St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols ended both Saturday’s and Sunday’s extra-inning home wins over the Chicago Cubs with a walk-off home run.
The home runs were notable for several reasons.
Pujols’ 13 extra-inning home runs lead all active major league players.
This weekend’s walkoffs were the ninth and tenth of Pujols’ 10-plus year career.
Seven of them have been in extras. That makes Pujols the fourth MLB player since 1950 with at least seven extra-inning walkoff home runs. He is just one off the lead, shared by Frank Robinson and Jim Thome with eight. Pujols has tied Mickey Mantle with seven (courtesy Tom Orf).
With two home runs on Friday as well, Pujols went deep all in all three games of a three-game series for the first time since August 17-20, 2007. That series was also against the Cubs, though at Wrigley Field (courtesy of FOX Sports Midwest’s Tim Trokey).
Researcher Orf was already pulling this final list before I asked him. That is the short list of players with walkoff extra-inning home runs in consecutive games.
Oddly, two of the three men are named “Albert.”
Pujols is the third in MLB since at least 1950, joining Albert Belle in 1995 and the late Cubs star Ron Santo, who did it in 1966.
Consecutive extra-inning walkoff home runs, MLB, since 1950
| Date | Hitter | Tm | Opp | Pitcher | Score | Inn |
| 6/4/2011 | Albert Pujols | STL | CHC | Jeff Samardzija | tied 4-4 | b12 |
| 6/5/2011 | Albert Pujols | STL | CHC | Rodrigo Lopez | tied 2-2 | b10 |
| 8/30/1995 | Albert Belle | CLE | TOR | Tony Castillo | tied 3-3 | b14 |
| 8/31/1995 | Albert Belle | CLE | TOR | Jimmy Rogers | tied 4-4 | b10 |
| 5/28/1966 | Ron Santo | CHC | ATL | Ted Abernathy | tied 5-5 | b12 |
| 5/29/1966 | Ron Santo | CHC | ATL | Billy O’Dell | tied 2-2 | b10 |
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Wow! Only 3 players have had back to back walk off jacks. Thats really an amazing feat if you really think about it. And wouldn’t you know that Albert would add this to his HOF career numbers and list of things he has accomplished that not very many other baseball players have.
… in extra innings….
I knew that we could count on Orf to dig this one up quickly. I was going to request it, but knew that he’d be all over it!
I emailed Tom while Pujols was still circling the bases. He told me “I am already working on it, but it will take awhile.” Awhile in this case was less than 30 minutes. Tom is really good…
He also found a related oddity. In 1980, Cliff Johnson had the only two walkoff homers in extras in his 15-year career – in the same week – for different teams. That is really weird.
More excited to see Pujols come through in the clutch than the fact they were home runs. He has been about as unclutch this year as he has been clutch in the past.
Good point. Albert has a way of hitting when it doesn’t matter when he’s not right.
Johnny Bench on Posey collision, and Bocche’s response.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/04/SPOO1JPLSA.DTL&type=sports
Albert should be dreaming about Crawford boxes the next couple nights. I’d like to see him ring one off the flagpole in center.
I’ve been over at the Cubs site. It is WWIII over there. Some of my favorites:
“I know how to get Colvin out of his slump. Put a Cardinal uniform on him.”
“Need to trade Fukodome for a jumbotron.”
“Keep the faith. Even the ’62 Mets won 40 games”
I saw a Zambrano quote in the ChiTibune “We stink”.
Zambozo had a meltdown after the game. Didn’t smash any coolers just his teammates only not literally. Crtiicized Marmol for his pitch selection to Theriot. Called his team a AAA team. I smell some punishment coming.
I’m watching the replay. Another thing about the game that I loved was Tony Cruz running his little legs off on that Theriot double.
I wonder what’s got into TLR, he hasn’t used his backup catcher so much in a while. Hasn’t slacked off since Laird went down.
I don’t know but keep doing it. Yadi is hitting .321.
Lets give credit where credit is due, Yadi has been excellent thus far and is having an all star type of season. .321…..WOW!!
I think you’re on to something Bling, TLR seems to believe that giving Yadi some rest has actually kept him fresher and producing at a higher level offensively. No way to argue with the results thus far.
I’ll be perfectly honest one more time
and say that TLR has done an exceptional job in my view of managing the ball club this year to this point and seems to have a magic in his lineups because every one he writes in has been really good. I’ve been a critic of his in previous years but he is pushing the right buttons with this team in 2011.
I say again, this team has been fun to watch.
As much as it pains me, I have to admit that TLR is doing a much better job this year with the young guys. They are getting to play a lot (injuries have helped) but still TLR is giving them a lot of opportunities and they are responding big time. I love it. If only Tyler Greene were playing better, but you can’t have everything I suppose. No retreads this year, and the kiddies are making me smile. The enthusiasm is very contagious and the vets are looking like they are having a great time as well.
Like todays lineup……………… Right left right left right left right left right…………..???? to disturb their abundance of lefty pen boys…………..brilliant………he even pushed Yadi to 7th…….with shu in front…just to stay with the concept………brilliant……beer in bottles……brilliant
One more thing, I’m betting Albert is fixing to go off. Early prediction, Albert will be the June player of the month.
