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WHAT A DOOSHBAG THIS PUJOLS IS
Topic Started: Oct 14 2006, 12:17 PM (130 Views)
KOCUR

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Pujols pulls no punches

Bat, mouth are trouble

Albert Pujols had an at-bat to remember last night, one that showcased all of his ability as the game's most dangerous hitter. In the seventh inning he fouled off six pitches from Guillermo Mota during an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with a line single to left and might well have changed the course of the ballgame.
Mota never seemed to recover from the battle. He promptly walked Jim Edmonds and gave up a game-tying two-run triple to Scott Spiezio. Such is the impact that Pujols can have at any time.

"His at-bat started everything," Ronnie Belliard said after the Cards came back to beat the Mets, 9-6, and even the NLCS. "No surprise to us."

No surprise to anyone. Pujols has long since assumed the title from Barry Bonds as the most feared hitter in baseball, but who knew that he had so much of the bad Barry in him as well?

Bonds is the definition of the surly superstar, but Pujols seems to want that title for himself too, based on the way he behaved this week in New York. Mostly he grumped at the media for having the nerve to ask him baseball questions - as if his isn't the most important presence in this series.

Bonds surely would applaud such media relations, of course, having patented the model eons ago. On the other hand, Bonds would never disrespect a fellow future Hall of Famer, as Pujols did after Game 1 when he belittled Tom Glavine's superb performance, essentially dismissing his seven shutout innings as lucky.

"He wasn't good. He wasn't good at all," Pujols said of Glavine.

Pujols, who went 0-for-3 in Game 1 and made a baserunning blunder, was complaining that the Cardinals hadn't been rewarded for hitting some balls hard, saying, "We didn't get some breaks."

Still, reporters interviewing him were stunned that he wouldn't give Glavine any credit for shutting down the Cardinals. So they asked him again.

"You didn't think Glavine pitched well?"

"I say he wasn't good at all," Pujols repeated. "He did the same thing that he always does. Throw a changeup, fastball, and that was it. I just think we should have done a better job than we did."

Classy, huh?

This from a guy who went 0-for-3 and made a baserunning blunder. When Pujols was asked if he was frustrated afterward, the Cardinals' slugger grew angry.

"Why (should) I be frustrated?" he snapped. "I can't make a mistake? Am I perfect?"

This is Albert Pujols? Apparently St. Louis, no major media market, is good cover for such boorishness. Actually, St. Louis reporters aren't all that fond of Pujols. One said he hoped Pujols would "get exposed" with these comments as a less-than-friendly presence around the Cardinals, despite mostly adoring coverage.

Tony La Russa, meanwhile, resorted to blaming the media for Pujols' comments, saying reporters should have used "common sense" and basically dismissed them because they were said in "the heat of competition."

Right. Like Pujols is the only fierce competitor out there, so he should get a pass for saying something so unprofessional. La Russa knows better, but he's accustomed to having his way in a one-newspaper town.

Besides, if that were the case, Pujols had the chance to take back his comments about Glavine when he was asked about them on the field before last night's game.

"Isn't that what I said?" he replied. "Okay, then keep that one."

He didn't make himself available after last night's game, at least not until past newspaper deadlines in New York.

So what's up with Albert, anyway? He has to realize that as the most feared slugger in the game, he's going to be the focus of media coverage, particularly in the postseason.

Yet on the day before this series opened, Pujols didn't want to go to the interview room, saying he would do interviews in the tight quarters of the visitors' clubhouse at Shea. When reporters surrounded him at his locker after the workout, he complained openly, saying, "You all are a pain in the (butt)."

Eventually he answered questions, taking exception to the notion that his bat was any more important than anyone else's in the Cardinals' lineup, and saying he would be happy to take walks if the Mets chose to pitch around him.

Pujols seemed even angrier to find reporters at his locker after Game 1, flipping a chair out of the way that hit one reporter in the leg.

Whatever. If Pujols wants to act like Bonds with the media, that's his prerogative. It's hard to believe he'd want to go down that path, considering all that has gone on with Bonds the last few years, but then again, Pujols has never been suspected of steroid use, so maybe he isn't worried about anyone digging any skeletons out of his closet.

The real shame of it is seeing such a great player refuse to acknowledge fellow greatness, especially about someone as classy as Glavine. Pujols is too good for that.
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ES03

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Maybe he's having problems outside of his job....did you ever think of that?
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Ray
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f*ck him.......just another superstar who let his ego get too huge. And to think I liked and respected him too.......that's over with...
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Strider
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Ray
Oct 14 2006, 02:40 PM
f*ck him.......just another superstar who let his ego get too huge. And to think I liked and respected him too.......that's over with...

:-|

I didn't watch the game, but what if he's right? What if he just doesn't want to play the media suck-a-long game and say what ya'll want to hear, the recycled cookie-cutter bullshit that might not be the truth. I've seen plenty of games in which a pitcher's numbers aren't indicative of the performance. Games where he was leaving pitches up, missing spots and getting tattooed, but the opposition didn't take advantage and his success was more their failure than his triumph. Seen pitchers come out of a game with sh*t stats when they actually pitched well. I think he was angry when he said it (don't act like ya'll haven't said some raw sh*t in anger) but he might just have been analytical instead of throwing compliments and superlatives around willy-nilly when he didn't believe it. Plenty of times when the CORRECT answer isn't, "He pitched a helluva game," but actually, "He sucked and we f*cked up. We should've put 6 runs on his ass in the first 2 innings and we failed miserably." Glavine ain't no damn "great" pitcher anymore. If he was on the Yankees, he'd be what we call "NL trash." And his numbers stunk in the second half - or sh*t, after May.

