Is vintage Pujols back?

[Make Angels Great Again]

Since his first home run that he blasted in Seattle, he's hitting .324/.425/.676/1.101 with 4 home runs over 40 PAs. And that's with a freaking .233 BABIP which is weird. So those number's could be much much higher if I understand babip correctly.

 

Big thing here, over that span he has a big fat zero in the strikeout department, and he's walking again now.

 

I'm extremely optimistic with Pujols at this point, I think he's gonna have one of his best years with us this season. His swing looks flat out dangerous right now, he's crushing balls and coming up with big hits. I think this is the Pujols the Cards fans were used to seeing. 

 

So in my opinion...Albert's back, baby.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Angels For Life

[TobiasFunke]

I won't necessarily say "he's back" but his demeanor at the plate is completely different and it seems like he's not rolling over on those cut inside fastballs anymore.

 

But, like all of Angels positivity, the power of "Buttercup" can change things around.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

He's back until he goes 0-4 Friday and then a 700th thread is started in this chapter about how we are screwed with his contract.

Then he'll do welll In May and we can cut and paste this thread and change the numbers.

Oh the ride we enjoy en route to game 162.

[Stradling]

I knew he wasn't striking out much but didn't realize it was zero in the last six games. But to answer your question, no, but he has been very good lately. Us fans see what we want to see. So even if he gets an RBI early in the game, yet he grounds out to third later in the game, that's all some will remember. I try, and it's hard, to have a longer memory than that. Yesterday was a very good game for him, I'll take it!

[Broad Street]

I'll see it when I believe it, and I believe it so I see it. He's got an Angel helping him.

[eaterfan]

Since his first home run that he blasted in Seattle, he's hitting .324/.425/.676/1.101 with 4 home runs over 40 PAs. And that's with a freaking .233 BABIP which is weird. So those number's could be much much higher if I understand babip correctly.

 

Big thing here, over that span he has a big fat zero in the strikeout department, and he's walking again now.

 

I'm extremely optimistic with Pujols at this point, I think he's gonna have one of his best years with us this season. His swing looks flat out dangerous right now, he's crushing balls and coming up with big hits. I think this is the Pujols the Cards fans were used to seeing. 

 

So in my opinion...Albert's back, baby.

 

It's tough to tell. Vintage Pujols would have hot streaks which put this to shame. If this is his true level of play or close to it then it is a good sign. If this is his hot streak then it will be a long season.

 

As far as his BABIP improving, it might a little because he hits the ball hard, but he isn't a speedster who is going to beat out anything hit on the ground.

[Guest]

Definitely not, but he's playing well and that's enough to make me like him at least.

[fan_since79]

Speaking of hot streaks, I'll take vintage Pujols from August, 2010:

 

.379/.453/.777

11 home runs

23 RBI

29 runs scored

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=pujolal01&t=b&year=2010&share=3.81#1503-1528-sum:batting_gamelogs

[Troll Daddy]

His been getting some clutch hits for the team.

[Chuck]

Since his first home run that he blasted in Seattle, he's hitting .324/.425/.676/1.101 with 4 home runs over 40 PAs. And that's with a freaking .233 BABIP which is weird. So those number's could be much much higher if I understand babip correctly.

 

Big thing here, over that span he has a big fat zero in the strikeout department, and he's walking again now.

 

I'm extremely optimistic with Pujols at this point, I think he's gonna have one of his best years with us this season. His swing looks flat out dangerous right now, he's crushing balls and coming up with big hits. I think this is the Pujols the Cards fans were used to seeing. 

 

So in my opinion...Albert's back, baby.

 

Sure hope so. WE NEED HIM TO BE VINTAGE PUJOLS! 

[Angelsjunky]

Vintage Pujols as in 2010 and before? I doubt it. But something like 2011? I think so. That would be about .300/.900 with 35 HR, which seems possible if he's healthy.

 

But when I think of vintage Pujols I think .330/.1000 with 40 HR, and I'd be very, very surprised if we ever see that. I think the best we could hope for is .300-.310, .900-.950 and 35-40 HR.

[Chimi]

Could Trout hitting in front of him be helping him?

[fan_since79]

Even a sizzling Albert Pujols of August, 2010 doesn't guarantee success. The Cardinals were 11-15 in that month.

[Erstad Grit]

I love his hits that are not grounders through the left side. Last night he had a few line drives up the middle. 

[Cdaniel]

I love his hits that are not grounders through the left side. Last night he had a few line drives up the middle.

I love low hard line drives up the middle. Makes the pitcher uncomfortable

[Chuck]

I knew he wasn't striking out much but didn't realize it was zero in the last six games. But to answer your question, no, but he has been very good lately. Us fans see what we want to see. So even if he gets an RBI early in the game, yet he grounds out to third later in the game, that's all some will remember. I try, and it's hard, to have a longer memory than that. Yesterday was a very good game for him, I'll take it!

 

On the season, 6 walks to just 4 strikeouts. 

[fan_since79]

On the season, 6 walks to just 4 strikeouts. 

 

That's in line with his career numbers, 1073 walks and 839 strikeouts.

[Stradling]

Holy crap, only four k's in what 17 games? That is pretty damn good.

[tdawg87]

If Pujols hits like he did in 2012 during June-August he's going to be in the MVP conversation by year's end.

[Make Angels Great Again]

I'm calling comeback player of the year for sure.

[405z06]

Speaking of hot streaks, I'll take vintage Pujols from August, 2010:

 

.379/.453/.777

11 home runs

23 RBI

29 runs scored

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=pujolal01&t=b&year=2010&share=3.81#1503-1528-sum:batting_gamelogs

 

Try March/April 2006

 

346 .509 .914 1.423

14 HR

32 RBI

27 R

 

all in 25 games

[beatlesrule]

No.  Vintage Pujols would have come through a lot more.  The game where he had the bases loaded one inning and 2 on other inning and grounded out both times with the Angels going on to lose the game come to mind.  He went 0-5 and it was on Pujols blanket night.  That's one game of many where he has not looked like himself.  He swings at pitches he NEVER would have earlier in his career and doesn't look like he cares as much.  It's gonna be a long 8 years but hopefully, he is really 38 right now and retires and frees up all that money.  I'm sorry but in the 2 years we have had him, he has been a bust.

[Inside Pitch]

No.  Vintage Pujols would have come through a lot more.  The game where he had the bases loaded one inning and 2 on other inning and grounded out both times with the Angels going on to lose the game come to mind.  He went 0-5 and it was on Pujols blanket night.  That's one game of many where he has not looked like himself.  He swings at pitches he NEVER would have earlier in his career and doesn't look like he cares as much.  It's gonna be a long 8 years but hopefully, he is really 38 right now and retires and frees up all that money.  I'm sorry but in the 2 years we have had him, he has been a bust.

Maybe if someone had offered up their blanket for him to use as a cape he would have gone 5-5.

[Slegnaac]

Only time will tell if he is the vintage Albert. Hopefully he will stay healthy this year. We know that he wasn't last year and who knows maybe he wasn't the year before either.

I am hoping to see him be "Vintage" this year.

[Brent Maguire]

I like what I've seen but like other things in baseball, we need more games to evaluate. 

 

I'm hoping he has a .875-.900 OPS this year. It definitely looks like he can do it.