Walking Albert Pujols

[Big Fergie J]

Looking past tonight's game the Cubs have a weekend series in St.Louis coming up.

 

After last night Pujols has walked 14 times in 14 games. Obviously, the Cubs handled him in their series sweep and he walked only twice.

 

Unfortunately, Mr. Pujols is kinda hot right now with dingers in 4 straight games.

 

Any thoughts on what the Cubs should do this weekend....pitch around, use the dreaded IBB ( ie. give him the Bonds treatment) etc.

 

IMHO, I would take the bat out of his hands but I'm not sure Dusty will.

 

Thoughts ?

[badgercub]

Looking past tonight's game the Cubs have a weekend series in St.Louis coming up.

 

After last night Pujols has walked 14 times in 14 games. Obviously, the Cubs handled him in their series sweep and he walked only twice.

 

Unfortunately, Mr. Pujols is kinda hot right now with dingers in 4 straight games.

 

Any thoughts on what the Cubs should do this weekend....pitch around, use the dreaded IBB ( ie. give him the Bonds treatment) etc.

 

IMHO, I would take the bat out of his hands but I'm not sure Dusty will.

 

Thoughts ?

 

I think the situation will dictate whether they pitch to him or not. Bases empty, pitch to him. Runners on with first base open, walk him. Etc.......

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Pitch him the same way they do everyone else -- very carefully. These are the matchups I will love when Wood and Prior are back. None of them are afraid to go after guys like Pujols and Bonds. Too many other pitchers nibble, but then again, most of them don't have very good stuff.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

nothing but floaters

[Ding Dong Johnson]

nothing but floaters

 

Underhand or overhand?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

nothing but floaters

 

Underhand or overhand?

 

yes

[K-Town]

Pitch him the same way they do everyone else -- very carefully. These are the matchups I will love when Wood and Prior are back. None of them are afraid to go after guys like Pujols and Bonds. Too many other pitchers nibble, but then again, most of them don't have very good stuff.

 

Wood walks Pujols more than he would a typical batter (6 walks in 34 at-bats), and rightfully so, because Pujols has hit him well (1.057 OPS).

 

Prior is even more careful with Pujols (5 walks in 23 at-bats). Can't blame him, since Pujols has a 1.247 OPS against him.

 

 

So I wouldn't exactly say that Prior and Wood "go after" Pujols. In fact, those two walk him at a higher rate than the rest of the Cubs' pitching staff.

[moorecg]

Every AB to Pujols should be nothing but fastballs, sliders and changeups...low and away...2-3 inches off the plate. If he swings and misses...great. If he swings and hits its likely a ground ball but if not, its hard to put it out of the park...if he just takes it and they get called balls...so be it. .

[SquirminHerman Wedemeyer]

Every AB to Pujols should be nothing but fastballs, sliders and changeups...low and away...2-3 inches off the plate. If he swings and misses...great. If he swings and hits its likely a ground ball but if not, its hard to put it out of the park...if he just takes it and they get called balls...so be it. .

 

I agree with this as a general rule, but the guy is so hot right now he just might put those out of the park as well.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Every AB to Pujols should be nothing but fastballs, sliders and changeups...low and away...2-3 inches off the plate. If he swings and misses...great. If he swings and hits its likely a ground ball but if not, its hard to put it out of the park...if he just takes it and they get called balls...so be it. .

 

Remember that RBI single he had against Wuertz in the Sunday Night game? It was on a pitch exactly like you described, and he hammered it past Cedeno.

[moorecg]

Every AB to Pujols should be nothing but fastballs, sliders and changeups...low and away...2-3 inches off the plate. If he swings and misses...great. If he swings and hits its likely a ground ball but if not, its hard to put it out of the park...if he just takes it and they get called balls...so be it. .

 

Remember that RBI single he had against Wuertz in the Sunday Night game? It was on a pitch exactly like you described, and he hammered it past Cedeno.

 

But it didn't go out of the park. If he hits it on the ground at least we have a chance ...when its in the seats we don't.

[soccer10k]

Every AB to Pujols should be nothing but fastballs, sliders and changeups...low and away...2-3 inches off the plate. If he swings and misses...great. If he swings and hits its likely a ground ball but if not, its hard to put it out of the park...if he just takes it and they get called balls...so be it. .

 

Remember that RBI single he had against Wuertz in the Sunday Night game? It was on a pitch exactly like you described, and he hammered it past Cedeno.

 

But it didn't go out of the park. If he hits it on the ground at least we have a chance ...when its in the seats we don't.

 

That's an excellent point. I believe the quote is "you can't hit it out of the park if you hit it on the ground" or something to that affect. But I think you do the same thing you do with any great hitter. Be careful. If the situation permits, then pitch to him. Base open, unintentional intentional walk. We've seen the same thing happen with DLee this year a couple times.

[Soul]

Two words:

 

 

Chin music.

[snoodmonger]

Two words:

 

 

Chin music.

 

We've done that a few times, and I think ALbert has gone yard on us almost every one of them. Chin music doesn't seem to faze him much.

[Big Fergie J]

Two words:

 

 

Chin music.

 

We've done that a few times, and I think ALbert has gone yard on us almost every one of them. Chin music doesn't seem to faze him much.

 

Agreed...Chin Music seems to unleash an even bigger beast within Pujols...no need to wake him up even more

[Blueheart05]

When Dempster gave him a close shave he grounded out meekly. I'm for walking him; He's one hit away from 1,000.

[goonys evil twin]

Screw chin music, just plunk him.

[Rob]

There are only a few instances where walking him would decrease run expectancy. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with less than 2 outs comes immediately to mind. But aside from a few situations, I think we're best of going after him. Of course we don't want to give him any "challenge" pitches, cause he'll win that bet most of the time, but I don't have a problem with throwing low and away and making him beat you.

[Andy]

The Phillies (.880), Marlins (.922) and the Giants (.724) are the only NL teams that surrender a lower OPS to Pujols than the Cubs do (.972) over his career.

 

Pujols Splits

 

I suggest we worry about Edmonds more, because he roasts us no matter if he's hot or cold coming into the series on a regular basis.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Let's just steal him and put him in RF. The Cardinals will never know, they're morans.

[soccer10k]

Let's just steal him and put him in RF. The Cardinals will never know, they're morans.

 

Now that I get the "moran" joke, it's SO much funnier when somebody says that.

[cubs121]

hey man forgot al that just plunk him on the head the same way kent got hit and he missed a game! hey just go up there and hit HIM harder

:D :D :D :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: