujols and Bud Selig insisted that the questions were not fair. According to them, reporters and the public should not have been saying, "We simply do not know if Pujols is using performance-enhancing drugs." We should have been saying, "The Major League Baseball testing program proves that Pujols and every other player who has not been suspended is drug-free."Sorry, guys. When it comes to doping in baseball, there is a lot we still do not know, and there are still many ways to cheat. Just because a player has not failed a drug test does not mean he is clean. That is an important discussion to have in 2009, when years of dirty superstars have created fan fatigue and the focus on ..."

St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols and Shaq to face off

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August 13

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The Cardinals' Albert Pujols will tee off tonight in his second home-run contest of the summer. This time he faces NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, Mo., after participating last month in baseball's Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. O'Neal is filming the match for "Shaq Vs.," the new television reality series that pits the basketball icon against some of the nation's top athletes. Tickets for tonight's match are long gone, though some enterprising fans are selling seats on eBay for $100 or more. O'Neal is no baseball novice. The self-proclaimed "T-ball all-star" played first base in high school. "When I was little I was known as Shaq-ie Robinson," O'Neal ..."

Pirates load bases for Pujols ... game over

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August 9

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Bases were loaded, and the game was on the line. And yet, this might well have been the least suspenseful at-bat in the history of PNC Park. Chris Bootcheck had walked those bases loaded, then walked another to hand St. Louis a run. Up came Albert Pujols. Really now, what did anyone think was going to happen? Crack! The game's dominant offensive force hooked a bases-clearing double, and the Cardinals went on to top the Pirates, 5-3, last night before a capacity crowd of 38,593 that spent much of the evening booing, the rest waiting for the postgame concert and fireworks. The Pirates have lost seven in a row, their longest losing streak since the season-worst eight-gamer May 3-10. "We did a ..."

Albert Pujols comforts injured fan

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August 8

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals manager Tony La Russa calls first baseman Albert Pujols, who seems headed for a third Most Valuable Player Award, "a complete player and person." Pujols offered yet another example of this when he tended to a man who fell headfirst onto the field trying to field a foul ground ball for his son, who has Down syndrome, in the seventh inning Friday. The man, wearing a red Cardinals T-shirt, toppled from the first row face-first. Pujols was the first to arrive, holding the man and encouraging him to wait on the field for medical attention rather than to try to climb back into the stands. The game was delayed for about 10 minutes. "I told him to stay down,'' Pujols said. "Hopefully, ..."

Pujols slams his way out of slump

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August 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols likes the pulse of playing in Gotham. He absolutely loves quieting those who pick at his performance with queries about a corrupted swing or an uncooperative body part. Tuesday night at Citi Field, Pujols reveled in both as he provided the exclamation point to the Cardinals' 12-7 comeback victory over the New York Mets. Down twice against former Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana and single-season saves leader Francisco Rodriguez, the Cardinals rallied against each before winning in 10 innings. The Cardinals constructed a two-run rally during a 41-pitch ninth inning against Rodriguez to score twice to tie the game. An inning later, Pujols crashed his second home run of the ..."

Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday and Cardinals pose doom for Mets

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August 4

New York Daily News

"The St. Louis Cardinals made perhaps the biggest splash before the trade deadline in acquiring former All-Star Matt Holliday from the A's on July 24. But Holliday is not the Mets' biggest worry as the Cardinals arrive in town for a two-game set starting Monday. "(Holliday's) a good player and he was one of the dominant right-handed hitters in this league for a couple of years, but still, the guy you gotta get out is Albert Pujols," Jerry Manuel said. "I got a chance to (go after) Pujols or Holliday, I'm going with Holliday. I'm not going to mess with Pujols. "But that does give them some protection for Albert, and you might see him once he gets hot again take it to another level because ..."

Pujols' struggles continue in loss

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August 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The pitch Albert Pujols popped up didn't decide the game, and the Cardinals' loss Sunday didn't undermine a successful home stand. But both provided a reminder that while the Cards gain momentum there still is something missing. Their best hitter, as Pujols acknowledged, is struggling. With one out and two on in the sixth inning, Houston rookie Bud Norris fired a 2-0 fastball that remained tantalizingly in Pujols' upper strike zone. It's the kind of pitch, Pujols said later, that seven times out of 10 he hits for a home run -when, that is, he has his swing. He popped the ball straight up, flying out to the third baseman. The rally fizzled and Norris cruised, leading the Astros to a 2-0 ..."

Cooper not changing strategy on Pujols

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August 2

Houston Chronicle

"Although Matt Holliday went 4-for-4 and punished the Astros on Friday night behind Albert Pujols in the Cardinals' lineup, manager Cecil Cooper didn't see any problem with his vow to walk Pujols in key situations. "No, I'm going to still walk Pujols like I said," Cooper said. Is that strategy set in stone? "He's the best hitter in the game, best hitter in the game," Cooper said. After going 3-for-4 on Saturday with two homers, Holliday is hitting .606 (20-for-33) since joining the Cardinals. Oswalt update Roy Oswalt, who is still unsure if he'll be able to start Tuesday, threw 50 pitches off flat ground in his biggest test since exiting after 1 2/3 innings Tuesday with a lower left back ..."

Cardinals' Pujols goes right to the top

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July 23

Washington Times

columnist Gerry Fraley

"The Washington Nationals step into the path of arguably the greatest right-handed power hitter in baseball history on Thursday night, and he is on a rampage. No, neither Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers nor Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees will be at Nationals Park. The same holds for a pair of living Hall of Famers, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Indeed, the designation of most powerful force from the right side may fall squarely upon St. Louis' Albert Pujols. As the Cardinals drop in to make up a game postponed in May, Pujols is pulling away from the field. "At this point, he should be considered with the greatest players who have ever played," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa ..."

Albert Pujols has HR Derby against the D'backs

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July 18

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols was knocked out in the Home Run Derby here, and he was hitless in three at-bats in the All-Star Game. But they started playing for real again Friday night at Busch Stadium. And when they play for real, the Cardinals' first baseman exhibited once again why he is the best in the land at that game. Pujols smashed his major-league-leading 33rd homer on the first pitch he saw from Arizona's Jon Garland in the fourth inning. That 1-0 lead stood up until the sixth, when, with everybody in the ballpark figuring Garland would walk Pujols when the count ran to 3-0, Pujols launched a 435-foot homer off the facing in front of the third deck for his second homer of the night and eighth ..."

Obama pitch to Pujols starts All-Star Game

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July 15

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"President Barack Obama threw out the night's first pitch with a high and looping curve - like one of Adam Wainwright's killer throws, only 50 mph slower. The Cardinals' own Albert Pujols had to reach down in front of the plate to snag the lefthanded president's pitch. Obama, showing his allegiance with a Chicago White Sox warm-up jacket, pumped his fist and bounded from the mound. He got a hug from Pujols and then shook hands with a row of Cardinals greats. Lou Brock also got a presidential hug. The president's entourage showed up at the stadium at 5:55 p.m. Before he took the field, the president visited with players in both clubhouses. Among those he chatted with was White Sox pitcher ..."

Long day for St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols

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July 14

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert and Deidre Pujols awoke early Monday morning, particularly early given the Cardinals' 1 a.m. return from a marathon day-night doubleheader against the Cubs in Chicago. Like most mornings, the Pujols' day began with prayer. Unlike most days, it included a special request. "We asked God for superpowers to get through today," Deidre said about 90 minutes before Monday night's Home Run Derby. Pujols stepped off the Cardinals' charter as the National League home run and RBI leader and a candidate to become the game's first Triple Crown winner since 1967. He arrived home at 2 a.m. Barely nine hours later, El Hombre walked into the downtown Hyatt as baseball's resident rock star, ..."

Pirates' bullpen coach Luis Dorante to team with Pujols

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July 13

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Luis Dorante is one of the best at serving up gopher balls. The Pirates' bullpen coach tosses batting practice before every game, trying to put the ball in a spot where it can be launched a long way over the outfield wall. "You've got to throw it to the area where (the hitters) feel comfortable," Dorante said. "Once they feel comfortable in that area, you try to throw every pitch right there. That's the key, for them to come out of the cage feeling good about it, round after round." Tonight, Dorante will lob a lot of fat pitches for St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols in the MLB Home Run Derby. The event, which is part of the All-Star week festivities in St. Louis, will also include ..."

All-Star Game will be an Albert Pujols lovefest

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July 13

Seattle Times

columnist Larry Stone

"This year's All-Star Game will be Pujols-Palooza, a celebration of the game's best player, having perhaps his best season (though that's highly debatable; he's had nine "best seasons"), and playing Tuesday night in his home ballpark. The ovations for "El Hombre" at Busch Stadium are sure to be plentiful, boisterous and reverential. There are other players to savor, of course, but I expect the dominant characteristic of this year's Midsummer Classic to be the Albert Pujols lovefest. And deservedly so. In Pujols, we have a baseball immortal, a brilliant and enduring talent by any standard who just happens, at this precise moment in time, to be at the absolute peak of his ability. Pick a ..."

Pujols does derby duty for hometown fans

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July 12

San Francisco Chronicle

"Until further notice, the 80th All-Star Game is all about Albert Pujols, who's Mr. Cardinal, the Stan Musial of his day. He's baseball's best hitter in the nation's best baseball town, which happens to be the site of this year's All-Star proceedings. His love affair with St. Louis fans parallels Derek Jeter's in New York, but the appreciation isn't exclusive to the Gateway City - Pujols received the most All-Star votes and will be the face of baseball for two days, from the Home Run Derby on Monday to the game itself on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Pujols has been the majors' most consistent overall hitter since 2001, but he's appeared in just two Home Run Derbies. He wasn't about to miss this ..."

