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| Albert Pujols went just 1-for-3 with two strikeouts against the Marlins on Friday, but did manage to finally hit his first home run of the spring. To date, his Grapefruit League average is only .238. |
Our View: El Hombre is still El Hombre, and his poor spring is not a concern.
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| Albert Pujols (back) should return to St. Louis' lineup tomorrow, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Pujols has been out the past week with back discomfort, but it hasn't appeared to be serious, and he's simply been held out for precautionary reasons. If you had him tabbed as the No. 1 overall pick, as most people do, there's no reason to bump him down from that pedestal.
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| According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Albert Pujols (back) is expected to return to the Cardinals' spring lineup this weekend. |
Our View: Both Pujols and Holliday are ailing. They were penciled into the three and four spots in today's lineup but were both scratched. Manager Tony LaRusa stated that, "Albert has a pain in his lower back that he's never experienced before. We're being careful." Careful is good since we're dealing with the game's best player. He likely just needs a few more days to rest the back and should be fine by this weekend. Continue to consider him the flat out number-one fantasy draft choice this season.
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| Albert Pujols (back) has been scratched from St. Louis' game today, according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. |
Our View: Pujols has not played since Saturday as he's been dealing with back discomfort. You can't blame the Cardinals for playing it safe with their star, though Pujols would certainly play through the slight pain if this were the regular season and could be back as early as tomorrow.
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| Albert Pujols received treatment for lower back pain this morning and will not play in today's Grapefruit League game against Boston, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss. |
Our View: Anything regarding Pujols is always big news, though this seems to be a very minor issue, and Pujols said himself that he may play tomorrow against the Twins. Don't view this story as anything to sway you from picking Pujols No. 1 in your draft if you had planned on doing so before.
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| Albert Pujols has reiterated that he wants to finish his career as a St. Louis Cardinal, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: "People in St. Louis and our fans around the country know where I want to be. And that's St. Louis. There's no city like St. Louis to play baseball. And the way the city has embraced me, and my family and our charitable foundation has been unbelievable. I am blessed. So why would I want to go anywhere else?" That rather lengthy quote should put many Cardinals fans at ease. Now he just needs to sign a contract extension, something he says he wants to do as soon as possible. Stay tuned.
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| Albert Pujols said there's a "95 percent chance" that he'll never need Tommy John surgery on his sporadically troublesome right elbow, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Pujols hurt his elbow back in 2003, after which he was told that he might eventually need Tommy John surgery to replace a ligament on the joint. A few minor surgeries since, however, have allowed Pujols' elbow to get back to full strength without any lingering effects. This should come as great news to Pujols' keeper league owners, who don't have to worry about their star's elbow issues lingering overhead.
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| According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Cardinals and National League two-time defending MVP Albert Pujols are currently in contract negotiations. |
Our View: All offseason there has been panic seeping through Cardinal Nation and fans licking their chops in every other baseball city at the prospect of landing the great Pujols. Some pundits believe the Cardinal organization can't afford him after the deal the club gave Matt Holliday, but part of the Holliday signing was to ensure Pujols that the team was serious about competing. In any case, the two sides are in discussions, but won't publicly acknowledge the talks. Expect the Cards to make this a priority and count on a deal getting done some time in the future. They won't let the game's best player walk, and even though Scott Boras will want a deal comparable to the one A-Rod got (10 years, $275 mil), Pujols will likely stay put for a discount. Stay tuned, but don't expect breaking news right away.
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| The Cardinals and slugger Albert Pujols do not have a timetable in place to begin discussing a contract extension, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Pujols, as you may have heard by now, will be a free agent after the 2011 season. Rumors have begun to swirl that the Cards may not have the money to keep their franchise player after signing Matt Holliday to a $120 million contract earlier this week, but it's hard to believe the Birds would sign Holliday at the expense of Pujols. Stay tuned.
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| In a rather bizarre statement, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has told the San Jose Mercury News that new Cardinals hitting coach, and controversial former slugger, Mark McGwire could be added to the team's active roster next August, therefore making him eligible to be a pinch-hitter in the postseason. |
Our View: Uhh, what? La Russa has never been much into humor, so this strikingly odd statement should be taken at face value. He at least admits having the now 46-year-old slugger serve as a pinch hitter would be a "nice little dream," but not likely. Truly weird.
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| Albert Pujols' signing of a contract extension with the Cardinals is not contingent on the team locking up Matt Holliday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: The team and Pujols have been slow to begin negotiations on a new deal, and whether or not Albert's representation thinks it has anything to do with Holliday, it most likely does. Once that situation is resolved, expect the sides to get serious about trying to hammer out an extension.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that neither Albert Pujols nor the Cardinals are itching to get a contract extension done right now. |
Our View: Pujols is apparently more interested in the team spending money in free agency than lavishing a new deal on him. It fits with what he has said and done in the past, and bodes well for both his and the team's long-term viability.
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| MLB.com reports that just hours after he won his third NL MVP award, Albert Pujols reported that his surgically repaired elbow is feeling great, and that he wants to remain with the Cardinals for the remainder of his career. |
Our View: This is the best possible news a Cardinals fan can hear. Pujols is happy, healthy and expected to be 100 percent at the start of spring training. He underwent surgery to clean up bone spurs in the elbow and bone chips from the joint in October, and is showing no negative signs from the procedure. When asked how he was feeling, Pujols responded, "Really good. I just saw Dr. [George] Paletta yesterday, and he gave me the OK to go ahead and start lifting weights. Really careful, but I've been there because last offseason I had surgery. ... He told me to be careful and start training, and that's what I've been doing so far." With King Albert healthy and wanting to stay in St. Louis for the next 15 or so years, the Cardinal orgainization has a bright future ahead.
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| Albert Pujols has been unanimously chosen as the National League's 2009 MVP, receiving all 32 first place votes, according to BBWAA.com. It is the second straight season he has won the award, and third overall. |
Our View: Hanley Ramirez was the unsurprising runner-up, while Ryan Howard was third and Prince Fielder a surprisingly distant fourth. Pujols becomes the sixth National League player to unanimously win the award, and the first since Barry Bonds in 2002.
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| MLB.com announced the award winners for the NL Silver Slugger. Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols, Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley, Marlins' shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Brewers' outfielder Ryan Braun, Dodgers' outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, Braves' catcher Brian McCann, and Cubs' pitcher Carlos Zambrano all took home the award. |
Our View: If there is a NL award, Pujols will most likely be going home with it this season. Both Dodger players were very good this season, and should be for many years to come.
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| Bud Selig announced on Sunday that Albert Pujols won the Hank Aaron Award for the National League, according to TSN. The award is voted on by fans for the most outstanding offensive performer. |
Our View: Pujols hit .327 with a career-best 47 home runs, 135 RBI, 124 runs scored, 45 doubles, and a team-high 16 stolen bases this year. He led the league in homers, runs, on-base percentage (.443) and slugging percentage (.658), while ranking third in RBI.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols wants to remain with the team for the rest of his career. "The fans know and the Cardinals know that I want to be a Cardinal for my whole career," Pujols said. "I love this city." |
Our View: Pujols wanted to clarify remarks he made to a Dominican radio station a few weeks ago in which he said he was in no hurry to sign an extension with the team. Pujols said he still has two years left on his deal, and he wants the team to focus on signing their free agents, specifically Matt Holliday. That sound you just heard was the collective exhale of everyone in the city of St. Louis.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Cardina;s' first baseman Albert Pujols has been voted the NL Most Outstanding Player by the MLB Players Association. Pujols hit .327 with 47 homers and 135 RBI for the Cards this season. |
Our View: In other news, the sky is blue and the world is round. Pujols figures to walk away with any award pertaining to being the most outstanding player in his league, so it's good to see the MLBPA got it right. Expect another MVP award to be up on his mantle in a few weeks as well.
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| As expected, retired slugger Mark McGwire has been named as the Cardinals' 2010 hitting coach, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Perhaps the greatest hitter of the "steroid era" will now join forces with the best hitter of the "post-steroid era." It should make for an interesting season, no doubt, and the famously clammy McGwire might end up doing more talking about the past than he, or the team, would like.
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| Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has confirmed that manager Tony La Russa will be returning to manage the Cardinals for a 15th season in 2010. It is a one-year deal. |
Our View: The word came straight from GM John Mozeliak's mouth. It is also believed there is a mutual option for 2011. Now all that waits for the Cardinals and their coaching staff is confirmation that Mark McGwire will join the team as its new hitting coach.
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| ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Tony LaRussa's new deal with the Cardinals is for one year with a mutual option for 2011. |
Our View: So Tony will stick it out for one more season in St. Louis before he invariably decides to create more drama next offseason about whether he'll hang around or fly the coop. The mutual option for 2011 means that either party can cut ties and walk away. No telling what to expect now, but LaRussa's tenure in St. Louis has been good to him, and the Cardinals.
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| According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Cardinals have hired Mark McGwire as their hitting coach. |
Our View: The man who wanted to leave baseball behind him is now back in the spotlight. The Bash Brother has a great relationship with Tony LaRussa and trains with several of the Cardinal players in the offseason, so this move isn't as shocking as many would think. We know he doesn't like to talk about the past, but he's not on the golf course anymore and will likely have to address some of his past foibles.
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| ESPN is reporting that the Cardinals plan on firing hitting coach Hal McRae with designs on replacing him with famed slugger Mark McGwire. |
Our View: The report comes on the heels of word that manager Tony La Russa is returning to St. Louis. McGwire has long been a favorite of TLR's, and while seemingly out of nowhere, would make a good deal of sense. More as it develops.
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| ESPN reports that manager Tony La Russa has agreed to a new "multiyear contract" with the St. Louis Cardinals. |
Our View: While La Russa himself fueled it, speculation that he was leaving St. Louis appears to have been quite overblown. Now all the teams thinking they had a chance at him either this offseason or next can stop dreaming.
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| Long-time Cardinals manager Tony La Russa again insinuated on Friday that he is leaning toward returning to the team for a 15th season in 2010, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: La Russa has been mulling his future ever since the Cardinals were unceremoniously swept by the Dodgers in the NLDS a few weeks ago, but most signs have him returning to St. Louis.
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| Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal does not envision Cardinals manager Tony La Russa managing a different team next season. |
Our View: He believes it will either be the Cardinals or no one. La Russa has said he will come to a decision in the coming days. While the smart money appears to be on him coming back to St. Louis, he likes to surprise, so you can never be sure.
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| Former Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire has told The Sporting News that first baseman Albert Pujols would be worth "$30 million plus" on the free agent market, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Shh, Mark. They were hoping no one would tell him that. All kidding aside, Pujols is obviously in position to command the largest contract of all time when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season, but he has claimed repeatedly that winning, and not money, is his number one priority, and hinted he would take less to remain a Cardinal if he could tell they were committed to it. Of course, no one would argue that the Yankees and Red Sox are not committed to winning, either, just as they are committed to handing out gargantuan contracts to whomever will accept them.
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| According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, probable National League MVP Albert Pujols underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to have bone spurs removed from his right elbow. |
Our View: Both doctors that performed the surgery on Pujols agreed that the elbow did not need ligament reconstruction, and he is expected to be fine for the start of spring training 2010. The team left open the possibility that another more intrusive operation would be necessary, but the Cardinal slugger has been playing with a tear in his elbow ligament since 2003, so there is no reason to expect him to miss any time next season.
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| Albert Pujols will undergo surgery on Wednesday to have five bone spurs removed from his right elbow, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. He is expected to be fully recovered by the start of spring training. |
Our View: Pujols also had a procedure last offseason on the elbow. It is good to know that he isn't expected to miss any regular season time, but you have too wonder how many of these "minor" surgeries he can have before Tommy John is in order.
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| According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols is scheduled to meet with Dr James Andrews for a second opinion on his fragile right elbow. Pujols underwent surgery last year to transpose a nerve around the same elbow. |
Our View: The Cards don't seem overly concerned by this visit, but they are obviously going to keep an eye on the situation. Surgery isn't expected to be an option, but you never know in these situations. We will make sure to pass along any info from the visit when it is released.
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| Yahoo! Sports reports that perennial MVP candidate Albert Pujols does not want pursue a long-term contract extension this winter. |
Our View: The Cardinals were expected to try and lock up Albert this offseason, but the slugger has decided to wait another year before making a decision. "I'm not desperate to sign a contract extension," Pujols said. "I still have a one year contract in 2010 with a club option for 2011. The rest I leave in God's hands." This year's likely MVP winner still has a desire to stay in St. Louis, but doesn't want to deal with business just yet. Fortunately for Cards fans, all signs still point to him remaining in the Gateway City.
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| Cardinals' chairman Bill DeWitt told Bernie Miklasz on Tuesday that he believes that manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan will both return next season. DeWitt also said that slugger Albert Pujols has communicated a desire to get a long-term deal done this winter. |
Our View: These are all good pieces of news for Cardinal fans, as it was believed that La Russa and Duncan were on the way out. Pujols is still under contract, but it is good to know that he wants to get a long-term deal done to stay in St. Louis. The front office in St. Louis will be busy this offseason with these and other issues.
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| USA Today reports that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is undecided about returning to the Cardinals next season. La Russa admitted he just started thinking about it following Saturday's loss to the Dodgers that eliminated his team from the postseason. |
Our View: GM John Mozeliak does not seem in any hurry to get him out of town, so this decision will likely come down to La Russa. Given that the Cards have a core of Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, and Adam Wainwright locked up, it seems a good bet that TLR will return.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-5 with two singles and an RBI in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS at Busch Stadium. |
Our View: The Cardinals only mustered six hits in the game, and Pujols was their lone source of scoring. The Cardinals were swept in three games after winning the NL Central with a 91-71 mark.
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| SI.com is reporting that Dodgers' manager Joe Torre will not allow Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols to beat his team in this NLDS series. The Dodgers have pitched around Pujols in the first two games when runners have been on, and they can afford to be even more cautious now that they have a 2-0 series lead. |
Our View: Torre has come out and said that Pujols is getting walked if people are on base, so someone else in the lineup is going to have to step up and get a big hit. The Birds have had a terrible two games at the plate, but a few two out RBI could turn their series around tonight.
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| Albert Pujols ended the regular season on a down note, going just 1-for-5 with a walk in a 9-7, ten-inning loss to the Brewers on Sunday. |
Our View: Still, the games best hitter wound up third in the NL in average (.327), third in RBI (135), and first in home runs (47). He also led the world in on base percentage, slugging percentage, intentional walks and a glut of other statistical categories. He is clearly the National League's most valuable player.
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| Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in tonight's 12-6 loss to the Brewers at Busch Stadium. He hit a pair of doubles and a single. |
Our View: The elite first baseman raised his batting average to .331, and collected his 135 RBI and scored his MLB-leading 124th run.
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| Updating a previous report, Cardinals' beat writer Matthew Leach is reporting on Twitter that Albert Pujols was a late addition to the Cardinals' lineup on Thursday. Pujols was feeling ill when he came to the park, but he is feeling much better and will play. |
Our View: It seems like the Cards should just sit Pujols today to be safe, but this is great news for fantasy owners. Pujols should be good to go today, so keep him in your lineup or get him back in if you already replaced him.
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| Albert Pujols is not in the Cardinals' lineup for their Thursday afternoon game against the Reds. Pujols will be replaced by David Freese at first base. |
Our View: Albert is just getting a day off to rest before the playoffs, and he is expected to play this weekend. Many of you who are still fighting for a fantasy baseball probably have Pujols on your team, so find another option for today.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with his 134th RBI on Wednesday night, but the Cardinals still lost 6-1 in Cincinnati. |
Our View: The 134 RBI are just three off his career high from 2006. He also remains two home runs shy of tying his career best of 49 from that season.
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| Albert Pujols doesn't feel right at the dish so he hopes he can convince Tony LaRussa to just keep playing him over the final week of the season, according to the Cardinals Official Website. "Right now, I don't feel good at the plate," he said. If I play the next -- how many games have we got left? -- if I play them all, I'll take that. Because we've gotten plenty of days off." |
Our View: It's not like anyone was going to take the best fantasy performer in the game out of their lineup anyway, but hopefully this will remove any doubts that Pujols will see plenty of action over the final week of the season.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-4 and drove in all three Cardinal runs in a 4-3 loss to the Rockies on Sunday afternoon. |
Our View: Pujols now has 132 RBI on the season, one in which he's a veritable lock to win his third MVP. He's having a nice stretch run to put a cap on it too, hitting .371 with six homers and 22 RBI in September.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with his 127th RBI on Wednesday afternoon, but got deprived of trying the game with his sixth grand slam of the season in a 5-1 game in the ninth inning after getting hit by a pitch, as the Cardinals lost 5-2 to the Marlins at home. |
Our View: Pujols has now, at least for the moment, moved one ahead of Prince Fielder in the National League RBI race. It's one of the NL's only races with any drama heading down the the stretch.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Brewers. |
Our View: Pujols has all but locked up his third MVP award this season and he's been turning it on down the stretch just to make sure. He's hitting .431 in September with six homers and 16 RBI.
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| Albert Pujols did it again on Wednesday. He led the Cardinals attack with a 3-for-5 performance that included two homers and three RBI in their 5-1 win over the Brewers. |
Our View: After "struggling" a bit by Pujols' standards since the addition of Matt Holliday, King Albert has beefed up his numbers the last 12 games. He's hit safely in 11 of his last 12 contests and has raised his average from .316 to .331. He's also homered seven times over that span and driven in 17. Pujols leads the majors with his 47 long balls and trails Prince Fielder (125) by just one in the RBI department.
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| Albert Pujols stayed hot on Monday in the Cardinals' 3-0 win over the Brewers. Pujols went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI in the win. |
Our View: Pujols is 6-for-9 over the last two games, and he has driven in three in that time. The best player in the game is on right now, and that has to be scary for opposing pitchers and opposed fantasy owners as well.
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| One day after hitting a game-winning home run in the tenth inning, Albert Pujols went 3-for-5 with an RBI on Sunday, but couldn't help the Cards sweep the Pirates, as Pittsburgh rallied for a 6-5 victory at home. |
Our View: In six September games, El Hombre is batting .409 with three home runs and eight RBI.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-1 with a solo homer off Matt Capps in Saturday's 2-1 win at Pittsburgh. |
Our View: Pujols' shot came in the top of the 10th inning, and proved to be a game-winner for St. Louis. He has seven RBI over five games this month, and 117 for 2009.
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| Albert Pujols launched his 43rd home run of the season on Friday night as the Cardinals exploded for 14 runs against the Pirates. Pujols went 2-for-4 with the homer, three runs scored, and three RBI in the 14-7 win. |
Our View: Pujols is a Pirate killer, and he showed why tonight. With the Cards down 6-5 in the sixth inning, Pujols pounded a pitch into the left field stands to put St. Louis up for good. He is leading the league in homers, and his 116 RBI are second to Prince Fielder's 121.
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| Albert Pujols hit his major league leading 42nd home run in the Cardinals' 7-6 win over the Brewers on Tuesday night. He was 1-for-3 on the day with two runs scored and a pair of walks. |
Our View: Tuesday marked the first time that Pujols and newcomer Matt Holliday had homered in the same game. If these two get hot at the same time the rest of the league is in trouble. Pujols' efforts Tuesday also inched him closer to Prince Fielder for the RBI crown, and he now has 111 on the season.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 and singled home the game winning run in the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Nationals on Sunday. He also stole his 14th base of the season. |
Our View: Pujols won Friday's game with a walk-off homer, but got the job done in less dramatic fashion on Sunday. The Cardinals swept the three-game series and Albert was 5-for-11 in the series.
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| Albert Pujols smashed his 41st home run nearly out of the stadium on Friday night, walking the Cardinals off to their 75th win, as St. Louis beat the Nats 3-2 at home. |
Our View: The home run was Pujols' 100th run scored of the season. In eight of his nine seasons in the big leagues, he has now scored 100 runs, driven in 100 runs and swatted 30 home runs.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-3 with the only RBI of the game as the Cardinals beat the Astros 1-0 on Tuesday. Pujols doubled home Brendan Ryan in first inning to give starter Adam Wainwright all the offense he would need. |
Our View: Even in a game that featured six hits combined, Albert finds a way to make an impact. He is the best player in baseball, and barring injury he will finish the season as the top fantasy player in the game.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-3 with a solo homer off Edward Mujica in Sunday's 5-2 win at San Diego. |
Our View: Pujols crushed his sixth homer of August, and is the first player in the majors to reach 40 this season. He hit at least 40 homers for the fifth time in his nine-year career as well.
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| Albert Pujols broke an 0-for-12 skid with a single in Friday's 4-0 loss to the Padres. |
Our View: Slump buster or not, Albert has not looked himself lately. He finished Friday's game 1-for-4 and is now hitting under .300 for the month. His average is down to a very un-Pujols .317.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-4 with a solo homer off Charlie Haeger in tonight's 3-2 win at Los Angeles. |
Our View: Pujols continues to lead the majors with 39 homers, with five coming this month. He also paces the Cardinals with a .325 batting average and 105 RBI. He needs one more homer to reach 40 in a season for the fifth time in his career.
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| Albert Pujols did it again on Saturday. The Machine laced a bases loaded double in the sixth inning to break open a close game against the Pirates that led to a 5-3 Cardinal win. The blast plated RBI number 98, 99 and 100 for the season. |
Our View: It took just 112 games (the fewest in his career) for Albert to reach the century mark for his record-breaking ninth consecutive season to start a career. He also continued his torrid assault on pitchers when hitting with the sacs jammed. He is now 8-for-10 with the bases loaded this season and owns five grand slams and 27 RBI. What's left for us to do but stare in awe?
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| After breaking out of his slump in grand fashion on Tuesday, Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols kept on rolling Wednesday against the Mets. His two doubles in three at-bats were the lone offensive bright spots in his team's 9-0 loss. |
Our View: After recording just two extra-base hits (no home runs) from July 18th through August 3rd, Pujols now has five in his last three games. His three doubles and two homers should be a sure fire sign that he's back on track.
