I just hope Albert Pujols switches positions before he spends too many years at first. argh. And I think the reason that Bagwell doesn't get mentioned with other 'roid users is the lack of a massive, rapid physiological change in his body-type. Two of the most suspected steroid users, Bonds and Sosa, went from relatively skinny guys who stole bases and were good fielders, to huge monsters who kept coming down with nagging muscle pulls. I know Bagwell has gotten bigger over his career - but I don't recall a year where he reported to spring training looking like was twice as big as the last year.
Is anybody else watching this breakdown of First Basemen on baseball tonight? God, they act like Bags just now had a shoulder injury. Aren't these guys supposed to be on top of this kind of stuff? They guy has been suffering for 3 years now.
Why? Even if he does continue to put up these godly offensive numbers, he won't get the steals that Bags had, or the defensive prowess. I love Fat Albert, but there's just no comparison 1B-wise until I see him dig balls out of the dirt like Baggy did. (Offensively is a different story, but 1B-wise...it's like taking Bags over Frank Thomas.)
Pujols will never be the complete first-baseman that Bagwell was, but he'll get more comfortable there, and his defense will be adequate enough that he might pass Bagwell in someeeyes. I mean, I'm still going to believe Jeff was the bestest ever in the NL. But it'd be easier if Pujols moves back to the outfield. And Frank Thomas is a different animal - he doesn't count ever since the folks in charge of the AL instituted the apostasy of a DH.
