Last off-season, I was kept very busy noting each award that the St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols collected. As the accolades collected, for awhile it seemed he was receiving one per day.
So it is again here in 2009, as the 29-year-old may have put together an even better season on the field than last.
As a refresher, by my count, Albert brought home at least ten pieces of hardware following the 2008 season, including the first one on the list, the most important of all. Pujols also won the NL MVP Award in 2005.
- National League Most Valuable Player Award – Baseball Writers Association of America
- Silver Slugger Award – Hillerich & Bradsby
- Oscar Charleston Legacy Award (NL’s best player) – Negro Leagues Museum
- Dick Schaap Memorial Player of the Year – MLB Players Alumni Association
- National League Player of the Year Award – MLB Players Alumni Association
- Roberto Clemente Award – MLB (pictured)
- Players Choice Player of the Year Award – MLB Players Association
- Players Choice NL Outstanding Player Award – MLB Players Association
- Sporting News MLB Player of the Year
- This Year in Baseball Hitter of the Year Award – MLB
Here is the recognition tally so far in 2009, four and counting. Three are repeats from 2008:
- Players Choice Player of the Year Award – MLB Players Association
- Players Choice NL Outstanding Player Award – MLB Players Association
- Sporting News MLB Player of the Year
- Sporting News MLB Player of the Decade
The 2009 National League Most Valuable Player Award winner will be announced on November 24.
Its wonderful Albert has earned such recognitions. Justly deserved.
He has been durable and played through problems with his right elbow. He works hard and gets the job done, year after year.
He comports himself with dignity within a fish-bowl of publicity and attention, no easy thing.
Its a little hard to imagine someone being a better representative of MLB.
he’s also going to be honored with the st. louis sports hall of fame sports performer of the year: http://www.busyeventxp.com/slshof
A bit much Jumbo don’t ya think. Dr. Andrews, “there is nothing wrong in here, we’ll just clean it up a bit and you’ll be back to work in two weeks”.
Fear of injury, or something mysterious got to Albert. Some questions; Does Albert change his workout design to deal with elbow and leg aggravations? Does he find his way back without challenging the real causes? I hope so, but I am also cognizant of the reality that he might be starting a multi year cycle of hot and cold streaks as he struggles with his issues. The suddenly accommodating Albert has a bit more to do with a Tony strategy in the battle with management, than a change of heart concerning his future. On some Level, there is a major ligament tear that has disappeared along with an offer to fix the mystery problem by the team doctor. If that operation was started in 10/08, ligament retrieval from the leg first, do you thing Paletta would have turned back upon seeing a healthy ligament? Doubt it. We would have been well on the way to using all of those Fabulous Eggs this year I think.
Westie, this is generally a thread for honoring and celebrating Pujols’ achievements, which are formidable. We will all hope they continue and thanks to some recent medical help, they may.
Westie, would it kill you to just once give El Hombre his due. Jumbo’s bang on with his assessment. As much as you like to keep things complicated, this issue is simple and straight forward. Albert’s the class of the field and no; baseball does not have a better representative. Pujols has earned, with integrity & good ole-fashioned hard work, every damn award bestowed upon him. I’ll one up Jumbo and say the organizations recognizing Albert’s achievements should thank him for dignifying their honors by accepting and in doing so; raising the profile of the award. One year wonders like Derrick Lee will tell his grand kids “hey I once won the same trophy as the great Albert Pujols.” “Really grandpa, really?!” will come the reply.
It’s not that far fetched at all brother. The Pujols name will even add legitimacy to all the new organizational accolades that have been created in the last 10 years. Like it or not Westie, the phenom you love to question so much is now and likely will be Major League Baseballs ‘El Hombre’ for another decade. No doubt he will end his reign as one of the five greatest of all time and he will have done so representing the St.Louis Cardinal Baseball Club and it’s fans. So puff out that chest and repeat after me: “Albert’s one of our boys! Yeeesssss!!!!!!!”
And maybe for good measure you might add: “and the Cubs still suck!!!”
Brian, you’ve forgotten The Fielding Bible Award as the top defensive 1st baseman in baseball for 2008……and now 2009.
Plus, Albert’s repeated his winning of the Oscar Charleston Legacy Award as 2009 NL Player of the Year and also claimed the Josh Gibson Trophy as the Homerun Champion as designated by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
In 2008 he also was named Player of the Year by Baseball Digest and there’s probably still more!
Which begs a number of questions; 1. Is it possible to totally keep up to all the hardware Phat Albert wins? 2. How the heck does he get around to all the presentation ceremonies to accept all of these? 3. Will Westie now stop over analyzing El Hombre long enough to smell the Pujols bouquet of roses?
WWWWWWWWWaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys stop teasing me. Where does it say I don’t like Albert……….or his awards? I’m pointing out that there is more to the game than hitting on the cheerleaders…………………. The only way we really know what happened in Birmingham is Albert quoting an in surgery statement by Andrews. There was no ” look at the size of those chips, I raise 50,000″, or ” my god, you could lame a bucking horse with those spurs”. It is likely his weight workouts or hitting workouts that are causing the spurs. That said, he choked big time in the second half, and no one knows it more than him. Has management talked to him? Will the winter be interesting because of an understanding reached about his needs? Does he want no help now because he enjoyed the first half more than the second? If he wasn’t hurt, the adjustments he made after the all star game were a sign of personal confusion. Now that the elbow excuse is gone, does he have the resources to over come indecision and his slump. I see trouble ahead. Until I don’t.
Westie, you seem a Cards fan, but you sometimes have annoying thoughts. For instance, saying Albert choked in the second half, was confused and indecisive, and using his elbow as an excuse is not going to win you points for sanity or likeability.
Here’s the deal: Albert’s elbow hurt more than usual during the second half. This is why he adjusted his swing and his numbers tailed off. How do we know this? His numbers fell off and he had an operation. Its very simple.
Pujols has declined to have the ligament replaced. This is probably his decision. Could it someday deteriorate and become unplayable? Yes. If so, at that point he will elect to have ligament replacement surgery and woe unto pitchers thereafter.
It is the 3rd time Pujols will receive the Oscar Charleston Legacy award. Its wonderful to also receive an award in the name of Josh Gibson. Ryan Howard got the Gibson award last year.
I’m not inclined to stay on a subject matter like this too long, but as I investigate my feelings and imagery as I explore this dialog, these images surface.
Albert has just flunked his way into the second round of the Hr derby. The camera picks him up below the stadium, sweat soaked, lathered really, in an angry trance, trying to find a swing. How many cuts had he taken?
Watching the ego strained Hal McRae taking Albert through his hitting warm up, hoping to seem like he was contributing more than just ball boy duties. Albert flailing away, looking for grace in the repetitions.
I’m guessing that Albert is hurting himself using these now almost ritualistic activities at this point in his career. This is likely the source of the bone spur activity. Palleta must be aware of this now. I think if they are going to deal with another long term contract, they will need to deal with this problem. He likely needs a special strength coach and a hitting assistant to organize and analyze his needs. Safely.
This may be difficult……….. it is likely there is an element of “self flagellation” involved here, leaking over from his sky pointing religious trances. Some of these scenarios are unavoidable with Albert’s hyper tense spiritual aspiration I would thing. I’m guessing that these changes will be a topic coming up in the next few months. I’m sure it will have a little different description by then. It is all located neatly within the growing conflict in what I have called his ” spiritual crisis”.
Like it or not, this is hardball.
Brian, I’m sure that Barry Bonds tops the list of pending collusion complaints being carried over into this new season. Almost seemed like an invitation for someone to lessen the severity of the complaint
Gee willikers.
Westie you are keenly attentive to games and to the short run. You take observed reality and interpret it, with an emphasis on the form of swings or psychology.
Why do we readers need to be treated to your selective memories of Pujols “flunking”, in an “angry trance”, “flailing away.” He needs a hitting assistant to “analyze his needs” given “self flagellation”, “religious trances”, and “hyper tense spiritual aspiration.”
Pujols just had an MVP worthy season. How bad can it have been? Lets try to remeber the big picture of Albert’s fantastic season, not just remember down moments that you think that you saw and the only things you seem to write about.
Its not down Jumbo………….thats where we’re at. Will he accept the need for change. What if MM is given that task. Is there friction for anyone who tries. Change is what this is about. It is hardball Jumbo. Just pass over my topics for awhile if thats best for you. I’m writing for a different reader right now. Albert’s high in the first half had a down side.
DeRosa will be offered arbitration, thats all.
Pujols knows how to hit, thank goodness. Albert does not need tips on swing or spiritual beliefs from McGwire or anyone else. McGwire will focus on the other hitters; they are the ones who need help.
Jumbo said,”…Albert does not need tips on swing or spiritual beliefs from McGwire or anyone else. McGwire will focus on the other hitters; they are the ones who need help.”
I would be very, very surprised if that turns out to be the case. I am not subscribing to all the psychological intrigue, but I have seen first-hand Albert using his hitting coach on many occasions in the past and expect that to continue with McGwire. Based on my observations, I believe all the talk of Pujols constantly working on his hitting to be valid and he isn’t doing it in solitary.
The parameters for the religious analogies is set in place by Albert himself. See :Opus Dei” for a functional description of Self Flagellation jumbo. It is likely that the intensity and the acceptance of pain that must have crept into his physical and psychological “preparatory regiment” for games had to mix with his religious self esteem affirmations.
Brian, his adopted protocols have compromised his health in all likely hood. His daily physical image, thanks to Paletta, has been a man with major body part ready to fail at any moment. He felt he was martyring himself, carrying on for fans and teammates. This NOW APPEARS to be “NOT THE CASE”……….. This is about self image and influence. Who will tell him to settle down and play ball. Who will change his regimen. I’m waiting to here about that. You guys act like this thing can’t go south. I will say it again. This might be the path to mediocrity……….an ugly place.
Was anyone surprised to here Hal didn’t believe in video. Or that the Tony selection of MM was a concessionary privilege granted by BD/Mo for ? reasons???? Because he’s the man?
Does anyone know? Is McGwire going to help Pujols as a spiritual adviser? I am getting muddled about the inter-relationship between the batting and the spiritual.
All the religions of the world Jumbo, could be analogized this way concerning spiritual growth issues. Its not necessarily a Christian thing, even though in Albert’s case, the conflicts are most certainly Christian in character. Albert’s hero had a few moments of self doubt on the cross Jumbo, according to the Gospels. I guess the lesson is about how you deal with it. Albert says he has a recognizable dialog with God. Thats a good thing. If you don’t miss any important messages that is.
Tack on the Hank Aaron award for Albert. How many is he up to now Brian?
Westie, you know I believe there is a lot of merit in your theories on Albert’s now fabled 2nd-half swoon. The fact is: it happened and you can speculate til the cows come home about why (although if Bessy’s late one more time, she’s grounded from grazing on Wrigley Field for a month). I just don’t believe we’re headed toward Albert Armeggeddon. I know this goes against everything you stand for on this issue, but to me it’s going to be as simple as this; Come spring training Pujols will press the RESET button and forever extracate the demons of 2009 into baseball lore. The memories, the mental and physical torment, the massive weight of carrying the offense solely on his massive shoulders, the all-star game expectations, the idiots wanting to soil his name with steroid accusations; all gone by the wayside. New season and new challenges. If anyone can just wipe the slate clean and start over: it’s the Machine!
I don’t know jumbo, if you remember, whenever MM circled the bases, he gazed reverently upward and saluted the owner’s box. (from whom all good things come)
Opus Dei…..ah yes….the Di Vinci Code; excellent movie, but that self flagellation thing. I just can’t picture (although I’m quite sure many of the female fans have) Albert standing naked beating himself with a bat to atone for his sins.
Westie, I do hope you’re not going to be the next Dan Brown and sell you Pujols conspiracy theories to Hollywood. If you do, can I play Brendan Ryan? I too am prone to brain cramps that are inexplicable to all, but I’m also a solid performer when I’m given the chance to be in the lineup.
Solid AX………… BB, Norton has passed. There was grace for him and I’m happy he didn’t have to suffer the brain seizures. Here is a short Christian story I wrote for his wife.
The Pilgrim
“As pilgrims, we often find ourselves on pathways ancient and worn, that to our feet, seem newly christened,” said the sage. “Treading these pathways, we will come upon barriers both great and small, some within our own ego centered consciousness, some amongst the grandeurs of the physical world,“ he gestured gracefully. “All of these labors with their sorrows and joys endured, further our journey toward a self realization which purifies the soul and enables us to create greater works in our Creator’s image”.
“One pilgrim“, he said smiling, “a man child of great beauty and accomplishments and above all, great courage, reached out and touched the cheek of God, and called him father. God, smiling said “yes“! “And though we are now joined, I shall call you son”. And upon his pronouncement, the child began to suffer the great pains of birth and separation, as do all saints and pilgrims who are sent again to labor in his kingdom.