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| Albert Pujols broke out of his slump on Tuesday as he powered the Cardinals to a come from behind 12-7 win over the Mets. Pujols went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, three runs scored, and five RBI. |
Our View: A hitter as good as Albert can't be kept down for long, and he broke out in a big way against the Mets tonight. His tenth inning grand slam gave the Cards a comfortable lead, and he is now 7-for-9 with five home runs this season with the bases loaded. That's outrageous, we know, but it's Albert.
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| Albert Pujols' struggles continued on Sunday. The game's best hitter went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in a game where the Cardinals desperately needed some offense. They were blanked by the Astros 2-0. |
Our View: Pujols hasn't homered since July 17th and has just two extra base hits over that span. He's seen his average fall to .314 (his career low) and it looks like hopes of a Triple Crown have all but vanished. One has to wonder if the best player in baseball s hiding an injury that's sapping his production.
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| Albert Pujols' walk-off single ended an epic game between the Cardinals and the Dodgers in the bottom of the 15th inning on early Thursday. The Cardinals tied the game 1-1 in the ninth off unhittable closer Jonathan Broxton, while the teams traded runs in the 11th to make it 2-2. In between the 11th and the 15th came two hosed runners at home plate, a missed first base bag on a "double," a number of incredible catches and myriad spectacular relief pitching performances. The Cardinals 3-2 win ensured them a win of the four game series with the Dodgers. |
Our View: Albert did it again. His big hit could not have come at a better time, either. Baseball's best player had just one RBI in his past nine gams, and had seen his average dip to .321, his lowest since early June. Look for this game to potentially jump-start El Hombre.
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| Albert Pujols is out of Thursday's lineup at Washington, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: The elite first baseman is not injured, and is just getting a day off to rest. Mark DeRosa will cover first base in his place.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI in tonight's 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium. |
Our View: The elite first baseman has 13 RBI over 14 games in July, and continues to lead the majors with 90. He also leads with 34 homers and 75 runs scored.
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| Albert Pujols picked up right where he left off in the first half on Friday in the Cardinals' 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks. Pujols went 2-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored, and two RBI in the game. |
Our View: If anyone thought Albert couldn't keep up his first half pace, he proved them wrong tonight. He homered twice, and he looks to be a legitimate Triple Crown candidate. Obviously, as long as he is healthy he is a top fantasy option in all formats.
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| The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that the batting order for Monday night's Home Run Derby has been released. The first hitter will be Rangers' outfielder Nelson Cruz, followed by Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder, Tigers' infielder Brandon Inge, Padres' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Rays' first baseman Carlos Pena, Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard, Twins' catcher Joe Mauer, and Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols. |
Our View: Pujols gets to hit last in his home ballpark, which will be rocking when he walks to the plate. The top four will advance to the second round, and Pujols has to be considered the favorite going into the contest.
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| Charlie Manuel has revealed his lineup and batting order for the National League in tomorrow night's All-Star game, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. In order it is, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, second baseman Chase Ultey, first baseman Albert Pujols, right fielder Ryan Braun, left fielder Raul Ibanez, third baseman David Wright, center fielder Shane Victorino, Yadier Molina at catcher and Tim Lincecum starting. |
Our View: Victorino is starting in place of the injured Carlos Beltran. It will the first All-Star starts for Molina, Ibanez and Victornio.
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| Albert Pujols provided most of the Cardinals' offense as usual on Sunday in their 7-3 loss to the Cubs. Pujols went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI in the game. |
Our View: Pujols is still the best hitter in the game today, and without him the Cardinals would not be in the place they are now. As long as he stays on the field, he will be the top fantasy option in baseball in the second half.
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| Albert Pujols was productive in Saturday's 5-2 loss at Chicago, as he went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Both of his knocks were singles. |
Our View: Pujols raised his season average a few more points to .338, and continues to lead the majors with 72 runs scored. The elite first baseman has two hits in three straight games.
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| Albert Pujols enjoyed another strong outing at the plate, as he went 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored in Friday's 8-3 win at Chicago. He had a triple and a solo homer off Rich Harden. |
Our View: Pujols continues to lead the majors with 32 homers, 85 RBI and 71 runs scored, and raised his batting average a few points to .336. He collected his first triple of the season today as well.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 5-1 win at Milwaukee. He hit a single and a double. |
Our View: Pujols is hitting .332, and continues to lead the majors with 83 RBI and 68 runs scored.
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| Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols was the leading vote-getter for the NL's All-Star team, according to MLB.com. He will be joined in the starting lineup by catcher Yadier Molina, infielders Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, and David Wright, and outfielders Ryan Braun, Carlos Beltran, and Raul Ibanez. |
Our View: Pujols was the leading vote-getter in the entire league, and received the second most votes of all time, second only to Ken Griffey Jr who achieved the feat earlier in his career. Ibanez and Beltran are currently injured, and are questionable for the game.
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| Albert Pujols did it again on Friday night. The game's best player put the Cardinals on his back and stole a game from the Cincinnati Reds. Trailing 3-0 in the seventh, Pujols hit his fourth grand slam of the season to give the Cards a 4-3 lead. They never looked back, winning the game 7-4 and Albert finished the day 2-for-5 with five RBI. |
Our View: The NL player of the month for June is already getting it done in July. Pujols leads the majors in homers (31) and RBI (82) and has been insane with the bases loaded. He is now 6-for-7 with four grand slams and 20 RBI with the sacks juiced this season. Friday's salami was also his 350th career home run. He's the third youngest player to reach that mark.
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| The Miami Herald is reporting that Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols has been named the NL player of the month for June. Pujols batted .320 with a league-leading 14 homers and 35 RBI during the month. He also had 10 doubles and scored 19 times. |
Our View: Pujols has pretty much carried the Cards' offense in June, so this award is well deserved. He is the best hitter in the game, and the top fantasy player in baseball.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Giants at Busch Stadium. He swatted two homers off Randy Johnson. |
Our View: Pujols continues to pad his MLB lead in home runs with 30, and also leads with 77 RBI. Fourteen of his homers were launched in June.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-3 with a double in tonight's 10-0 loss to the Giants at Busch Stadium. |
Our View: The Cardinals only mustered two hits in the game against opposing ace hurler Tim Lincecum. Pujols has a five-game hitting streak, and his season average remains at .328.
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| Albert Pujols did it all again on Saturday. The games best player crushed two more home runs, walked twice, drove in four and flashed some impressive leather in the Cardinals' 5-4 win over the Twins. |
Our View: Why teams continue to pitch to Albert is mystery. He created all the offense the Cards needed on Saturday and extended his major league lead in homers and RBI. The Machine now has 28 bombs and 74 RBI to go along with his .328 average. Don't look now, but a triple crown season is within reach.
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| The reigning NL MVP did it again on Tuesday, ripping a bases loaded two-run single in the seventh inning to cushion the Cardinals 3-0 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. |
Our View: El Hombre now has 70 RBIs in 71 games and is on pace for his best season yet.
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| It has been announced that President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the this season's All-Star game on July 14 in St. Louis, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Obama will be the fourth U.S. President to throw out the first pitch at the Midsummer Classic, and the first since Gerald Ford.
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| Albert Pujols has been named the National League player of the week for the week ending June 21, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Even though Albert Pujols is the National Player of the week every week, what he did between last Monday and Sunday merited special consideration. The slugging first baseman went 7-for-18 with four home runs, six runs scored and 11 RBIs. It was also announced on Monday that Pujols has retaken the overall vote getting lead in the National League for the All-Star game, edging past Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.
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| Albert Pujols enjoyed another great day at the ballpark, as he went 4-for-6 with six RBI in Sunday's 12-5 win at Kansas City. He hit a single, double and two homers. |
Our View: Pujols now has 10 homers in June, and continues to lead the majors with 26. He has 10 RBI over his last three games as well.
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| Albert Pujols bombed his 24th homer of the season on Saturday as the Cardinals beat the Royals 7-1. Pujols went 1-for-4 with the homer, a run scored, and two RBI in the game. |
Our View: There is nothing else to be said about Albert that hasn't already been said a hundred times over. He is the best player in the game, and he is without a doubt the best fantasy player available. Those of you who drafted Pujols first overall over Hanley in your drafts can feel free to gloat at this point.
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| According to the Post Dispatch, Albert Pujols was removed from Friday's contest in the seventh inning due to dehydration and right hamstring soreness. |
Our View: These issues don't sound too serious, but when you're dealing with the best player in the game even a sneeze gets people worried. Manager Tony LaRussa has yet to make a decision on whether Pujols will start Saturday's game. Odds are that he will, but we'll keep you posted.
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| Albert Pujols has been given the day off on Thursday. |
Our View: Be sure to sit him in daily leagues if you have someone to start in his place.
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| Albert Pujols hit his league leading 23rd home run of the season on Tuesday night in the Cardinals 11-2 win over Detroit. |
Our View: Pujols continues to be incomparable. He is once again a leading MVP candidate and the likely starter at first base for the National League in next month's All-Star game.
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| Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs off Tom Ohka in Saturday's 3-1 win at Cleveland. His other hit was a double. |
Our View: The elite first baseman has homered in three straight games, and now has 22 for the season - currently tying him with Adrian Gonzalez for the MLB lead.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's 7-3 loss at Cleveland. He hit a solo homer off Davd Huff, and also had a single. |
Our View: Pujols has homered in back-to-back games, and collected his 20th of the season. He also has 55 RBI, with 13 coming so far in June.
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| Albert Pujols hit his first home run since June 5 in the Cardinals 6-5 win over the Marlins on Thursday. The slugger also snapped a 1-for-16 slump by going 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. |
Our View: El Hombre's mini slump appears to be over. Bad news for the Indians pitchers he'll be facing this weekend, great news for your fantasy team.
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| Albert Pujols didn't record a hit on Sunday, but still drove in the Cardinals' only two runs of the game with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. The Rockies clobbered the Redbirds 7-2. |
Our View: Pujols' average fell to .333, but the two RBI put him over the 50 mark for the season. He is zero for his last six following an eight game hitting streak that raised his average almost 30 points.
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| Albert Pujols led the Cardinals offensively in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Reds at Busch Stadium, as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI. He hit a two-run homer and a double. |
Our View: The elite first baseman was the only source of scoring for St. Louis. He extended his hitting streak to seven games, with 11 total hits and eight RBI over the span. He also collected his 17th homer of the season.
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| Albert Pujols helped lead the Cardinals in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Reds at Busch Stadium, as he went 1-for-3 with a two-run double. |
Our View: The elite first baseman extended his hitting streak to five games, with nine hits and five RBI over the span.
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| Albert Pujols told reporters on Monday night that he would be in Tuesday's lineup after rolling his ankle sliding awkwardly into second base, according to MLBlogs.com. Pujols was checked out by the team trainer but remained in the game. |
Our View: The ankle looked like it would be in bad shape, but after a few minutes of sitting on the field Pujols got up and stayed in the game. He looked to be fine the rest of the night, so expect him to play tonight and have no complications.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs in Saturday's 6-2 win at San Francisco. |
Our View: Pujols ended a seven-game drought without a homer, and clubbed two homers in a game for the third time this season.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Cardinals' 4-2 loss to the Giants on Friday night. |
Our View: Pujols hit the ball to the warning track in his first at-bat and was robbed in his fourth by a diving stop at third. He could very easily have gone 4-for-4 and he looked more comfortable at the plate with Ryan Ludwick back in the lineup and hitting behind him once again. Expect Albert to heat up.
