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Cardinals' Albert Pujols shows no complacency in his play; National League Rookie of the Year in 2001 continues to produce as St. Louis' big gun in a powerful lineup. (Sophomore Jinx? ... Never Heard of It).
FOR A YOUNG MAN FROM THE Dominican Republic who grasped English after one year of high school in the United States, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, coming off one of the greatest rookie seasons in baseball history, doesn't seem to know the meaning of complacency or pressure. Or, he just wishes to ignore them.
"Last year I came in trying to make the club, and that's the same attitude I had this year," Pujols said. "There's always someone ready to take your spot. That's how it is and that's how I'll be thinking as long as God lets me play this game. I can't explain it. That's how I am."
Perhaps, that's because Pujols, 22, who after one season of professional baseball entered spring training last year as a nonentity and left it as the Opening Day left fielder. The sinewy, 6-foot-3, 210-pounder led the Cardinals that spring with a .349 average to prompt manager Tony La Russa to create a spot in the batting order for him. It helped that Bobby Bonilla pulled a hamstring.
"He was such an underdog in camp in 2001," said Cardinals pitcher Andy Benes. "Everybody was waiting for him to stop hitting, except he didn't stop hitting until the season was over."
Despite playing four positions (first base, third base' and left and right field), Pujols' mature approach to hitting never waned as the right-handed hitter posted impressive numbers: .329 average, 194 hits, 37 home runs, N.L. rookie-record 130 RBI, 88 extra-base hits and 360 total bases to run away with the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who batted .263 his rookie season with the Cubs, marvels at Pujols' veteran-like ability to adjust in each at-bat.
"He transcends just having a good rookie year," said Brock. "It's one thing to look for the moment, but it's another to be in that moment and know what to do. If he strikes out, he's like a little kid who falls down and thinks it's part of the act, where if an adult falls, he thinks something's wrong. He treats his next at-bat as exciting as the first."
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- Newspaper article from: Newsday (Melville, NY) July 12, 2007 700+ words
...out, did manager Tony La Russa -- Pujols' own skipper with the...odd disconnect between La Russa and Pujols, the only NL position...Dispatch stressed that Pujols was smiling when he spoke, La Russa didn't seem to find any...
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Albert Pujols is trying his best to turn heads, and Tony La Russa is trying his best to resist temptation. "Somebody asked...If I play him, he's going to make the team.'" Pujols, 21, playing in the first month of his second year as...
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- Newspaper article from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO) September 23, 2007 700+ words
...Goold Sep. 23--Manager Tony La Russa sketched out two lineups for...against Houston -- one with Albert Pujols and one without. La Russa didn't learn until 90 minutes before first pitch that Pujols would not be available for the...
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- Newspaper article from: San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA) July 12, 2007 700+ words
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- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Wilhelm, David October 5, 2001 700+ words
...Cardinals manager still is trumpeting Albert Pujols for National League Most Valuable Player honors. Pujols, who probably has locked up the Rookie...postseason, I would say he is" the MVP, La Russa said of Pujols. "I know one thing: There's some...
- La Russa says his decision was good baseball but bad entertainment.
- Newspaper article from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO) July 11, 2007 700+ words
...disappointment that Pujols didn't understand why La Russa did what he did. La...much in the game, and La Russa was preparing to get Pujols a key at-bat and...taken a forfeit." La Russa said the topic of Pujols had come up at his...
Source: HighBeam Research, Cardinals' Albert Pujols shows no complacency in his play; National...