The young pilgrim awoke now from what seemed a long slumber. He found that 40 days and nights had passed during his vision quest, and that the world he had known, had somehow changed. Even in this desert to which he had come, he found that the thirst he had known and the harsh denial of its beauty and now passed from his life.
The Sage sat by the fireside slowly stirring the tea pot, which was now filling the room with an aroma of indescribable mystery.
Albert will be fine. Lets just do what we can.
Jumbo – Westie writes for a different audience now – me! He gives me my daily dose of humor combined with some science fiction thrown in. Since my slingbox went down and I can’t get John Stewart anymore I need him.
Kind of funny spoof piece on MM
http://www.sportspickle.com/article:331/rick-ankiel-talks-to-mark-mcgwire-about-his-hitting-
Westy, very sad about Norton. One of my brothers said Norton looked fine in Kerrville this summer. I guess when the time comes there is nothing for it but to ‘sing your death song and die like a hero going home’.
He did. He sampled a bit of the “hope” offered by the medical establishment and seemed to sense that there wasn’t much there. There will be a big benifit before Thanksgiving. I think Steve Miller paid off his house to help his wife. He was loved by many.
Phillies are favored tonight. With the Cole Hammels gaff, and the Brad Lidge collapse waiting to be further exposed, you have to wonder if there isn’t enough blood in the water for the Yankee’s to have another feeding Frenzy. Howard is also looking a bit like “barbecue” at this point. Cliff Lee hasn’t been that stable himself. That said, there are few teams around capable of losing three in a row, Yankees being one of them. If the Phillies win by 8, they will be dangerous. If its close, they lose.
Carioca, through time, we are given clues as to what Westie is about. Its confusing and I dont know someone like this in real life.
I would guess Westie is a shaman, a faith-healer, selling traditional ways or the lessons of the ancients, including aboriginals. Our Westie may be a giver of counsel and comfort. Refers to ancient wise men and timeless folks lessons.
You can probably make some money by providing spiritual comfort to pop musicians and other well to do folks. Maybe Westie is having a jolly life and the rest of us should be so lucky. He’s probably good at what he does.
When WCBW looks at Albert, he invokes his craft and calls on aboriginal philosophies. This explains the big focus on Albert’s epic struggles, physical and spiritual.
The Phillies are starting to mount something. Problem is they didn’t do it in time to keep Lee at 5 innings. That will cost them if they get to game 7 where he might have contributed.. Howard continues to dream of the pull. If he dumps a few singles OPO he might break out. Doubt it.
http://www.shamanlinks.net/Shaman_Links.htm#California
Funky stuff man
If Albert suffers from low self esteem or a spiritual crisis, when he is in Florida, he can take his woes to this shaman
http://www.radianthealingenergy.com/
If Westie is anything like Charles Barkley, perhaps we can rename him ‘the Round Mound of Profound!’……..unless of course WCW is svelte.
I was going to compare his wit to Samuel Clemens, which would be a Marked improvement, but I think that Twain has left the station. (just shake your heads people, no need to call me names!)
If you could translate his words to canvass: would it he emulate madman Jackson Pollock; the puzzling contemporary stylings of Andy Warhol or the “how did he do that?’ brilliance of Thomas Kinkade;
I think we can safely assume that Westie is a wordsmith by profession. A ‘Mariana Trench in-depth thinker’, maybe to the point of overkill, but a sagacious bard none the less.
My resolution isn’t too good. Does that sign say”WCBW-Proprietor”?
http://www.youtube.com/user/captnkirk17#p/a
Wonderful link, bb.
BTW, Wikipedia mentions Ackroyd is a spiritualist. His father has written a book on the history of ghosts.
Ballplayers are a bit like successful musicians. They have some spending money. This can attract some folks who can help them spend it.
Being a ballplayer has to be a very hard thing, in the public eye, errors happen, strikeouts by batters, runs given up by pitchers. A lot of stress. Some ballplayers may turn to friends for advice and support. In any event, ballplayers are celebrities and the center of attention. They have to attract people who like to be around them. The same must be true of successful music groups.
I could see how celebrities could appeal to a shaman, looking to offer spiritual help, to cope with travails. If the real life Shaman Westie has been lurking around the team, trying to chat with trainers, somebody around the Clubhouse may know who he is.
Westie, Axion thinks you are wise and hopes for your return. Ministers, philosophers, politicians, and shaman can say wise things, provide hope and comfort, and be beloved by followers.