Angels Official Website: Pujols finally feels like the Albert of old

[AngelsWin.com]

Last week in Boston, a switch flipped for Albert Pujols, and the Angels slugger -- hitting .386 with three homers and nine RBIs since -- said the groove he's in is the best since his days in St. Louis.

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[EDinTUSTIN]

Prior to a game on June 5, Pujols made a slight adjustment at the plate, then hit a two-run, eighth-inning homer against Cubs reliever Carlos Villanueva that proved to be the difference in a 4-3 win. Immediately after that, Pujols approached Mike Trout.

"Head's up, dude," he told him. "I'm back now."

But it was four days later, in the first of a split doubleheader against the Red Sox, when Pujols says he "trusted" the slight mechanical adjustment, which he caught from watching videos of his Cardinals days.

Talk is cheap, Albert. While he is hitting better, it will take an extended performance of hitting better until I am convinced. Also, this speaks very poorly of our hitting coach. Apparently the team would be better off with Andrea Bocelli or Stevie Wonder as hitting coach. I know Hatcher certainly wouldn't have been any help, but it seems that Eppard is not doing much of a job either.

[tomsred]

Talk is cheap, Albert. While he is hitting better, it will take an extended performance of hitting better until I am convinced. Also, this speaks very poorly of our hitting coach. Apparently the team would be better off with Andrea Bocelli or Stevie Wonder as hitting coach. I know Hatcher certainly wouldn't have been any help, but it seems that Eppard is not doing much of a job either.

Actually, I don't really believe any hitting coach will make that much of a difference.  It's more like witchcraft than coaching.  Remember when folks wanted McGuire after he was the Cardinals hitting coach, now he's "helping" the Dodgers, nuff said.

[Tyler]

He's definitely turned it around. I believe Hamilton will also turn it around in his second season after a fat contract. Keep team intact.

[wopphil]

Talk is cheap, Albert. While he is hitting better, it will take an extended performance of hitting better until I am convinced. Also, this speaks very poorly of our hitting coach. Apparently the team would be better off with Andrea Bocelli or Stevie Wonder as hitting coach. I know Hatcher certainly wouldn't have been any help, but it seems that Eppard is not doing much of a job either.

At a minimum, Wonder or Bocelli could help Ianetta pick a better walk-up song.

[Brent Maguire]

You have to love Albert. He's fighting through a tough injury and putting up pretty damn solid numbers. He's not vintage Pujols, nor will he ever get back there, but an offseason surgery would help him be closer to what he did in 2012 next year. 

[tdawg87]

I'm guessing by seasons end his numbers will be where they were last year. Good, but not Pujols-good.

I just wish he could hit like this the entire year. I mean he obviously still has stuff left in the tank.

[Jay]

He might be adjusting to his injuries which is fine but what he really needs is to get healthy.

[Glen]

I wonder if he said this last year when he started hitting better. 

 

But yeah, glad he's finally showing up. 

[rageous]

I heard Pujols helped Trout earlier in the year and hopefully he can help Josh as well.

[STLCardinalsFan]

About Da** time Pujols that's all I've got to say. 

[CardsFanVegas]

Good to see him hitting like himself again!    When he goes on a tear, watch out!

[Air Trout]

I'm a believer!!! 

[FabulousFabregas]

I'm hoping that Sunday's game ending strikeout was Albert's big wake up call/hitting rock bottom.  He's been solid in the Seattle series.

[mota_madness]

I am still skeptical

[Docwaukee]

I believe him.  Albert is the type of guy who good enough to know when things are clicking for him. 

 

That said, I also think he's adjusting to the fact that he actually has to adjust.

 

He used to step up to the plate and succeed.  Now he has to actually work at it.  I think this bodes well for the future. 

 

I could see him having a stretch of solid seasons as he continues to find his way through making the proper adjustments.  Maybe not vintage Albert, but still better than most of the league. 

[seenoevil]

give me a break

[tomsred]

give me a break

Okay, feel free to take a "break."

[Troll Daddy]

This goes with the same theory as ... I feel like I'm twenty five (which I do) but I'm really 55.

[Jay]

Anybody who says they feel like they're 25 when they're 55 just doesn't remember what it feels like to be 25.

[rageous]

What happened to this supposed switch that turned on?

[EDinTUSTIN]

^

It short circuited as soon as it was switched on. That is my question as well, and has been ever since he made that ludicrous statement. 'The Albert of Old', yeah sure, LMAO! More like 'Albert the Old.'

[EDinTUSTIN]

He's definitely turned it around. I believe Hamilton will also turn it around in his second season after a fat contract. Keep team intact.

lol

[RallyMo]

The following mindset fascinates me:

 

"We won, again. Looks like I had better search for a thread to complain about something in."

I'm pretty sure we all know Pujols isn't the Pujols of old.

[EDinTUSTIN]

Good to see him hitting like himself again!    When he goes on a tear, watch out!

Still watching, and still not seeing! Goes on a tear, sure! Like I said early in this thread, talk is cheap, dirt cheap. So far his statement would be on the discount/clearance shelf at the local Goodwill Store!