When Albert Pujols cranked out his 500th home run of his career, it was rightfully celebrated and honored by many throughout the major leagues,including media and the fans. It is another crowning achievement in what is a first ballot hall of fame career for Pujols.
by Michael Hanley
This moment though goes deeper than joining a very elite and highly honorable group who have hit 500 home runs in their careers, this also highlights a resurgence in a man who had for so many years captivated us with every at bat he took.
Coming off what was the most disappointing and injury filled season of his career in 2013, questions swirled around Pujols and his ability to regain the power he had for so long had in his back pocket. Critics and naysayers were quick to point that this down year, along with dealing with plantar fasciitis that affected him, would be the first pitfall of many for him and the Angels as they moved forward in this 10 year, $240 million dollar pact they made with one another. To Pujol’s credit, he kept working hard in the offseason, rehabbing and working to be a 100% healthy come start of the new season. Once this season got going it was a slow start for him as his batting average hovered in the mid 230s for most of the opening two weeks and featured plenty of at bats that featured him swinging at bad pitches, not working the count and not driving the ball to all fields. That left people , including Pujols himself, shaking their collective heads, wondering when the tide will turn.
Pujols though has begun to look like his old self once again in recent weeks as he has found his timing and rhythm at the plate. He is now up to a .290 batting average, has 9 home runs and 21 RBIs. Hes driving the ball with great power, is being more patient as the plate as he has now walked a little more than he was at the start of the season. It has given this Angels lineup a nice jolt to an already productive lineup. The Angels now have a Pujols who can be the guy they envisioned being the one who drives in those key runs when the table setters at the top of the lineup get on base.He also gives them a bat that can also launch home runs with some regularity and make the offense even more explosive. This improved play also takes pressure off of their guys in the lineup who can now just focus on their play and not have to put extra pressure on themselves.
Now this is a small sample size and the baseball season is full of ebbs and flows for players as we know but this is a kind of hot streak that will make opposing pitchers now have to make adjustments as to how to pitch to Pujols. For the time being, pitchers will have to figure out a way to make him get out of his comfort zone he is in and get him to be impatient and swing early in the count. This feels reminiscent of Pujol’s days in St. Louis when opposing pitchers either walked him or paid the price for going after him by surrendering a HR or a base hit. Its already a tough lineup to get through without having to worry about Pujols when you have Mike Trout, Howie Kendrick and company. Now add him to that equation and it can spell nightmare for opposing starting pitcher's.
Great seasons are not judged on just a fractions of games played, or a couple of nice series, but for Albert Pujols , the Angels and baseball fans everywhere, seeing him get back to being that type of slugger we all followed and marveled at over the years is something that is a sight for sore eyes and one that becomes a regular occurrence.
