Albert Pujols breaking out of slump?

[fenrir]

Perhaps it's too early to start celebrating, but he's been hitting pretty well lately. Dare I say that he's gotten his power stroke back?

I still see him having a season similar to last year.

[tag0519]

I think he is. I'm just wondering if his critics will use the same energy to praise him when he's .300/30/100

[9RoyHobbsRF]

21 rbi in 23 games in may

[willshad]

He will finish something like 25 80 .270....not that bad but not worth that kind of money.

[Zito75]

He will finish something like 25 80 .270....not that bad but not worth that kind of money.

I'll go along with that - that's a pretty fair prediction.

[fenrir]

He just homered again.

[Matthew C.]

Average has raised 50+ points the past 2 weeks. Slugg% has raised almost 120 points during that same span.

[Jobu Voodoo]

He definitely is. It has kind of been like this for the past three years, except the slump lasts a little longer each time. Then once he hits his first HR he starts going off.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Last 17 games: .304/.355/.594 - 6 HR, 17 RBI

[redban]

He's getting back to respectable numbers.

I think the power numbers will be there for him this season.

Usually when sluggers decline, the power numbers go last (BA goes first though).

My guess: 30-35 HR + .270-.280 BA

[Matthew C.]

Last 17 games: .304/.355/.594 - 6 HR, 17 RBI

The total, complete falling off-the-cliff in walks is still stunning.

[Zito75]

The total, complete falling off-the-cliff in walks is still stunning.

Do you think it's physical - meaning, eyes going bad?

[abolishthedh]

Do you think it's physical - meaning, eyes going bad?

Yes! I have had this suspicion since last year, for some reason. His strikeouts have been creeping up over time, and the explanation just made sense.

Other reasons could weigh in this year, as well. Some say that he misses his family from across the country, that he is pressing in trying to earn his contract in each AB, that he didn't prepare last winter and relaxed.......

I still say that if he had his eyes checked and wore contact lenses or special glasses, he would be the old Pujols for a season or two.

[Matthew C.]

Do you think it's physical - meaning, eyes going bad?

No...I think he got off to poor power/RBI/BA starts the past two years and tried to "fix" those by swinging, regardless of OB%. of course MLB pitchers know better, so they have been throwing more and more stuff off the plate.

I find it hard to believe that MLB organizations with millions of dollars invested in these players don't do routine eye exams. We do routine eye exams in 6th grade for goodness sakes.

[csh19792001]

The total, complete falling off-the-cliff in walks is still stunning.

I agree. Esp. when coupled with his steady decline the last 2-3 years....

[Dude Paskert]

No...I think he got off to poor power/RBI/BA starts the past two years and tried to "fix" those by swinging, regardless of OB%. of course MLB pitchers know better, so they have been throwing more and more stuff off the plate.

I find it hard to believe that MLB organizations with millions of dollars invested in these players don't do routine eye exams. We do routine eye exams in 6th grade for goodness sakes.

I wonder if teams could only do vision exams on players with their approval due to the union? I even wonder if this might apply to all medical evaluations, although I can't say that I've heard of a player refusing an MRI or anything like that...you do hear about them going to their own people for 2nd and 3rd opinions and surgery, of course.
You would think a pro like Albert would make sure to have his vision checked and corrected if needed, but humans are notorious for being in denial about changes to their eyesight as they get older. Some problems aren't easily correctable, either.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Yes! I have had this suspicion since last year, for some reason. His strikeouts have been creeping up over time, and the explanation just made sense.

Other reasons could weigh in this year, as well. Some say that he misses his family from across the country, that he is pressing in trying to earn his contract in each AB, that he didn't prepare last winter and relaxed.......

I still say that if he had his eyes checked and wore contact lenses or special glasses, he would be the old Pujols for a season or two.

Looking at your last line it appears that you know or think the problem is with his eyes. How do we know this, hitters in the past have probably gone bad and it was not an eye problem.
For those that believe teams should have routine eye check ups for players, how do we even know if albert has regular appointments with his own eye doctor.
Is it a possibilty it's his eyes, of course it is.
Saying it's his eyes and giving that too much weight is shooting in the dark, we just don't know.

[Rich the Giants fan]

The total, complete falling off-the-cliff in walks is still stunning.

When you're slumping, there isn't much reason for teams to pitch around you. And when you're pressing, you aren't very patient.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Ah, I remember those days around here when everyone was saying David Ortiz was done. People were wrong then, they're wrong now.

[ipitch]

Didn't he hit .380+ in Spring Training? His eyes must have went bad pretty quickly. And, now it appears that his vision is back to normal.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Eye exams are a standard part of any basic medical exam.

[Matthew C.]

When you're slumping, there isn't much reason for teams to pitch around you. And when you're pressing, you aren't very patient.

But even when he was slugging the snot of the ball from June through September last year, his walk rate was still way down. There are several factors going on here. but I do not think eye-sight is one of them.

[Matthew C.]

Didn't he hit .380+ in Spring Training? His eyes must have went bad pretty quickly. And, now it appears that his vision is back to normal.

Yes, and .330+ in October with 6 homeruns and 8-9 doubles.

[Dude Paskert]

Eye exams are a standard part of any basic medical exam.

I've never seen an eye chart in a general practitioner's office...they'll look for anything odd in your eye, but I've never had my vision checked as part of a physical.

[Rich the Giants fan]

I've never seen an eye chart in a general practitioner's office...they'll look for anything odd in your eye, but I've never had my vision checked as part of a physical.

I certainly have.