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| Albert Pujols was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored as the Cardinals defeated the Royals 5-0 on Friday. |
Our View: This is among the first baseman's least spectacular games, but he was still effective. A big portion of what makes Pujols so good is that he doesn't try and do to much. He has 28 walks against just 12 strikeouts on the season.
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| Albert Pujols hit his 14th home run of the season in the first inning of the Cardinals' 3-1 series sweeping win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. It was a solo shot and Pujols' only hit in three at-bats. |
Our View: The home run Albert blasted was still going up when it crashed into Big Mac Land and destroyed the lights that kept the "I" lit up and glowing. We doubt they'll make Albert pay for it, as he is king in St. Louis and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who'll complain about one of his immaculate homers. He's hitting .326 on the season with 14 bombs and 38 RBI and appears to be pulling out of his recent skid.
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| The Cardinals-Brewers game that was rained out Friday will be made up Monday at 7:15. |
Our View: There was some speculation that they would wait until the end of August to make it up, but it was decided that Monday was a better option.
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| The Cardinals-Brewers game has been postponed tonight due to inclement weather. |
Our View: No make-up date has been officially announced, but it is believed the game will be made up on August 31. We will keep you updated when we find out for sure.
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| Albert Pujols hit his 13th home run of the season on Tuesday. It was his only hit in four at bats and accounted for all of the Cardinals' offense as the fell 7-1 to the Pirates. |
Our View: Pujols is having a monster season once again, but is in a bit of a slump. He has only two hits in his last 17 at-bats and has seen his average fall from .364 to .328 in his last five games. However, both of his hits over that span left the park. Expect him to turn it up soon as Pujols rarely slumps at all and when he does it never lasts long.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-3 with three walks, a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI as the Cardinals defeated the Reds 8-7 on Sunday. |
Our View: Pujols had gone without a hit in three straight games. His home run today was his NL-leading 12th of the season. He has drawn 22 walks, plus three HBPs, against only 11 strike outs.
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| Albert Pujols started Friday's game, but noted that he was dealing with some discomfort after being struck in the left ribcage by a Ross Ohlendorf pitch in Thursday's outing with Pittsburgh, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: The team or Pujols did not state that he may sit out to rest the ailment, and the elite first baseman should be penciled into fantasy lineups as usual for Saturday's game against the Reds at the Great American Ballpark.
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| Albert Pujols was sore after being struck by a Ross Ohlendorf pitch in the left rib-cage during Thursday's battle with the Pirates, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols said, "You have to be careful." |
Our View: Pujols was struck in an area sensitive to his swing, but the elite first baseman should be fine. The Cardinals start a three-game set against the Reds at the Great American Ballpark Friday.
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| Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with his eleventh home run, two runs scored, and an RBI as the Cardinals defeated the Pirates 4-2 on Wednesday. |
Our View: Pujols continues to dominate, but he had just one hit in his last eight at bats coming into tonight. That could be considered a slump for the game's best hitter. Tonight was his first four-hit game of the season.
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| According to MLB.com, Cardinal slugger Albert Pujols has been named the NL's Player of the Month for April. |
Our View: Arguably baseball's best player, Pujols was on top of his game in the season's first month. He hit .337 with eight home runs, 28 RBI and 22 runs scored. He drew 18 walks against just seven strikeouts and stole an uncharacteristic four bases.
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| The Cardinals-Nationals Sunday afternoon game has been postponed due to rain. No make-up date has been announced. |
Our View: The teams may have problems making this game up, as the Cards don't visit D.C. again this season. They may play the game when the Nats come to St. Louis in late August, or they coud make it up if necessary after the season is over. We will keep you updated when the game will be made up.
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| Albert Pujols will sit out Saturday's game against the Nationals. Manager Tony La Russa is giving him his first rest of the season, MLB.com reports. Chris Duncan will start at first base. |
Our View: The Cardinals have played 11 straight days and aren't off until May 11. We hate to see Albert on the bench, especially given his recent production, but we can tolerate one day off.
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| Albert Pujols continued his blazing start to the season on Friday as he went 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI. The Cardinals beat the Nationals 6-2. |
Our View: Pujols is simply the best hitter in baseball. His home run tonight was his ninth of the year, and his 29 RBI are the most in baseball. He is really good.
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| Albert Pujols was 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base as the Cardinals beat the Nationals 9-4 on Thursday. |
Our View: Pujols has now cracked eight home runs on the season, but maybe more impressively is the fact that he has already swiped four bases. He did steal 16 bags in 2005, but has never stolen more than seven in any other season.
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| Albert Pujols has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the Sports Network. Pujols earned the honor by hitting .450 with an NL-best 11 RBI. He also swiped a base in three straight games. |
Our View: Pujols led the Cardinals to a 5-1 mark last week, as the club ranks atop the NL Central standings. He will try to remain hot tonight when St. Louis starts a three-game series at Atlanta.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-4 with a grand slam as the Cardinals beat the Cubs 8-2 on Saturday. He finished the game with 1,002 RBI. |
Our View: Pujols has been on fire this week with three home runs and 11 RBI in his last five games. He has been locked in and looks poised to make another run at the NL MVP in 2009. He already has 25 RBI and seven through 18 games.
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| The game's best player continues to find ways to steal wins for his team. Albert Pujols, besides going 2-for-4 in the game, stole second in the ninth inning to get himself into scoring position and was instantly driven home on a single by Ryan Ludwick as the Cardinals beat the rival Cubs 4-3 on Friday. |
Our View: There is nothing this man can't do. He now has steals in three consecutive games and with Friday's 2-for-4 performance he raised his average to .355. He also lead the NL with six homers and 21 RBI.
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| Albert Pujols was in top form once again on Thursday. He blasted two home runs, scored four times and drove in three as the Cards swept a three game series against the Mets. The finale was a slug fest, but the Birds ended up on top 12-8. |
Our View: The reigning National League MVP is now hitting .345 with six home runs and 21 RBI. He leads the league in the two aforementioned categories and even gave fantasy owners a boost with stolen bases in his last two games. They don't make them much better than Albert.
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| Albert Pujols was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, two RBI and a stolen base as the Cardinals beat the Mets 5-2 on Wednesday. |
Our View: To no one's surprise, Pujols currently leads the league in RBI (18). The majority of St. Louis' offense is hitting well and Pujols' numbers will be even better than usual as long as they are.
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| Albert Pujols was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI on Tuesday, but the Cardinals bullpen familiarly failed again and they fell to the Diamondbacks in 7-6 ten innings. |
Our View: Albert raised his average to .364 and the game's best player now has 11 RBI in his first nine games. He's a big reason the Cards are in first place in the NL Central.
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| Albert Pujols cranked out his fourth home run of the season on Monday in the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks. It was the reigning MVP's only hit in four at bats. |
Our View: Pujols is off to another great start through eight games as he has 10 RBI and eight runs scored. Just as impressive is that he has drawn six walks against just one strike out.
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| Albert Pujols had a monster game on Saturday, swatting two home runs and driving in seven in the Cardinals' 11-2 battering of the Astros. Pujols hit a grand slam in the fifth inning and a three-run shot in the seventh. |
Our View: The best player in the game stepped up in a big way on Saturday, and turned a close 2-0 game into a blowout with two lightning-quick swings. If you have Albert in a head to head league he likely put you over the top in your RBI category today.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and a pair of walks in St. Louis' 9-3 rout of the Pirates on Tuesday. |
Our View: Pujols is now 5-for-7 this season and his average stands at an ungodly .714. He also scored three runs on Tuesday, his first of the season.
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| Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk in Monday's loss to the Pirates. He did not collect a run or RBI in the game. |
Our View: Brendan Ryan and Rick Ankiel combined to go just 1-for-9 ahead of Pujols. The team will need to solve that issue in order for Pujols to live up to his elite fantasy potential.
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| Albert Pujols was 3-for-5 with a home run, a pair of doubles, and six RBI Friday night in the Cards' 13-1 win over their Triple-A affiliate from Memphis. |
Our View: Albert claims he hasn't been his normal self this spring, but his average is around .300. I suppose the fans are not the only ones putting him on a high pedestal.
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| Albert Pujols was 2-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout, and two doubles as the Cardinals fell to the Mets on Wednesday. |
Our View: The performance brings his spring batting average up to .292. He admits that he had not felt zoned in at the plate for much of spring training, but we still expect him to make another run at the NL MVP in 2009.
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Baltimore. |
Our View: He is hitting .350 in spring training, with 10 RBI. The elite first baseman should not slip past the third pick in fantasy drafts.
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| Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the spring and finished Monday's 7-6 loss to the Tigers 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI. |
Our View: It took Pujols 36 at-bats to put one over the fence, but it's really no reason for concern. As usual, he has not had many pitches to hit this spring, but his overall numbers remain very good. Drafting Pujols is a good start to finishing near the top of your league's standings.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-3 Wednesday with an RBI in an 8-4 win over the Marlins. He continues to hit consistently as his average sits at a cool .348 this spring. |
Our View: Albert could probably hit .800 in spring if he wanted to, but chances are he's tinkering with his swing and working on weak spots. Expect him to be locked in once the season starts, and consider yourself blessed if you are lucky enough to draft him.
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| Albert Pujols is fine after getting kicked in the head by Wes Helms during an exhibition game against the Marlins, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He walked and singled after the collision and he said, "I got hit in the head, I stayed in the game. That is all it was. I am OK." |
Our View: The incident gave skipper Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals a scare, but he is fine and should continue to be drafted at the top of the first round.
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| Albert Pujols had a rare 0-fer at the plate Monday vs the Tampa Bay Rays. He failed to get a hit in four at-bats, lowering his average to .375. |
Our View: You never really have to worry about Albert's production. Especially in exhibition play.
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| The Associated Press reports that Albert Pujols will not play against the Dominican Republic's WBC squad. The reigning NL MVP will sit out the exhibition match because according to him, "It's all about respect." Pujols told the St. Louis Post Dispatch Sunday, "I don't want to play against them. I don't feel comfortable with it and that's it." |
Our View: This shouldn't affect Pujols' total number of spring at-bats. He appears to be locked every year at the start of the regular season anyway, so as long as the elbow isn't bothering him there's no reason to sweat the small stuff.
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| Albert Pujols had a productive day on Saturday for St. Louis, going 1-for-1 with two walks, one run, and one RBI. |
Our View: Pujols is hitting .750 so far this spring, so he's picking it up where he left off after winning the MVP in 2008.
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| Albert Pujols reached bas in all three of his plate appearances on Monday as the Cardinals tied the Marlins 5-5. He singled and walked twice. |
Our View: Even when the games do not really matter, nobody wants to pitch to the NL MVP. He will need Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick to hit above expectations again if he wants to see more hittable pitches. Last season, he walked 104 times against just 54 strikeouts.
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| The AP reports that Albert Pujols will not take part in the World Baseball Classic. He played for the Dominican Republic in 2006. |
Our View: Pujols had surgery in the offseason, and cited that his insurance did not want to cover him for the tournament. There have been similar red flags surrounding Pujols' health for the past three or four years, but he consistently ranks as one of the top fantasy players in the league. We fully expect him to do so again this season.