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"Why (should) I be frustrated?" he snapped. "I can't make a mistake? Am I perfect?"


That's the only part that would've bothered me. Him acting like a bitch and not owning up to the baserunning mistake.
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HomieYank
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Strider
Oct 15 2006, 04:11 AM
Ray
Oct 14 2006, 02:40 PM
f*ck him.......just another superstar who let his ego get too huge.  And to think I liked and respected him too.......that's over with...

:-|

I didn't watch the game, but what if he's right? What if he just doesn't want to play the media suck-a-long game and say what ya'll want to hear, the recycled cookie-cutter bullshit that might not be the truth. I've seen plenty of games in which a pitcher's numbers aren't indicative of the performance. Games where he was leaving pitches up, missing spots and getting tattooed, but the opposition didn't take advantage and his success was more their failure than his triumph. Seen pitchers come out of a game with sh*t stats when they actually pitched well. I think he was angry when he said it (don't act like ya'll haven't said some raw sh*t in anger) but he might just have been analytical instead of throwing compliments and superlatives around willy-nilly when he didn't believe it. Plenty of times when the CORRECT answer isn't, "He pitched a helluva game," but actually, "He sucked and we f*cked up. We should've put 6 runs on his ass in the first 2 innings and we failed miserably." Glavine ain't no damn "great" pitcher anymore. If he was on the Yankees, he'd be what we call "NL trash." And his numbers stunk in the second half - or sh*t, after May.

Quote:
 
"Why (should) I be frustrated?" he snapped. "I can't make a mistake? Am I perfect?"


That's the only part that would've bothered me. Him acting like a bitch and not owning up to the baserunning mistake.

Agreed on both points. It certainly wasn't classy, but if Glavin wasn't good and he thinks his team deserves the blame for the loss then good for him. The part where he says "what am I, perfect?"...total bitch move.

Anyway lets trade A-Rod for him now that he's a Super Villian :peace:
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Gategem
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But here is the fact. Glavine has been pitching very well. He’s been hitting his spots, changing speeds and getting great movement on his change. And before you say he would be sh*t in the AL please explain Kenny Rogers!
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HomieYank
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Gategem
Oct 16 2006, 12:25 AM
But here is the fact. Glavine has been pitching very well. He’s been hitting his spots, changing speeds and getting great movement on his change. And before you say he would be sh*t in the AL please explain Kenny Rogers!

Well first of all save his last 2 starts Kenny Rogers aint really sh*t in the AL either(decent to ok at best). Second if he was just changing speeds and hitting spots then he pretty much did what Albert said he did, meaning he wasn't so good that such a good offense should have been shut down like that. I won't judge since I didn't see the game.
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HomieYank
Oct 16 2006, 06:35 AM
Gategem
Oct 16 2006, 12:25 AM
But here is the fact. Glavine has been pitching very well. He’s been hitting his spots, changing speeds and getting great movement on his change. And before you say he would be sh*t in the AL please explain Kenny Rogers!

Well first of all save his last 2 starts Kenny Rogers aint really sh*t in the AL either(decent to ok at best). Second if he was just changing speeds and hitting spots then he pretty much did what Albert said he did, meaning he wasn't so good that such a good offense should have been shut down like that. I won't judge since I didn't see the game.

Well I did. He was typical Glavine. He gives you a comfortable collar. He’s done it his entire career. All he’s been doing is getting guys out. He’s really not much different than his days with the Braves. He never threw hard, he requires location, changing speeds and he has an excellent change. With the Mets he’s used his curveball which is a good one and he’s pitched inside more.

Rogers had a very good season and has been sensational in the playoffs. I don’t care if he’s not throwing a 99 mph fastball to get the job done; he’s getting it done by pitching. Pitching is a craft. The other guys are throwers and good hitters will cream a 99 mph fastball if the pitcher does not know how to pitch.

I have seen so many pitchers over the years that were soft tossing who got guys out versus hard throwers who quickly found themselves back in the minors.
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Quote:
 
Rogers had a very good season and has been sensational in the playoffs. I don’t care if he’s not throwing a 99 mph fastball to get the job done; he’s getting it done by pitching. Pitching is a craft. The other guys are throwers and good hitters will cream a 99 mph fastball if the pitcher does not know how to pitch.

I have seen so many pitchers over the years that were soft tossing who got guys out versus hard throwers who quickly found themselves back in the minors.
I never mentioned velocity. There are lots of ways a guy can pitch poorly. Rogers had an ok year in a great pitchers park. As far as you seeing more flame throwers fail then soft tossers; thats because most of the soft tossers don't make it to the bigs to begin with. The ones that do have to really know how to pitch.
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HomieYank
Oct 18 2006, 08:46 PM
Quote:
 
Rogers had a very good season and has been sensational in the playoffs. I don’t care if he’s not throwing a 99 mph fastball to get the job done; he’s getting it done by pitching. Pitching is a craft. The other guys are throwers and good hitters will cream a 99 mph fastball if the pitcher does not know how to pitch.

I have seen so many pitchers over the years that were soft tossing who got guys out versus hard throwers who quickly found themselves back in the minors.
I never mentioned velocity. There are lots of ways a guy can pitch poorly. Rogers had an ok year in a great pitchers park. As far as you seeing more flame throwers fail then soft tossers; thats because most of the soft tossers don't make it to the bigs to begin with. The ones that do have to really know how to pitch.

If you don’t throw with at least average velocity you pretty much get ignored by the scouts.

The problem with a soft tosser is if you’re not on location wise you can be hurt real bad while someone who throws hard can get away with a mistake. Last night Glavine was not sharp, was high with his pitches and was squeezed by one of the worst and most inconsistent ball/strike umps I’ve seen this year and didn’t last very long.
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