There is a direct correlation between Albert’s emotional green light and………. and the other hero’s…… red lights……….. as talked about here………Mo kept Holliday around..hanging by a thread…. for two weeks…..trying to avoid these current events…keeping the lid on…he rises unabated now……. APzilla has made swing adjustments…….. it would be nice if he came back as a team man………..doubt it……….. lets see who plays with him. Doesn’t look like Colby is up for it……….. odds are heavily in favor of a dive by this team. Watch it happen. Tough 2 weeks ahead……………
I realize this a bit like an adult theme…………. you cannot deny its timing at this point……..proof will be in a team swoon………..if AP was on his game it would be inevitable…….luckily he really isn’t as of yet……….if he does merge with the kids……I see Carp winning his next one……..and this team really taking off……………show me AP…………
RC………Cubs pitched AP like fools…………..except Zambrano………….. they became so predictable, it allowed AP to lean out and take the low stuff……….there head coached calling every pitch……..
He was pitching around Colby except the one sucker pitch………..he had every intention of walking him today……..down to that last “Achilles heel” pitch..slider down and in…….that struck him out…….Colby’s has become desperate again………why?
If AP gets on a roll, I’d say the kids need to merge with him. If $4 million doesn’t get you someone who knows how to make that happen then I guess we’ll just have to fire him and hire Westie
Do the numbers support Westie’s theory? From todya’s Bernie’s Bits:
– When Pujols has driven in a run in a game, the Cardinals have a winning percentage of .695.
– When Pujols doesn’t drive in a run in a game, the Cardinals have a winning percentage of .450.
– When Pujols homers in a game, the team’s winning percentage is .714. When he does’t homer, the Cardinals’ winning percentage is .519.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/article_f1ab6634-904b-11e0-a457-001a4bcf6878.html
I am not part of this discussion, but have to wonder if the differences in those numbers would not also be similar for Holliday, Berkman, Jay, Craig, etc…
When an offensive player does well, so does his team. And when he is not hitting, his team wins less often. Maybe Pujols’ gap is bigger or something, but those numbers by themselves lack context for me.
I don’t care enough to look up the numbers for others. Just thinking out loud…
Here in lies the problem in fantasy thinking…………. There are two teams in a competition. This is about tactical viability of isolating a player by simple avoiding any consequence of their participation……..
That is exactly what collapsed this team in Mid August last year. Pujols arose at the deadline, in full celebration of his new status…………..went crazy for two week……..and then the pitch around started……no one to take up the slack ………… all paralyzed by the challenge………
For some of you trying to comprehend this………..that is why we had a change in “chemistry”……
It was assumed by everyone (Tony) that Pujols would come into came and rake……..he was in tremendous physical shape………… he had his hitting tactic honed to a razor sharp edge……….AS HE ASSUMED he would utilize it………….. fantasy thinking………..he chokes opening day with the challenge and is buried for two months………..Holiday and Berkman leading the league………….he may never have recovered………….but fate is cruel at times………… Holiday goes down…..Berkman wearing out………. Colby subconsciously attempting to validate philosophies that are continually shown to be inadequate by the success of alternative tactics…………. and AP connects against the Giants worst reliever………..and then he goes on to a team whose head coach is calling pitches from the bench in an attempt to sustain his fading career aspirations ………….. A coach that doesn’t recognize that he is signaling to a starving predator……… where the game is hiding ……… go figure………
Houston………with there natural defense of the Crawford boxes, will pitch AP as he has been pitched in prior months… up and in, low and away …….. Brewers will show him nothing………..
So with everyone looking for their “hero returned”…………who steps up……..Berkman? Colby? Houston isn’t going to let Craig turn on anything………… Jay? he is playing well………. Tony is trying to deal with M Carp……… rookie mistakes abound. He’s pressing…who knows……..options are narrowing fast aren’t they………… We need Punto……. we need Lance B. to respond….injection doesn’t make that sound good for long term viability…………
The solution………..Move AP to 4th…….let Berkman work for contact underneath with less pressure…..make the pitch around of AP expensive……or impossible…………………….
Tony will likely just fidget with personalities………….. lets watch…… they stretched Lohse out to get the Brewers start, with Carp following…….Brewers are playing tough right now. Lohse now gets the Phillies too…….. thats good….they folded Lance in behind Garcia letting Lohse guard likely a tired Pen ….good tactic………….hope he stays focused………..
What does Pujols take a walk in the #4 position if he doesn’t in the #3 slot? If they are pitching around him and he wont take a walk with no one on base, I doubt he’d do it with runners on – thus they would continue to pitch to him as they have.
CC, those numbers could imply that Albert hits homers and RBIs when the team is winning already, and doesn’t hit them when homers and RBIs could have turned a loss into a win.
it could, but that wouldn’t change the implication that when Pujols plays hot the Cards win – whether it is because of him or not. Westie seemed to imply that him playing hot results in them losing though his latest explanation that the losing kicks in when Pujols cools off is a slightly different take.
Right, I was a bit mixed up about the question at hand.