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| USA Today reports that Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols will let the club's commitment to winning a championship dictate whether he will re-sign with St. Louis when his contract expires after the 2010 season. "It's not about the money all the time," Pujols said Sunday. "It's about being in a place to win and being in a position to win." |
Our View: Pujols has stated he is currently satisfied with the commitment the cash-strapped Cardinals have made to capturing a division title in 2009. To date, shortstop Khalil Greene remains the only significant offseason acquisition in St. Louis.
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| Reigning National League MVP Albert Pujols showed up for spring training a few days early, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The slugger reported to the Cardinals camp in Jupiter, Florida on Saturday. |
Our View: Perhaps the best things about Pujols are his humility and his work ethic. If there were statistics that rated such things, we expect No. 5 would dominate those categories as well. If your fantasy baseball goals include winning your league, Pujols might be the best guy to have on your roster.
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| Cardinals manager Tony La Russa would like to see a zero-tolerance policy with regard to performance enhancing drugs, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: This would be a big turn around for La Russa, who has been Mark McGwire's biggest defender. La Russa may not have encouraged the steroid use while with Oakland, but he didn't stop it either.
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| Albert Pujols feels fully recovered from his October surgery on his right elbow, according to the SF Chronicle. Pujols said, "I'm 100 percent healthy. With my elbow, obviously, there's some scar tissue there. I didn't do anything for two months as I was rehabbing. I don't feel any pain around my elbow." |
Our View: Pujols was not hindered by the ailment in 2008 as he crushed 37 homers with 116 RBI and a .357 average and .462 OBP. The elite first baseman should be fine to pull off the board in the first round of fantasy drafts.
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| Albert Pujols, who had minor offseason surgery on his troublesome elbow, has begun throwing, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss on 1380 AM in St. Louis. |
Our View: All is well so far with Prince Albert. There are still worries that the elbow will eventually require Tommy John surgery, but everyone was worried last year and he ended up winning the NL MVP.
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| St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has been named the 2008 National League MVP, according to MLB.com. Ryan Howard placed second with Ryan Braun coming in third and Manny Ramirez fourth. |
Our View: Pujols dominated the league in every statistical category except home runs and RBI - the two numbers which remain the most archaic way to determine value. He also plays stellar defense, something none of the other top-four candidates can claim.
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| Albert Pujols won his fourth career Silver Slugger award on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Pujols had not won the award since 2004, but he continues to be the definition of consistency regardless. In all eight of his major league seasons, he's reached 30+ home runs, 100+ RBI, and an average of .300 or better. Barring a major injury, look for him to do the same again in 2009.
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| Albert Pujols won the Roberto Clemente Award, a prestigious honor that goes to a player deeply dedicated to community service, according to StLCardinals.com. |
Our View: Pujols was chosen from a list of 30 players - one from each club. He does extensive work both in St. Louis and the Dominican Republic.
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| The St. Louis Cardinals are probably going to approach first baseman Albert Pujols about an extension to his contract sometime in the future, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Pujols' current deal runs through 2010 with an option for 2011, so nothing is imminent, but making sure arguably the best player in baseball is under contract for a long period of time is a good idea.
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| Albert Pujols has been named the NL Outstanding player by his peers, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He also won the award in 2003. |
Our View: Pujols is one of the favorites for the NL MVP as he put up another year of ridiculous numbers, hitting .357 with 37 home runs, 116 RBI, and a career-high 104 walks. In his eight seasons, he has hit at least .300 with 30+ homers and 100+ RBI every year, being one of the most consistent hitters in the game. The NL MVP will be announced in mid-November.
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| Albert Pujols has been nominated for three Players Choice Awards, according to MLB.com. Pujols is a finalist for Player of the Year, NL Outstanding Player and Man of the Year. Others finalists for the Player of the Year award are Cliff Lee and Manny Ramirez. |
Our View: Pujols played through elbow concerns to post yet another season that will one day wind up with him being enshrined in Cooperstown (.357-37-116-100), so it's no surprise at all to see him nominated for multiple awards.
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| Albert Pujols had surgery on his troublesome right elbow Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. However, the surgery did not require reconstruction of the MCL, and Pujols is expected to begin his rehab this week and be ready for spring training. |
Our View: If the surgery has the positive effect that the Cardinals hope, this is the best case scenario, as Pujols finally will get the surgery on his elbow that he's needed for a while and will not have to miss any time.
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| Albert Pujols received his MRI results, which revealed no immediate need for him to undergo ligament replacement surgery, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: The results were sent to Dr. James Andrews in Alabama for a second opinion, but it looks like Pujols will be able to heal naturally without going under the knife.
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| Albert Pujols has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the AP. Pujols batted .588 (10-for-17) with three home runs and 10 RBI last week. He impressively homered in three consecutive games from September 25-27.
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Our View: He is also a candidate for the MVP award. Teammates Cesar Izturis, Troy Glaus, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Ludwick were also considered for the weekly honor. The Cardinals closed out the season with a six-game winning streak.
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| Albert Pujols will undergo an MRI Monday on his elbow to once again decide whether he will need ligament replacement surgery, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Pujols has experienced more pain in his elbow over recent weeks, but the chances are low that he will need surgery. We will keep you posted on his status.
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| Albert Pujols was 1-for-4 on Saturday night in the Cardinals' 8-5 win over the Reds. The one hit was a big one though. It was Pujols' 37th home run of the year. |
Our View: With Chipper Jones relegated to just pinch hitting duties in the last two games of the season, Pujols will finish second in the NL batting race, though he has set himself up to finish first in the NL MVP race.
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| The Cardinals are going to miss the playoffs for the second straight year after winning the World Series in 2006 but Albert Pujols is making a late charge for the NL batting title. Pujols (.357) trails only Chipper Jones (.365) in the race for the title. Pujols has gotten a hit in his last seven at-bats. |
Our View: Pujols will face Aaron Harrang on Saturday night in game two of the series. In 43 at-bats Pujols has 14 hits for an average of .326. Not only is Pujols vying for the batting title he is also looking for his second MVP award.
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| Albert Pujols went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 7-6 win over the Reds. He also walked twice. He hit two singles and a two-run homer. |
Our View: He is one run scored away from 100, and raised his batting average four points to .357.
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| On Thursday, Albert Pujols went 3-for-3 after getting the previous night off. He hit his 35th home run, a double, four RBI and three runs in the Cardinals 12-3 victory over the Diamondbacks. |
Our View: Despite his team fading from contention, Pujols is making a strong case for MVP votes. He is two runs short of 100.
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| Albert Pujols will sit on Wednesday night as Josh Phelps will take his place at first base. |
Our View: Tony La Russa is trotting out a dismal lineup tonight against Max Scherzer and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Felipe Lopez is batting cleanup and Nick Stavinoha is hitting third.
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| Albert Pujols went 0-for-3 on Thursday to drop his average to .349 though he did knock in his 106th run of the year on a sacrifice fly. |
Our View: After a scorching .398 mark in August, Pujols is hitting .254 in September to drop his batting average .013 points behind Chipper Jones for the best mark in the majors. Pujols will need a huge last week to make up the difference.
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| Albert Pujols will once again lead the St. Louis Cardinals in batting when the season is over, and it will be the eighth year in a row he has done so, which will be a franchise record, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Pujols is also on pace to win the team's triple crown for the seventh time in eight years. He is a prime MVP candidate - again.
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| The Cardinals have finally ended their seven game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Reds. Albert Pujols propelled the Birds with a three-run home run in the third. The long ball was his 34th of the year. |
Our View: There is not much more you could say about Pujols who is chasing several milestones. He is chasing the batting title, a MVP trophy and is only six homers away from 40.
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| Manny Ramirez doesn't have a vote in the NL MVP ballot but if he did, his vote would be for Albert Pujols. Ramirez told the Los Angeles Times, "I voted for Pujols." The MVP is voted on by baseball writers across the country. |
Our View: Ramirez has been getting some mention for MVP due to his first few months with his new team. Both players have been hot in the second half of the season and some consider Pujols and Ramirez the two best hitters in all of baseball.
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| Coming into the series against the Reds, Albert Pujols had a 10 game hitting streak. But Reds pitching has been Pujols' kryptonite so far. Wednesday night, Pujols was 0-for-4 making him 0-for-8 against the Reds. |
Our View: Pujols is fighting for the NL MVP and the NL batting title. In the month of August Pujols hit .497 and even with his last two games he is hitting .397 in September.
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| Albert Pujols is one of six players who is a finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, according to the New York Daily News. Others who are finalists are Derek Jeter, Carlos Delgado, Justin Morneau, Michael Young and Barry Zito. |
Our View: The award is given out for players who show humanitarian efforts off the field of play.
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| Albert Pujols had two hits in four AB on Sunday to head into the final two weeks of the year batting .360, second in the NL to Chipper Jones .365 mark. |
Our View: What can we say that hasn't already been said about Pujols? Those that took a chance on draft day have been rewarded with another spectacular season (.360-33-101 with a .466 OBP).
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-5 with an RBI single in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Pirates. |
Our View: Pujols notched his 101st RBI of the season, with 12 coming in September. He also extended his hitting streak to nine games.
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| Albert Pujols had only one hit on Thursday night to drop his average to .360, but the hit produced his 100th RBI of the year, the eighth time in eight seasons that he has reached that mark. |
Our View: Only Al Simmons (11 seasons) had a longer streak to start his career while Pujols tied the mark of Ted Williams (eight). However, Pujols is all alone as the only player in big league history to have 30 home runs and 100 RBI in each of the first eight seasons of his career. Toss in a .335 career average and this guy might just be able to avoid being sent back to the minors any time soon.
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| It turns out that Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols may not undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow when the season is over after all, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"Unless I blow it out tonight or in the next three weeks, I'm not going to have surgery after the season. That's how I feel," Pujols said. |
Our View: Pujols said earlier in the week that he may have to miss a month or two of the 2009 season if he had the surgery, but he has been playing with it for a number of years, and it sure hasn't seemed to affect him.
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| Well I guess the elbow that has gotten so much play lately, doesn't effect Albert Pujols' swing. Tonight against the Cubs, Pujols hit his 33rd home run on the year in the sixth inning to tie the game at three. |
Our View: Pujols is nearing another season with a 100 RBI. If Pujols reaches 100 RBI and keep his average above .300 he will have hit over 30 home runs, drive in a 100 runs and hit over .300 in every year of his career.
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| Even though Albert Pujols is having an MVP like season, tonight he will run into a pitcher that has had his number. On the hill for the Cubs will be Ryan Dempster. Pujols is hitting only .269 in 26 at-bats against the right-hander. |
Our View: With all of the talk about Pujols' elbow there is no indication that he will slow down at the plate. Pujols is leading the league in average (.359), OPS (1.116), slugging percentage (.649), on-base precentage (.466) and is in the top 10 in home runs (32), and hits (166).
