We’re back again this week for another dose of point/counter-point and this week, Dennis and I are going to argue whether Albert Pujols has what it takes to be the new single season HR champ.  I say yes, 73 is a realistic goal, because believe it or not, we haven’t even seen the best of Albert Pujols.  Pujols who still is only 26 has yet to reach his prime.  Some may say, Pujols’ previous career high was only 46 HR’s, how can he make such a huge jump for a new career high?  Barry Bonds had a career high of 49 in 2000 before hitting 73 in 2001.  If you need any more proof of astronomical career highs, Brady Anderson went nuts one year hitting 50 home runs with a previous career high of 21 HR’s four seasons earlier.

Pujols has been a career work-horse, hardly missing a game.  His career low is 154 games in 2004.  Bonds accomplished hitting 73 home runs in 153 games and an amazing 177 walks.  Pujols is not going to miss as many opportunities at bat, because pitchers will throw more aggressively towards Pujols than they used to towards Bonds.  Pujols has been on such a tear this season, even better than previous years and is partially due to the return of Scott Rolen in the line-up.  The St. Louis Cardinals once again have an even more potent line-up this season than they did last year.  The guys behind Pujols in the batting order are Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen and Juan Encarnacion.  One of if not the best middle of the order line-up in the major leagues.  There is no sense of walking Pujols in front of the batters behind him.  What would be a more harmful situation to their opponents, a solo blast by Pujols or putting men on base and creating a potentially long inning?  With their lead-off and number two hitter, a much lesser threat, Pujols is normally batting in the first inning with two outs and no runners on.  This is the best opportunity to go ahead and pitch to Pujols without endangering your team to too much damage.  The worst that can happen is a solo shot, and being down 1-0. 

On the technical side of Pujols’ greatness we look at the lefty/righty match-ups.  This point is moot as well from 2003-2005; Pujols is batting .353 versus lefties and .336 towards righties.  All other variables make no difference, the man is a machine.  His home average is .343, away is .337, during the day ball games he hits.333, night he hits .340.  There is no way getting around the guy, he is going to get his pitches and put his mark into the record books.