Poznanski SI cover story this week: Albert Pujols is the best player in Baseball.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by Dr. Johnny Fever

Or that he's on steroids

He is not on steroids while I knew him, but he is older then his listed age..

[Mecca]

No but I don't for a second believe that he was 22 or 23 or whatever when he came up...

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by Mecca

No but I don't for a second believe that he was 22 or 23 or whatever when he came up...

I would saywith the production that he has put out so far, who gives a ****

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

I would saywith the production that he has put out so far, who gives a ****

yeah, why would a fan care as long as he keeps producing. I think this is as good a start that any player has had.

Albert Pujols's Statistics Over His First Six Seasons

2001 Season: .329 BA, 194 Hits, 47 Doubles, 37 HR, 130 RBI, 112 Runs (NL Rookie of the Year)
2002 season: .314 BA, 185 Hits, 40 Doubles, 34 HR, 127 RBI, 130 Runs (2nd in MVP Voting)
2003 Season: .359 BA, 212 Hits, 40 Doubles, 43 HR, 124 RBI, 137 Runs (2nd in MVP Voting)
2004 Season: .331 BA, 196 Hits, 51 Doubles, 46 HR, 123 RBI, 133 Runs (3rd in MVP Voting)
2005 Season: .330 BA, 195 Hits, 38 Doubles, 41 HR, 117 RBI, 129 Runs (NL Most Valuable Player)
2006 Season: .331 BA, 177 Hits, 33 Doubles, 49 HR, 137 RBI, 119 Runs (2nd in MVP Voting)
Needless to say, those are some pretty impressive statistics. But just how good are they? Compared with the first first six seasons of every other player in history, where does the man who is nicknamed Phat Albert stand? Well, here is a statistical comparison of Albert Pujols against three players who are generally considered to have had the best 'first six' seasons in baseball.
The Statistical Comparison
Albert Pujols (2001-2006): .331 BA, 193 Hits, 42 Doubles, 42 HR, 126 RBI, 127 Runs

Don Mattingly (1984-1989): .327 BA, 203 Hits, 43 Doubles, 27 HR, 114 RBI, 102 Runs
Ted Williams: (1939-1947*): .353 BA, 184 Hits, 39 Doubles, 33 HR, 125 RBI, 133 Runs
Joe DiMaggio: (1936-1941): .347 BA, 194 Hits, 36 Doubles, 33 HR, 136 RBI, 122 Runs
All great statistics from great players. But who is the best. Well, to use a simple anayltical technique, one could assign four points to the player who scored the best in a category, three points for second place, two for third and one for fourth. Then, add up each total, and the player with the most points is tops.
Here is how the players compare: Albert Pujols (17), Don Mattingly (13), Williams (16), DiMaggio (17).
Under this analysis, Pujols is tied with DiMaggio for best initial six seasons in history. This is just a rough thumbnail sketch, of course, but when a player compares favorably with DiMaggio and Williams, that sure says a lot.

[phisherman]

Originally Posted by Mecca

No but I don't for a second believe that he was 22 or 23 or whatever when he came up...

for once i agree with mecca here...

i watched him play as a "freshman" in high school at Fort Osage and he didn't look that much different from what he looks like now. a healthy five o' clock shadow on a "14-15" year old seemed a bit out of the ordinary.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by phisherman

for once i agree with mecca here...

i watched him play as a "freshman" in high school at Fort Osage and he didn't look that much different from what he looks like now. a healthy five o' clock shadow on a "14-15" year old seemed a bit out of the ordinary.

uhhh have you looked at the players at a 14-15 year old baseball game? Some have full beards.

[phisherman]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

uhhh have you looked at the players at a 14-15 year old baseball game? Some have full beards.

i don't care either way. i'm just saying that he looked significantly older than any other players out on the field.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by phisherman

i don't care either way. i'm just saying that he looked significantly older than any other players out on the field.

Doesn't mean much. I had friends who had full beards in middle school. He may have shaved his age, but it takes nothing from his accomplishments. He just may not play 20 seasons.

Originally Posted by phisherman

for once i agree with mecca here...

i watched him play as a "freshman" in high school at Fort Osage and he didn't look that much different from what he looks like now. a healthy five o' clock shadow on a "14-15" year old seemed a bit out of the ordinary.

I had that. Plus, I'm no Cardinals fan.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by Mecca

No but I don't for a second believe that he was 22 or 23 or whatever when he came up...

I don't care if he's 25-28. The numbers speak for themselves.

Ted Williams, Stan The Man, DiMaggio numbers.

maybe it's the married,God fearing, clean living....

[Chief Chief]

One of these days, them knuckleheads in the Cardinals' organization will figure it out and schedule Buddy Day on every freakin' day of the regular and post-season schedule!

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Chief Chief

One of these days, them knuckleheads in the Cardinals' organization will figure it out and schedule Buddy Day on every freakin' day of the regular and post-season schedule!

i laughed.
sec

[L.A. Chieffan]

doyers resigned manny...Wo0T!

[smittysbar]

People just say stupid shit like that to try and discredit what he has done, which is not possible.

[BigChiefFan]

Great player, but who gives a shit, he's a RedBird. Go ROYALS!