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| Albert Pujols is considering elbow surgery in the off-season, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols said, "I'm thinking about it; I'm thinking really hard. There's just a lot of things next year going on, the All-Star Game (in St. Louis), the (World Baseball) Classic, you know. But I think in the long run the sooner that I get it done the better it's going to be for me because I'm going to heal quicker than if I wait two or three more years. But it needs to be done."
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Our View: Fantasy owners should not be concerned as he looks to be fine for the remainder of the season. Pujols still leads the NL with a .359 average, and blasted 32 homers with 95 RBI. Pujols has said that the elbow has not been an issue this season, regarding pain. The swelling and soreness he experienced last season has not been a problem this summer. Off-season surgery (to repair a ligament tear), even in October, would mean Pujols would be likely to miss at least the first month of the 2009 campaign.
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| Albert Pujols had just one hit in four at-bats, but it was an important two-run home run that would propel the Cardinals to a 3-1 win against the Marlins. It was his second home run in as many days. |
Our View: Pujols now has 32 home runs and 95 RBI, and he should get some serious consideration for National League MVP.
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| Albert Pujols hit his 31st home run of the season on Saturday in the first inning against the Florida Marlins. It was his only hit of the night, although he did walk and score later in the game. |
Our View: Pujols has been red-hot since the All-Star break and is doing his part to keep the Cardinals in contention. He is hitting .379 with 43 RBI and 13 home runs since the mid-summer classic.
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| Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Astros. He hit two singles, a double, and a two-run homer. |
Our View: He raised his average six points to .362 following tonight's performance.
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| Pujols was 2-for-4 Wednesday and is now batting .357 on the season, a point ahead of Atlanta’s Chipper Jones in the NL batting race. |
Our View: There still is a month left in the season, look for this battle to continue and go down to the wire.
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| Major League Baseball will begin implementing instant replay on Thursday, according to the AP. For now, video will be used only on "boundary calls," such as determining whether balls went over the fence, whether potential home runs were fair or foul and whether there was fan interference on potential home runs. If the crew chief at a game decides replay needs to be checked, umpires will leave the field, technicians at MLBAM will show umpires the video and the crew chief will make the call, overturning the original decision only if there is "clear and convincing evidence." In addition, leaving the dugout to argue a call following a replay will result in an automatic ejection. |
Our View: We'll see how this goes. There is bound to be some controversy, but for now this seems like the right thing to do.
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| Albert Pujols has been named the NL Player of the Week, according to the AP. Pujols hit .579 (11-for-19) last week, while crushing two home runs with 10 RBI.
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Our View: The award-winning week moved him into a tie with Chipper Jones for the league lead with a .359 batting average. It marks the seventh weekly award of his career.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-2 with three walks on the day in the Cardinals 6-3 win over the Braves. He hit his 28th home run of the year in the first inning. |
Our View: Pujols slaughtered the Braves in their three-game set. He batted 16 times against Atlanta, and reached base 14 times. He is now tied with Chipper Jones for the batting lead at .359.
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| Albert Pujols had two doubles and a homer in the Cardinals' loss to Atlanta Saturday. He drove in three runs on the day. |
Our View: Pujols is now batting .356, just four points off Chipper Jones' league-leading pace. He also has 27 homers and 85 RBI.
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| Albert Pujols is making a run at Chipper Jones and the NL batting title, as he went 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBI to help the Cardinals obliterate the Braves 18-3. |
Our View: Pujols is now just six points behind Jones, .353 to .359. By the end of the teams' series, Pujols could be on top.
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| Fans sitting in the bleachers at Busch Stadium should pay close attention tonight when Albert Pujols bats, in anticipation of a ball coming their way. Ian Snell goes for Pittsburgh this evening, and against him, Pujols is hitting .444 (12-for-27) with four home runs and an OPS of 1.508. |
Our View: Pujols lasted into the second round of some fantasy drafts amid spring reports that his elbow was one swing away from exploding. Well, those that got him that late are rejoicing, as the All-Star first baseman is hitting .348, good for second in the National League. He also his a .459 OBP and 26 home runs.
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| Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two solo homers in Saturday's win over the Reds. The opposition found a way to stop him later in the contest. Pujols was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning. |
Our View: Albert has clearly lost a lot. He has only eight homers, 27 RBI, and 27 runs in 30 games since the All-Star break. That's not cutting it. (Yes, that's sarcasm)
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| Albert Pujols broke out of a mini-slump Friday with a couple doubles and a single in a win over the Reds. |
Our View: Pujols' power numbers are down a bit, but it's hard to be too upset with a line of .345-24-75.
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| Albert Pujols was 4-for-4 with a grand slam Wednesday. The homer was his 23rd of the year, and he now has 73 RBI. |
Our View: Albert will have to keep it rolling if he wants to extend his streak of .300-30-100 seasons going, as he needs 27 RBI over the final 46 games.
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| Albert Pujols extended his hitting streak to six games, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI against the Braves. |
Our View: Not only does Pujols have a six-game hitting streak, he also has a six-game RBI streak, pushing his total to 67 for the season.
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| First baseman Albert Pujols hit another home run in St. Louis' 8-3 victory over the Braves. The shot was his 21st of the season and third in his last four games. |
Our View: Remember when Pujols' elbow was such a concern to fantasy players in spring training that he was dropping to the second and even third round in some fantasy drafts? Whoops.
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| Albert Pujols had three more RBI on Monday, giving him seven in his last three games. He was 1-for-2 with two walks in the Cardinals 12-3 win over the Atlanta Braves. |
Our View: This just in: Pujols is pretty good. He broke a long homer drought on Saturday night and appears to have his beastly stroke back. Look for a big August from Albert as the Cardinals fight to stay in contention.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, and registered the Cardinals' only score in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Mets. |
Our View: Pujols' homer was his 20th of the season, and has now blasted one in back-to-back games, with seven hits and four runs scored over the span.
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| Albert Pujols went 5-for-8 with a home run and three RBI in New York on Saturday. The home run was Pujols' first since July 4, and it proved to be the game winner. |
Our View: There's the power that has been missing. When Pujols hits home runs, they tend to come in bunches, so this may be the beginning of a power streak.
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| Albert Pujols did something tonight that had happened only six times before in his career: strike out three times in one game. He was 0-for-5 on the evening. |
Our View: Tough time for Pujols, who has not hit a home run since July 4, his only for the month.
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| Albert Pujols has just one home run in his last 66 at-bats. He was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday night's 4-3 loss to the Brewers. |
Our View: It's Pujols' longest such stretch of the season. He will need to pick it up if the Cardinals are to contend for the playoffs down the stretch. He has 18 home runs and 55 RBI with 60 games left in the season.
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| Albert Pujols will play as a DH for the National League in tonight's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He will bat fourth in the lineup and said, "I thank Clint Hurdle for putting me in there. There are a lot of All-Stars he could hit fourth and he picked me. Hitting cleanup isn't going to bother me. I hit third, but it doesn't matter. I could hit eighth and I'd be pretty excited." |
Our View: He looks to get an at-bat, unlike last season when skipper Tony LaRussa decided to save him for a situation that never came.
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| In 50 games at Citizen's Bank Ballpark, Albert Pujols has hit .380, reached base at a .421 clip and slugged an even 1.000. He has a home run in every 5 ½ at-bats there, for a total of nine.
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Our View: As usual, Pujols appears to be a pretty reliable play this week.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, which accounted for the Cardinals' only RBI in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Cubs. |
Our View: That was his 18th homer of the season, and the 300th of his career, making him the fifth youngest player (28 years, 170 days) to reach the milestone.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, and, most notably, a home run on Sunday. It was his first long ball since coming off the DL. |
Our View: Pujols failed to score or manage an extra-base hit in his first three games back, so it's nice to see him break out. Fantasy owners should obviously activate Albert for the week ahead.
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| Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers. |
Our View: He is fresh off the DL and served as the Cardinals' DH. His performance today should give fantasy owners the green light to pencil him back into the starting lineup.
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| As expected, Albert Pujols has been activated from the DL, according to the AP. The team placed Randy Flores on the DL, as a corresponding move. |
Our View: Pujols is being used as the DH today against the Tigers. He will be tested with his at-bats before he is used defensively at first base.
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| Albert Pujols said he plans to play today when he first comes off the DL, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols said, "If I'm ready to play first base, I think I'm going to play first base. If I feel the same way I feel today, I think I'm going to be playing Thursday. Something crazy has to happen for me not to play."
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Our View: Pujols was being considered for the DH role at Detroit for Thursday, but it looks like he will return to his spot at first base. This is a good sign that his strained left calf has fully healed.
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| Albert Pujols might not be playing in the field Thursday when he's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list, this according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The All Star first baseman is still nursing a strained left calf, but is actively rehabilitating the injury. |
Our View: Pujols could take the designated hitter role on Thursday, and through the weekend, or the team may choose to hold him out until the first of next week. Pujols, just as he did in his recovery from a strained oblique in 2006, has healed faster than expected.
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| St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols , nursing a calf injury, was put through one of the more rigorous workouts he has seen in rehabilitation today, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports Pujols ran extensively, and also took plenty of swings. It was by far his most extensive workout since he suffered the injury. If he feels no ill effects on Wednesday, he will go through a normal pregame workout. He said he is feeling no discomfort in his calf at this point. If the team feels he is ready, he could rejoin the team on Thursday.
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| Reports indicate St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols is progressing at an advanced rate to a return from injury, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Pujols was initially projected to miss a minimum of three weeks with a Grade I-II left calf strain. However, the Post-Dispatch reports the team believes Pujols could rejoin the effort as early as Thursday when the team is first eligible to activate him from the 15-day DL. This would be a huge boost for the Cards and fantasy owners alike. Manager Tony LaRussa remains cautious but did tell reporters he sees surprising improvement in Pujols and wouldn't be surprised if he was back much earlier than expected. We will update when more news becomes available.
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| Albert Pujols will join the team for workouts beginning Tuesday, and it's possible he could be activated from the DL when he's eligible on Thursday, according to MLB.com. "I think he's feeling really good," manager Tony La Russa said. Pujols is on the DL with a strained left calf. |
Our View: If he isn't activated on Thursday, Albert will almost certainly be back in the lineup next weekend in KC.
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| Albert Pujols, who is out with a strained left calf, participated in pregame workouts on Wednesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He took batting practice and fielded grounders. |
Our View: Manager Tony LaRussa viewed his participation as a good sign, as he is working out what he can tolerate. He would be eligible to return from the DL when the Cardinals battle the Royals in Kansas City next week.
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| According to the team website Albert Pujols said he will be back in the Cardinals' lineup in two weeks.
Pujols strained his left calf while running to first base against the Reds on Tuesday. |
Our View: Initially, team doctors said Pujols would miss at least three weeks, but he is staying optimistic he can come off the disabled list as soon as possible.
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| Albert Pujols has officially been placed on the 15-day DL due to his strained left calf, according to the AP. Pitcher Joel Pineiro has been activated from the DL, as an adjoining move. |
Our View: As previously noted, Pujols is expected to miss a minimum of three weeks.
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| The left calf injury suffered by Albert Pujols is believed to be no worse than a moderate strain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It was initially believed that he had a complete tear, but the team is relieved the injury is not as bad. GM John Mozeliak said, "I think based on what we first feared, this is extremely good news. To lose arguably the game's best hitter for any amount of time is tough to take. But the fact we're talking weeks and not months is encouraging."
