There is a rumor that I got from a reliable source, Doug Gottlieb I think, that Pujols has a budding cocaine problem. I can only hope that this is true.
On the other side, what if his numbers drop off a cliff? There isn't a 0% possibility that this could happen. On the other hand, if he goes for back to back to back .315 40/130/100 type numbers, which he most certainly could, he'll shoot all the way up to top 5 or 6.
A GG CF and GG shorts stop vs a first baseman? Pujols is a good fielder, but he isn't bagwell good and its first base. Baseball isn't all about offense.
Regardless of steroids or not, Bonds is the greatest hitter of this generation by far. It will be a shame if both him and Clemens are not in the hall. Especially in this age where there is suspicion from all angles. The HOF can't keep everyone from this generation out.
I agree with you in all your points but Pujols isn't far behind Baggy, if not even. Baggy is my favorite baseball player of all-time but Pujols is THAT good as a defensive 1st baseman. Pujols will demolish Griffey's stats, not just pass them but crush them in most cases. He will do the same with most of his peers except for ARod and well...that's in question. All around player...Pujols will be better then Griffey and Bonds(Pre-Roids).
From ages 21-30, BBRef has Griffey at 67 WAR, and Pujols at 83. Pujols is a much better hitter, and I think he's won every Fielding Bible Award at 1B since its inception, he's a great fielder. He's definitely better than Griffey was, IMO. Pre-roids Barry was probably a better player than either of them though. And of course, post-roid Barry was the best hitter ever.
Bonds was a Hall of Famer before the riods but I wouldn't call him the greatest hitter without them. Comparing their 1st 10 seasons, it isn't even close offensively, Pujols is far superior. It wasn't until 2000 that Bonds went into an immortal status and that so happens to be right where his troubles began.
Pujols is on steroids. Baseball is protecting him. A-Rod should be considered clean today by people but the tests leaked out. Those tests were PRIVATE too, no one was supposed to find out, terrible by the MLB.
I don't know how old Pujols really is....I don't know how long he can continue this. But the run he's put together is about as good as any by any other player in history.
No he will never be considered top 10 of all-time...And its genearally due to the way snobbish folks put the old-timers on a higher pedestal...But he is a great player...No way is he better than Griffey Jr though....Griffey's impact on the game is far superior than Pujols...
And what exactly was Griffey's "impact on the game"??? He had a great career... HOF career... but it wasn't some dominant one that ended in supreme accolades across the board. Hell, his retirement last year was barely met with any reaction... I'd also venture to guess that not many people realized he had actually gone back to Seattle to try and be a DH before giving up. Sure, Pujols is not near the defender that Griffey WAS... and even then, Griffey fell off subtantially from 2000 on in all categories... but Griffey's plate numbers can't compare to Pujols'. There isn't any other player in the modern era that has done what Pujols has thus far. None. Again, barring injury, his hitting numbers ALONE will be enough to warrant discussion as a top 10 (maybe top 5) player ever. The fact that he's not an overweight DH... but in fact an elite defender at his position adds even more credence. His career doesn't have a "weakness". Tremendous hitter, CLUTCH hitter, CLUTCH hitter in playoffs, gold glove defender, WS champion. Most importantly is that the Cardinals would have fallen off a cliff over the last 10 years without him. Seriously... coming into 2001, they were stuck with roided-out McGwire, had resigned Edmonds to a big contract (who would decline every year of it), an injury prone Matt Morris, and had signed Isringhausen to a ridiculous deal as well. If they hadn't stumbled into the re-incarnation of Babe Ruth as a rookie... there's no way they go on their extended run for the next 6 years.
Griffey? Pujols prime is certainly one of the ten best ever. Since I've been alive only arod and bonds have been in his class for position players. Griffey wasn't close. Not as good of a prime and longevity hurt by injuries
Also there's the fact that "Pujols' prime" has been his ENTIRE CAREER. I can't recall any player who dominated the game in this way from day 1/pitch 1... and still shows no signs of slowing down.
Flawed logic... when the guys in the 30's and 40's played, they didn't have the competition of football and basketball taking away the best athletes. Now many premium players are going to the NBA and NFL. Further, hispanics like Lefty Gomez played in MLB during that time period. Why do I "have to".... because they did not test positive does not mean they did or did not to it. A few years ago no one knew A-Rod did it. Off the top of my head, give me: Cobb, Ruth, Gehrig, Williams, Hornsby, Bonds, Johnson, Clemens, Mathewson, Carlton, Seaver and Spahn over Pujols.
this thread proves bball stats are stupid....yet we think they are the king. I don't care what any stats say.... A top 15 list must not ignore 3 decades... A top 15 list must pay special attention to the catcher position...There must be a catcher ...Johnny Bench (he is the best catcher ever) is better than Foxx (who is not really a catcher) ... Who is going to tell me the catcher position doesn't need a superhero hitter/defender/pitcher coach? Home run fans of the war era,,,that's who. Johnny Bench is the best catcher ever. And if you don't include him in your best ever....then you are dissing the catcher position. Oh and pitchers....Nolan Ryan is better than all 3 pitchers on that list. And I can name 4 other pitchers, too.
and if you don't believe I know baseball history...and why it is so ridiculous... then tell me who holds the American League record for lowest ERA in a season for a left-hander. Spoiler Ron Guidry...but before that....Babe Ruth
The crazy heypartner left for a while. I'm sure YOU have been here as the other version, the not so crazy version. I don't know what it is about you and sports but suddenly you become completely demanding with your point of view andnothing else really matters to you.