Pujols matches Hall of Famer's feat

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July 11

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols reached another milestone Friday afternoon when his 32nd home run of the season tied him with Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner for the most home runs in the first nine years of a career. Pujols' towering blast off Chicago Cubs starter Rich Harden nestled into the basket overhanging Wrigley Field's center field warning track to break a 3-3 tie. The solo shot left Pujols with career home run No. 351, the same as Kiner during his first nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs. Kiner got there in 5,866 at-bats; Pujols needed 4,882. Pujols has never amassed fewer than 32 home runs or 103 RBIs in a season. Friday's blast came in the Cardinals' 88th game, ..."

Pujols is a fan favorite for HR derby

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July 6

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"As Major League Baseball lobbied him to fill a spot in the Home Run Derby last year on the eve of the All-Star break, Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau let democracy decide for him. He took a poll of his Twins teammates. Pitcher Kevin Slowey cast the decisive vote. "He finally talked me into it," Morneau said during the Twins' visit to Busch Stadium this season. "Why not, I thought, why not? It would be fun." Morneau went on to win the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, and he said he's open to defending his title this season - with a little more warning. While the annual derby, which will be held July 13 at Busch Stadium, has become the showy, fan-friendly and TV-fueled opening act ..."

Trio of Cards heading to All-Star Game

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July 5

MLB.com

"Everyone already knew about Albert Pujols. Now it seems the word has gotten out about Yadier Molina, as well. A season after winning his first Gold Glove, Molina was named to his first All-Star team on Sunday. He was voted in by fans as a starter, joining superstar teammate Pujols in the National League's starting lineup. It's the eighth time as an All-Star and seventh straight for Pujols, so he'll be able to show his friend and teammate the ropes. Ryan Franklin is also a first-time All-Star, recognized for his outstanding first half as the Cards closer. If the experience will be new to Molina and Franklin, at least the ballpark will be familiar. The 2009 All-Star Game will be played at ..."

Pujols praises Bailey's stuff

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July 5

Cincinnati Enquirer

"A day after his best start thus far in a Reds uniform, Homer Bailey was soaking in a compliment from the man that stole a win away from him with one swing of the bat Saturday night. Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols said Saturday night that Bailey has electric stuff and that he believes the pitcher will be around a long time. "A friend of mine e-mailed it to me," Bailey said. "Getting compliments from him is definitely something." Pujols's eighth-inning grand slam off reliever David Weathers erased a 3-0 Reds lead and any chance for Bailey to pick up a win. But it was an encouraging performance for the 23-year-old right-hander. Bailey pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two earned ..."

Cards rescued by ... what else? Pujols power

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July 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Mark DeRosa has been with the Cardinals less than a week, but he already knows he's seen it all. "He's from another planet," said DeRosa, limited to watching and not playing right now because of injury. The "he" in question is Albert Pujols and, as they say, maybe he really can do it all. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season (Pujols has four) and for a career (Pujols has 10). It was Pujols' sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead in the eighth, Pujols turned instructor with the ..."

Pujols slams Reds

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July 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Maybe, as they say, Albert Pujols really can do it all. We know what he can accomplish with the bases loaded. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke two of Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season and for a career. It was his sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, four of them grand slams, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after the Cincinnati Reds had tied the game at 4-4 in their half of the eighth after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead, Pujols turned instructor. With rookie Jarrett Hoffpauir, who had walked on four pitches in his major league debut ahead of Pujols' slam, at bat himself ..."

Pujols' numbers should shut up doubters

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June 26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols stepped in against Johan Santana Thursday afternoon in the top of the second inning. The bases were loaded and two outs. The Cardinals led 1-0. Pujols had the opportunity to blast Santana and provide staff ace Chris Carpenter a nice lead to work with. Instead, he flied out to left field to end the inning and strand three runners. Albert is human after all. This frustrating 3-2 loss proved it really IS possible to retire him in a critical game situation. At least Thursday's failure eased the suspicions of Los Angeles Times sportswriter Jerry Crowe, who recently wrote this: "Thanks to (Manny) Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, etc., fans outside ..."

Pujols, Cardinals pulverize Royals, sweep series

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June 22

Kansas City Star

"There are people who will tell you there isn't much difference between the Royals' lineup and the Cardinals' lineup, save for Albert Pujols. That may be true. There are 33,805 who watched the Royals lose 12-5 to the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday who will tell you that's a big difference. Pujols hit two homers on Sunday, including a grand slam on a down-the-middle changeup that turned an already bad day for Royals starter Gil Meche into a nightmare. The ball crashed off a window of the Hall of Fame building in left field, 423 feet away, part of an eight-run fourth inning that effectively ruined the Royals' chances. "Pretty much everything that could've happened wrong today did," ..."