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Our View: He is still expected to miss a minimum of three weeks, but fantasy owners should be very pleased that he avoided a much more serious injury.
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| Albert Pujols is headed to the DL with a strained left calf and will likely miss at least three weeks, according to the Associated Press. Chris Duncan was recalled from Triple-A and will likely play first base until Pujols returns. |
Our View: The good news is that he didn't blow out the muscle, but it still appears that that he will likely miss about a month of action, a devastating blow to those with Pujols on the roster. Odd how it wasn't the injured elbow that everyone was up in arms about in the preseason that got Pujols but the calf. This will likely be the first season in his illustrious career that he will fail to play in at least 143 games.
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| Albert Pujols is headed back to St. Louis to undergo tests on his injured calf, according to MLB.com. He is expected to land on the DL. "Based on what they come up with, we'll determine what we need to do and if it requires a roster move," GM John Mozeliak said. "We'll determine how we'll deal with the injury as we see fit. I'm not a doctor, so I don't want to speculate what the outcome is until they see it." |
Our View: That roster would likely recall Chris Duncan, Mozeliak said, even though Duncan is hitting just .160 in seven games since being sent down to work on his swing. Joe Mather should also see time at first while Pujols is out.
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| Updating an earlier story, St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols has suffered what appears to be a reaggravation of a strained left calf muscle. |
Our View: Pujols injured his left calf while running to first base on Tuesday against the Reds and left the game. He fell to the ground just after leaving the batter's box, and he had to be helped off the field. The team reports this may be a recurrence of the same calf injury Pujols suffered earlier this season. He will be reevaluated on Wednesday, and we will update as news becomes available.
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| Albert Pujols injured his left calf while running to first base on Tuesday against the Reds and left the game. He fell to the ground just after leaving the batter's box, and he had to be helped off the field. |
Our View: We have no idea how serious the injury is at this time, but it did not look good. The calf has given him problems in the past, so the injury is not a new one. We'll keep you updated.
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| Albert Pujols is in the lineup tonight despite a tight calf. Pujols, who hasn't started the last two games, said he is playing at 40 percent. |
Our View: Forty percent? You should probably be sitting out, eh Albert? Hopefully he'll just hit four homers so he can trot around the bases.
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| Albert Pujols is an uncertainty for tonight's game against the Houston Astros, this according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols cited a late-night charter flight and the chance his injured calf might tighten as the reason. |
Our View: The All Star also noted that playing in yesterday's first game of the double header had a negative effect on the calf strain, and that his memory of attempting to play through a hamstring injury last September will create more caution on his part.
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| Albert Pujols hit a pinch hit home run in the first game of the Cardinals double-header with the Nationals. Pujols had been expected to sit out the game due to a sore calf. |
Our View: Pujols is, simply put, the best right-handed hitter in the game, and after years of battling through nagging injuries, chiefly to his elbow, he is able to be productive even when he is at less than 100%.
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| St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols is out of the lineup once again this evening as he continues to battle with tightness in his left calf, according to the Sports Network. |
Our View: Pujols left last night's game early with the same issue. The team does not believe the problem is serious or will result in extended time missed. We will update if more news becomes available.
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| St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols has left tonight's battle with Washington early due to the tightness in his leg, according to CBSSports.com. |
Our View: Pujols left the game in the fourth inning after complaining of tightness in his left calf. The injury is not suspected to be serious, though he is done for the night.
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| St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols hit his 14th home run last night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, smacking a two-run shot to straightaway center in the bottom of the first inning. |
Our View: This gives Pujols three homers over his last four games, going 10-for-18 to get his batting average to .364. Reports indicate Pujols is "hampered" by an aching elbow, but it appears those concerns should be laid to rest.
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| Albert Pujols went deep for the 13th time this season and he also had a single to end the night gong 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. |
Our View: Pujols continues to defy the wisdom of those who said that he wasn't going to be able to do much of anything this season. Kudos to those of you that grabbed him late in your draft, you are reaping the rewards now.
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| Albert Pujols was one of the few bright spots for the Cardinals Tuesday. The slugger went 4-for-4 at the plate in the 8-2 loss to Houston, finishing a triple short of the cycle. |
Our View: Pujols had a .365-5-20 line in April and has posted a .356-7-14 line so far in May. The elbow is becoming less and less of an issue as the days pass.
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| The Cardinals took the troubling 4-3 loss from the LA Dodgers, earned on a walk-off single by outfielder Andre Ethier, though first baseman Albert Pujols did what he could to get his team on track. Pujols went 2-for-5 at the plate, hitting his 12th double of the season to post one RBI. |
Our View: Pujols has struggled just a bit by Pujols standards this month, hitting .321 through May with just 12 RBIs.
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| Albert Pujols homered and had two RBI on Saturday, beginning a new streak, a day after his 42-game streak of reaching base ended. |
Our View: Pujols and the Cards won for only the third time in 11 games on Saturday. And the win was for the most part -- fortunate. Expect the Redbirds, their players (e.g. Ludwick) and their record to begin falling back to earth.
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| Albert Pujols extended his hitting streak to 12-games on Tuesday night thanks to his 8th home run of the season. Pujols also walked twice and has now reached base in all 40 games he has played this season. |
Our View: Pujols is a machine as he keeps sticking to his approach at the plate despite 40 walks in 40 games. If he stays patient, he could bat .350 this season.
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| Manager Tony LaRussa plans to rest star first baseman Albert Pujols tonight, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's what I've been thinking all along. It's a good way to do it," said La Russa, who in spring training forecast two or three days off a month for Pujols.
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Our View: It would be his first game off of the season. Chris Duncan is expected to start at first base. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
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| Albert Pujols walked twice and singled to extend his streak of reaching base safely in every game this season to 39, but it wasn't enough as the Cards lost to the Brewers 5-3 on Sunday. |
Our View: It wasn't the best peformance by the Cardinals' slugger despite extending his streak. Pujols ran into three of St. Louis' four outs on the base paths when he was picked off in the first, caught trying to advance on a single in the third and doubled off second on a line drive out in the sixth.
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| Manager Tony LaRussa told Albert Pujols that he is going to try and give the first baseman a day off to rest at some point on the Cardinals' eight-day trip, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols reportedly had a limp Tuesday night because his left knee was bruised and swollen after his game-winning slide into home plate Monday night against Colorado. Pujols noted the leg felt better Wednesday. |
Our View: Pujols is batting .346 over 38 games, and impressively holds a .500 on-base percentage. He could use a day off to rest his legs and right elbow, which has a torn ligament.
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| St. Louis 1B Albert Pujols may be the king of the hill, but he's not above occasional shortcomings. In the Cards' 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Pujols went 1-for-5 at the dish with no runs scored, no RBIs, and eight men left on base. |
Our View: Pujols has posted more than a few one-hit performances in recent weeks, but he has just two homers since April 19th and is struggling to drive runs home.
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| Albert Pujols has reached base safely in all 32 games for the Cardinals this season, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Pujols is hitting .358 overall, and leads the league with 33 walks. He has 23 RBI so far as well, and is on pace for 116. Pujols slipped a little bit in many drafts due to preseason injury concerns, but he has held up fine to post solid numbers so far.
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| St. Louis 1B Albert Pujols was the recipient of an intentional walk as well as one that (at least in the obvious approach) was not intentional, going 1-for-3 overall at the plate. |
Our View: Pujols leads the league with 32 walks and nine intentional walks. He has reached base safely in 30 consecutive games.
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| Albert Pujols hit his fifth home run of the season on Saturday in a St. Louis 5-1 win over the Astros. |
Our View: It was, however, the first baseman's first since April 18 against San Francisco. Prince Albert now has 17 runs, 20 RBI and two stolen bases as April comes to a close, and has yet to shown any sign that the elbow injury he is playing through could possibly cut his season short.
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| Albert Pujols did it again on Thursday with two hits, two walks and an RBI for the Cardinals. |
Our View: Pujols is now hitting .377 with an OBP of over .500 as he continues to reward those fantasy gamers who had the guts to draft him early this season.
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| Albert Pujols has a good track record against Ian Snell, tonight's opposing hurler for Pittsburgh, according to MLB.com. Pujols is 9-for-16 with four homers lifetime against the Pirates' righty. |
Our View: Pujols has hits in seven of his last eight games, and holds a .352 average overall, and the fantasy stud looks to have another strong outing tonight.
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| As we reported earlier, Albert Pujols was forced to spend time at 2B after the Cardinals ran out of position players to use, going 2-for-6 at the plate in the 8-9 loss to the Brewers. |
Our View: Pujols hit his 6th double of the season and gathered two RBIs with a run scored. He is now hitting .352 on the season and has hits in seven of his last eight games.
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| The Cardinals ran out of position players in Tuesday's extra-inning tilt with the Brewers, and they were forced to use Albert Pujols at second base. It's the first time in Pujols' major league career that he's played second, but he has played one game at short and used to be a third baseman. |
Our View: This news is irrelevant to most of you, but those that own Pujols in a league that requires just one game to be eligible at a position should be doing cartwheels right now.
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| Albert Pujols has reached base safely by hit or by walk in all 20 games for the Cardinals this season, and will look to continue his streak today against lefty Manny Parra and the Brewers, according to MLB.com. Pujols also leads the MLB with six intentional walks. |
Our View: He is hitting 23-for-65 overall with 19 walks and only six strikeouts.
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| Albert Pujols hit a 3-run home run on Friday on his way to four RBI for the Cardinals. |
Our View: Pujols just keeps on hitting in the early going as he is batting .375-4-14 through 17 games.
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| Albert Pujols is fine after suffering a bruised left wrist from a collision with Bill Hall on a swipe tag on Tuesday night, this according to MLB.com. "I feel all right," Pujols said. "I feel good, man." |
Our View: Pujols is already 1-for-1 with two RBI on Wednesday night, so he appears to be just fine.
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| Albert Pujols has a good track record against Carlos Villanueva, tonight's opposing hurler for Milwaukee, according to MLB.com. Pujols is 6-for-15 with two homers over his career against the Brewers' righty. |
Our View: The elite first baseman should have another solid outing tonight.
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with two runs scored on Saturday to up his average to .390 for the Cardinals. However, it appears that Pujols will receive his first off day of the season on Sunday, this according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Pujols is just getting a day of rest as the team will continue to be very careful with their most valuable part.
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| Albert Pujols has reached base in every Cardinals' game this season, and will look to extend his streak to 12 today against the Giants, according to MLB.com. He has also scored a run in four straight games. |
Our View: He will challenge opposing hurler Matt Cain, who is 0-1 with 3.60 ERA so far.
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| Albert Pujols entered the game on Friday night hitting just .256 in San Francisco, but on this night he hit like the real Albert Pujols with two hits, one being a home run, and four RBI. Everyone is still holding their breath with Pujols and that elbow, but after tonight's game he has three home runs and is hitting .378 in 36 AB on the year. |
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| Albert Pujols used the Houston Astros to get off another big evening of offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with not one but two home runs, his first two homers of the season, to help the Cardinals take a 6-4 victory home. Pujols ended with three RBIs, one walk, and a seasonal batting average of .379. |
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| According to MLB.com, Albert Pujols and Houston starting pitcher Brandon Backe, aren't the best of friends.
