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No ordinary rookie: Cardinals' Albert Pujols sparkled in his first major league season.
ALBERT PUJOLS WAS NO ORDINARY rookie last season. Versatile and powerful, he was a big reason the St. Louis Cardinals were in contention for the National League Central Division title.
"Right now, I'm just getting a chance to play every position so I just try to do the best I can," Pujols said last August when he filled in at first base for Mark McGwire who had a sore right hamstring.
Through late September, Pujols had started 38 games at first, 54 at third and 55 in the outfield. Cardinals coach Jose Oquendo is Pujols' sole source for fielding advice.
"I don't talk to anybody (about how to play a position). The only guy I listen to is Oquendo," Pujols said of the coach, who was a versatile player himself for the Cardinals. "That's the only guy who helps me out whenever I need it. If I have any questions, I go and ask him."
Oquendo laughed when asked if he had anything to do with Pujols' development.
"He's pretty talented," Oquendo said. "The credit goes to him. He's the one who works at it."
The Cardinals benefited from Pujols' versatility.
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Source: HighBeam Research, No ordinary rookie: Cardinals' Albert Pujols sparkled in his first...