Los Angeles Angels: On dismissing the great Pujols RBI run

Other Reasons He’s Ignored

Second, Albert Pujols’ reputation has in some circles has degenerated into a casual point of reference for dismissing long-term contracts for any player over the age of, say, 24. Pujols is now in the eighth year of his ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels; that contract is slated to pay him $269 million altogether. It was signed after the player’s age-31 season.

For their money, the Angels have gotten low and high batting marks of .241 and .285, OPS low-high figures of .672 and .859, and low-highs for RBI of 64 (twice) and 119 – in 2016. Pujols other two highs here were in his first season with the Halos.

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In his time with the Angels, Pujols has managed to become the all-time career leader in grounding into double plays, and his team has made the playoffs only one year. You have to make you own decision about whether $269 million paid to one player should have produced more for a team placing exactly one other great player on their lineup cards while Overpaid Pujols appeared there as well.

Finally, many casual fans are doubtful about all modern players who put up great numbers despite the facts that Pujols’ physical appearance has never suggested PED use, and that he has been accused only once – by a former teammate who presented hearsay evidence. Pujols sued that accuser, eventually extracted an apology from him, and then dropped the lawsuit.

To return more pointedly to the subject of Pujols and RBI, however, it must first be pointed out that although he has passed 100 RBI four times with the Los Angeles Angels, his average RBI total with them has been 92.75 for eight years, figuring in this year’s 89. The average figure will obviously go up a bit unless Albert can’t drive in even a single run for the rest of the year.

It seems extremely unlikely that he won’t pass Rodriguez, if not in the last few days of this season, then in April next year. His manager, Brad Ausmus, said a few days ago that Albert Pujols has been the team’s “most consistent hitter the last 40-something games. He’s had a really nice season, quite frankly. Not only does he drive in runs, he’s a very smart hitter.”

It is perhaps time to consider whether this very smart hitter can catch Mr. Aaron for the all-time RBI lead. It says here that, barring injury, it’s quite possible. That fact would be the best candidate for line one on his plaque in Cooperstown.