Pujols and Backe exchanged words as the Astros exited the field during batting practice prior to the series finale at Minute Maid Park. The report noted that Pujols stopped Backe as the two crossed paths near first base, and, according to Backe, expressed his dissatisfaction that Backe "kept pressing on" about a hard slide that Pujols made into rookie catcher J.R. Towles during Tuesday's game.
Pujols called Towles from the visitors' clubhouse after the game to apologize, but it doesn't appear to be enough for Backe. |
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| Albert Pujols fought through a painful cuticle injury on Thursday. He cut his right middle finger while sliding in the first inning, but he stuck around to finish the contest. Pujols did not undergo X-rays and is expected to play Friday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes. |
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| Albert Pujols went 1-for-4 against Colorado on Tuesday. It wasn't a great game for him, but at least he is playing healthy right now. |
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| Albert Pujols continued his hot-hitting ways this spring recording two doubles and a single, raising his spring average to .400. Despite King Albert's spring success, he is a fantasy first round risk due to the damaged elbow. |
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| Manager Tony La Russa said that Albert Pujols will rest "two or three games a month" this season, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols is batting a balky elbow that the Cards obviously want to protect. This doesn't sound like much, but it is for a guy who's played at least 154 games in six of his seven years. |
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| Albert Pujols went 2-for-2 with a homer, walk, two runs, and three RBI against the Orioles on Wednesday. He is batting .381 with five homers and 12 RBI over 15 games this spring. That elbow must be really bothering him, huh? Pujols remains a risky fantasy pick because of his balky elbow and the potential for surgery down the road. |
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| Albert Pujols hit his fourth home run of the spring on Wednesday. Despite his elbow injury, the Cardinals first baseman has been productive during camp -- and his showing has been head and shoulders better than last years Grapefruit campaign. All of his March success doesn't dissipate the uncertainty that surrounds the former MVP, and eventual surgery is inevitable. Pujols remains a risky early round pick in fantasy drafts and regardless of his spring digits he doesn't offer long term security for simulated managers. |
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| The St. Louis Cardinals will likely bat the pitcher eighth, not ninth, in their lineup this season according to a report on MLB.com. "A position player has a better chance to get on base than the pitcher. And the more guys on base in front of Albert [Pujols] or your middle guys, the more runs you score. I like the reasons," manager Tony LaRussa said. The Brewers have also toyed with the idea this spring, and it makes a lot of sense, so keep an eye on both teams to see if either goes through with the plan. |
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| Albert Pujols hit his second home run in as many days Friday as the Cardinals defeated the Dodgers 6-4 in Vera Beach, Florida. Pujols' spring totals shouldn't influence owners debating his fantasy value, but it will, and his consecutive home run outings on Thursday and Friday will assist owners still trying to justify his fantasy worth. |
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| Albert Pujols is not thinking about surgery on his elbow, until the time comes that a complete reconstruction is needed, according to MLB.com. Pujols has a high grade tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, as well as bone spurs, inflammation, and arthritis in the joint. We will continue to monitor the situation. |
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| Albert Pujols had a double and a home run during Friday's 5-4 Grapefruit League win over the Mets. There has been much hoopla surrounding Albert and his bum elbow this spring, but obviously it didn't affect him on Friday. |
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| The Cardinals haven't played their first spring training game, but already Albert Pujols is feeling beat up. On Tuesday, the slugger complained to trainer Barry Weinberg about general discomfort, according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan. Passan notes that Pujols was walking around the Cards' clubhouse with Ace bandages wrapped around nearly his entire torso. That doesn't even include the right elbow issue, which has plagued Pujols since 2003 and may require surgery at some point. With the Cards possibly facing a rebuilding year, we could see Albert decide to go under the knife at some point this season. Even if he doesn't, his production could suffer. No one questions Pujols' ability, but he presents great risk as a first-round fantasy pick. |
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| Cardinals manager Tony La Russa tells the AP the club will keep a close eye on Albert Pujols' sore right elbow this year. Pujols has a strained ligament, but he doesn't plan to hold back. "If it blows out it's going to blow out," Pujols says. "You can't control that." The ailment has bothered the slugger since 2003. "We'll definitely monitor it," La Russa explains. "Talking to the trainers this morning one of the biggest issues will be throwing so we'll be on the careful side of really firing it. He could make a swing that could tweak it, too. It's one of those deals." |
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| Albert Pujols decided against undergoing offseason surgery on his troublesome right elbow, but it's apparently still bothering him, according to the AP. He is still unable to straighten his arm, and he said he wouldn't play through the pain the same way he did last year. "If the same problem is happening this year, I don't think I'm to play the whole year the same way," Pujols said. "I sacrificed my body." This may not be enough to knock Pujols down in your rankings, but it's a situation that certainly deserves to be monitored this spring. |
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| Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols returned to the starting lineup Monday after not being a part of the starting nine for almost a week with a strained calf. |
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| Albert Pujols, out with a strained left calf, missed his fifth straight start Sunday. He had a pinch-hit, two-run single Saturday and needs two RBI to become the first player in major league history with 100 RBI in each of his first seven seasons. "I'm doing all I can to get back in there," Pujols said. There had been reports that Pujols would be able to return to the starting lineup on Sunday, so perhaps he'll be able to start in the next couple of days. |
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| Albert Pujols (calf) missed his fourth straight start Saturday, though he's got a chance to play Sunday, according to the AP. Manager Tony La Russa filled out two lineup cards, one with Pujols hitting third and one with Ryan Ludwick in that spot, before deciding to wait another day. Pujols walked with the bases loaded as a pinch-hitter on Friday. "He's making some progress," La Russa said. |
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| After originally saying it was unlikely he would return this season, Albert Pujols said his strained left calf felt better Thursday, and he think he could be back in the lineup as early as Sunday. Pujols was available to pinch-hit Thursday - in the ideal situation. Pujols could receive a cortisone shot in the next couple days, though if the muscle continued to improve as it did Thursday, he could avoid the shot, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
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| Albert Pujols missed his second straight start with a strained left calf muscle Thursday, and manager Tony La Russa called him "doubtful" for the weekend, the AP reports. But La Russa said a report that the Cardinals star might miss the rest of the year was "premature." Pujols was to get a painkilling injection for the injury and trainer Barry Weinberg said he could perhaps play on Monday. |
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| It sounds like Albert Pujols may have taken his last at-bat of the season. Pujols told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his strained left calf could keep him from returning. "If I feel like I can play, I'm going to play. But the way I feel right now, I would say no. But we'll see the next couple of days," Pujols said. The slugger had basically already been ruled out for the rest of the week by his manager, but we'll see if Pujols can return at some point next week. It looks like his string of seasons with a .300 batting average, 30 homers, 100 RBI and 100 runs will come to an end, as he is seven runs and five RBI short right now. |
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| Albert Pujols will meet with a team doctor today to determine the severity of his strained left calf. He was scratched from last night's game with the injury (though he did walk as a pinch hitter in the 13th) and he's considered doubtful for tonight's contest. "For him to shut it down, you've got to be concerned," manager Tony La Russa said in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Because he plays in pain." |
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| Albert Pujols was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to a strained left calf muscle. We'll see what the club says on him after the game. |
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| Albert Pujols, who has homered in five straight games, tweaked his upper right leg during his first at-bat against the Marlins on Wednesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We're going to have to deal with it," Pujols said. "I want to keep playing, but I won't be sure how it is until I wake up. It's sore. That's all I can say." Despite Pujols' comments, it remains to be seen if Manager Tony La Russa plans to give the slugger any time off. |
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| Albert Pujols, who got the day off on Saturday due to a sore elbow, was back in the starting lineup on Sunday. He went 2-for-4 at the plate, and he hit a ball to the warning track in left field that just barely stayed in the yard. |
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| Albert Pujols was angry about being left on the All-Star bench Tuesday - interesting given that Tony La Russa was the NL's skipper. "It's the All-Star game. He can do what he wants," Pujols told the AP. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here." |
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| Albert Pujols is hitting for a high average, but he hasn't hit a ball over the fence in 19 games. It's the longest homer-less streak of his major league career, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "I care about driving guys home," Pujols says. "If you had told me I've got 18 games without getting an RBI, then I'd be ticked. There are just two things I'm concerned about — striking out and not driving the guys home." |
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| Albert Pujols was scheduled to sit on Thursday, but the game against the Mets was rained out, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. |
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| Albert Pujols went 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBI during Friday's loss to the Tigers. |
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| Albert Pujols played all of Wednesday's game and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a positive sign given that he was dealing with knee discomfort a night earlier. Pujols had the key hit in Wednesday's victory, a two-run double in the eighth inning. |
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| Albert Pujols was dealing with a sore knee at the end of Tuesday's loss to the Reds, the Belleville News-Democrat reports. "(Pujols) just mentioned it (barking) when he was running the base the last time," Tony La Russa said. "Hopefully, it's nothing serious." The Cardinals took Pujols out in the final inning of the game, in part because they were trailing by six runs. |
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| Albert Pujols busted out of his slump on Sunday against the Brewers, going to 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and five RBI. However, it is worth noting that the slugger still looked pretty bad on three of his at-bats during the game, so it appears as though he's still working out some of the kinks. Pujols entered the game hitting .158 with one homer. |
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| Albert Pujols has been nursing a right hamstring injury for several weeks and is under orders to run under control, the AP reports. Manager Tony LaRussa said the injury has also affected Pujols' ability to drive the ball. |
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| Albert Pujols had an MRI taken of his hyperextended right elbow Monday that revealed no structural damage, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Pujols is expected to return to the lineup tonight against the Phillies. |
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| The Cardinals hope that Albert Pujols can return to the lineup on Tuesday, according to the official team website. Pujols hurt his elbow on Friday. "He hyperextended it in a swing on Friday," manager Tony La Russa said on Sunday morning. "It was sore yesterday and still sore today. There's a little inflammation. We don't want to push it." |
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| Albert Pujols missed Sunday's game due to a hyperextended right elbow. He sustained the injury Friday on a swing, and the joint was tender and swollen on Sunday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He's had some discomfort, so we'll give him a day," said manager Tony La Russa. "He could play, but I thought it'd be better not to push it." Although the Cardinals called him day-to-day, he'll have a precautionary MRI taken on Monday. |
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| Albert Pujols was scratched from Sunday's starting lineup due to a hyperextended right elbow, according to the AP. He hurt his elbow on a swing Friday, but he played through the pain on Saturday. Trainer Barry Weinberg stated that the injury appeared to be minor. |
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| Albert Pujols got a routine day off on Wednesday, according to the AP. It was his first day off since coming off the disabled list on June 22. |
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| An MRI exam of a strained muscle on the right side of Albert Pujols was inconclusive on Monday, according to the AP. Pujols said he felt better Monday than the previous day, but didn't know what that meant.
"It could be two weeks, it could be three, four, five or six," Pujols said. Team doctors have told manager Tony La Russa that Monday's MRI established only base data and that a future MRI, perhaps in a few weeks, would be more helpful in determining how long Pujols would be sidelined. |
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