Albert Pujols numbers not encouraging

[Make Angels Great Again]

So we're about 40 games into the season now, so it seems like a fair time to assess Albert's stats for this year.

I know he's been discussed ad naseum, but this year was supposed to be different with the weight loss, right? Well...

 

He's batting .256/.289/.421, an OPS+ of 93 and a WAR of 0.1 in 173 PAs.

 

I think we're seeing the last year of Albert as a full time regular. His off season regiment obviously hasn't helped much.

[NJHalo]

He needs to spend some time with Cano

[fan_since79]

At least the GIDP's are down. The rollers to third are so slow now they can only get the out at first. Plus there are more lazy fly balls as he's always trying to elevate to chase another home run record.

Edited May 17, 2018 by fan_since79

[FanSince'98]

32 minutes ago, Make Angels Great Again said:

So we're about 40 games into the season now, so it seems like a fair time to assess Albert's stats for this year.

I know he's been discussed ad naseum, but this year was supposed to be different with the weight loss, right? Well...

 

He's batting .256/.289/.421, an OPS+ of 93 and a WAR of 0.1 in 173 PAs.

 

I think we're seeing the last year of Albert as a full time regular. His off season regiment obviously hasn't helped much.

I'm fine with him being in the lineup since we can't let $30m sit on the bench, but Scioscia has to take him out of the 4-hole. It's getting ridiculous, everyone says Pujols refuses to accept that, but too bad. He'll drop Calhoun and Kinsler when they're struggling, rightfully so, why does Pujols get babied? Since we traded Cron like fools, we don't really have anyone else to play 1B, this is exactly why I wish we kept him, but I've been a Cron fanboy from day 1. Especially since Pujols is so injury prone, if he goes down who do we count on, Valbuena? Marte is the better player there but never sees the field. 

[Chuck]

Sosh probably has him batting cleanup because of this..

 

Looked this up for a follower.#Angels, most times with game-tying or go-ahead RBI, 7th inning or later, 2016-18:

Pujols 16
Calhoun 11
Cron 10
Valbuena 9
Simmons 9
Pennington 6
Trout 5
Upton 5
Escobar 5

(Worth noting Upton's done that in about 70 games.)

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) May 17, 2018

[mulwin444]

You tend to slow down as an athlete when you reach your mid-40's

[yk9001]

41 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Sosh probably has him batting cleanup because of this..

 

Memories of Catcher's ERA

[bloodbrother]

42 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Sosh probably has him batting cleanup because of this..

 

And how many more opportunities has Pujols had than the other hitters in those situations?

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, mulwin444 said:

You tend to slow down as an athlete when you reach your mid-40's

[m0nkey]

47 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Sosh probably has him batting cleanup because of this..

 

clutch or not clutch? @JustATroutFan

[eaterfan]

48 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Sosh probably has him batting cleanup because of this..

 

Hitting behind Trout helps a lot! Look what Upton has been able to do in less than half a season.

[Dick B Back]

49 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Sosh probably has him batting cleanup because of this..

 

Pennington > Trout!

[hangin n wangin]

21 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

Hitting behind Trout helps a lot! Look what Upton has been able to do in less than half a season.

The same Upton everyone was bashing two weeks ago for being terrible?

[Angel Oracle]

Pujols' RISP OPS is .720.   Not horrible, but also NOT cleanup material.   It's time to drop him to #5/#6 (5th when Ohtani NOT in the lineup).  

[T.G.]

[Troll Daddy]

Trout weak sauce 

[eaterfan]

14 minutes ago, hangin n wangin said:

The same Upton everyone was bashing two weeks ago for being terrible?

That's my point. One can be pretty terrible hitting behind Trout and still put up good RBI numbers. 

[Angelsjunky]

The Angels best 1B option plays for the Tampa Bay Rays.

[Angel Oracle]

14 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

The Angels best 1B option plays for the Tampa Bay Rays.

On the bright side, maybe Rengifo becomes a solid starting middle INF? 

[Angelsjunky]

The only way Pujols loses his job, assuming he doesn't dip into complete oblivion, is if someone comes up to challenge him and plays significantly better, and the only way that happens if an opportunity opens up - meaning, someone gets hurt.

The most likely candidates are Fernandez, Carter, and Thaiss. Thaiss isn't quite ready and probably won't get called up until September, if then. Carter will probably perform similarly to Pujols, so won't take his job. Fernandez is the wildcard, but probably doesn't get the call unless Valbuena or Kinsler go down, and then he'll be taking PA from him.

Next year could be a different matter but again, unless Albert drops even further, he probably starts the year as a regular. 

[Angelsjunky]

For some reason I can't edit that last post. Should read "taking PA from one of them" at the end of the second paragraph.

[JustATroutFan]

Pretty sure pitchers pitch Trout way more carefully than they do with Pujols.

 

[mulwin444]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

 I said athlete

[Second Base]

 

Older players will always know when it's time to hang up the spikes. The youngsters have a habit of making it clear to them. Only sometimes old timers aren't ready to stop playing. They'll hang on out of sheer pride and that's what we're seeing from Albert.

But eventually I think he'll come to terms with it.

2018 - Plays 1B/DH, bats cleanup. Later in the year he's dropped to 7th.

2019 - Plays 1B/DH,  bats 7th for the first half, moves into a reserve role in the second half.

2020 - Power bat off the bench. Retires after the year.

2021 - Moves into a coaching role as second batting coach. He's in the dugout at home but doesn't travel with the team. 

 

[UndertheHalo]

Uhh.  Surprise ?

seriously this has been entirely predictable. He’s actually done solidly better then I expected so far.  Hopefully this holds up.  

Not holding my breath. 

Edited May 18, 2018 by UndertheHalo