What matters starts now. I’m very anxious to see if Albert clutch hits in Milwaukee this weekend. And who else stands tall at crunch time. In my mind, that series seperates the men from the boys.
Lets all take cold showers before we embarrass ourselves. Eking out x-inning wins against the wretched Cubs at Busch is one thing. Albert proved he can cut out a two bagger at last call. Next weekend at Miller Park is prime time.
Where is the best place to follow the draft? I don’t get MLB network so I can’t watch the TV coverage.
You should probably start here.
We have a live chat each day that will be listed on the main site and will of course be recapping the Cardinals selections at The Cardinal Nation as well. Only one pick tonight at #22, but a very important one.
Brian-any guessing on your part on who the Cards could pick?
Two high school LHPs – Daniel Norris and Henry Owens – are possibilities. A college hitter would fit a more immediate need, but it will depend if any they really like fall to them as did Cox last year.
Question: When the All Star voting is over and the fans have voted in a player who can’t play in the game (Buster Posey) does that mean Molina will get the spot if he finishes third?
No. The vote is not binding except for the winners. If I remember correctly, the manager makes the decision on replacements with the advice of the league.
What do you think Molina’s chances are if he finishes 3rd?
Last year, the AL carried three catchers and the NL two – Molina and McCann. I still think Posey will fall back in the vote, sympathy or no. McCann has already taken over first and there is a month to go.
Question about ground rules at Minutemaid. If Albert hits one high off the flagpole in the field of play and it glances off and goes over the wall, is it a homer or a double.
I am pretty sure in pinball, that would be a “tilt.” In baseball, it would most likely be an automatic double.
Hopefully, we’ll find out.
They had some wierd rules in the Astrodome about the ball hitting stuff hanging down from the roof.
Who knows anything about Kolton Wong? Where’s Jumbo when you need him.
Initial free article on Wong is already posted on the home page and it will be further updated this evening. It includes a link to a detailed video scouting report specially for subscribers.
The Cards return to their comfort zone, going for a left swinging collegiate hitter. They selected 2B Adam Kennedy in 1997, Luis Alicea back in the mid-80s, two first round collegiate second basemen. Both had long ML careers.
Last year, Wong was a team-mate at U of Hawaii of Greg Garcia, recently promoted to Palm Beach.
Luhnow telegraphed the possibility of a collegiate hitter like Cron or Wong, by emphasizing how there was just one high pick, so they were going to be looking for someone who has a good chance to reach the majors. Back in 2007, he prepared fans for surprises, and Kozma, Mortensen followed. So he does try to influence opinion beforehand.
I was hoping for RHP Alex Meyer picked next by Washington, but the Cards have better information so they should choose, not me.
There will probably be a lot of crying about the selection of Wong. Back in 2007, there was blubbering about the selection of Descalso, but he has had an ok debut.
Danny D. is 80yrs old now………good time to start looking for a replacement……….(save money on an aborted 1st rounder)
I’m watch Washington/SF……….. Morse went deep off of Timmy already……..they keep showing his unusual on deck routine………..the exact opposite of AP’s approach………..if you have MLB-tv check it out……… he just doubled in a few more RBI’s………beautiful swing………..
Kennedy played SS in college and was drafted as a SS He played more SS in the minors than 2B.
Descalso and Jamie Curtis played 3B in college. This is recorded on draft day. But both men would have been earmarked by scouts for conversion to 2B. This may not have been so true of Adam Kennedy, I do not know.
Pujols played SS in juco. Big Joe Mather in HS. Lots of SSes get drafted and switch positions.
This draft is turning out different from many during recent years. It may not be random,, but adjustments in philosophy.
I want to see Allen Craig stay at 2B. Wong can shift to 1B.
How many errors would Theriot have from throwing it over his head.
As I understand, college 2B are rarely hot prospects, the position being the infield equivalent of LF. But I saw somewhere he was thought to be the position player closest to the majors in this years crop of potential draftees.
He also has a high OBP, due in part, I’m sure, to the Gaedel-like strike zone. He can bunt, sacrifice, hit nad run, hit behind runners, and take a walk. Also a smart aggressive baserunner. All qualities we could use.
There was some gnashing of teeth on Twitter over the selection of Wong. I gathered that there was some expectation that a pitcher would be selected in the 1st round. Now I am certainly no expert, but isn’t infield help a more immediate need in the minors than pitching? Didn’t the Cardinals pick mostly pitchers in 2010? (Cox being the exception).
Also there was criticism of the Wong pick because he is only 5’9″. As a 5’2″ American, I find this prejudice of the vertically challenged insulting.
they likely interviewed him……….. found out what he might take ………… if he gave the right impression…bingo………you know how the Cards like shifty little slick fielding glove men……………they collect them………….. looks like the Cardinals aren’t planning on keeping any infielder very deep into their arbitration years…………
Who was the last one they had worth doing so?
btw, Wong’s advisor is Boras.
Greinke went for the Brewers last night (Monday), and with them having no days off, he’ll be up again Saturday. The likely thing is Carpenter with an extra day rest. But Tony could pitch Carp Friday against a lesser opponant hoping to steal the first game of the series. With the day off yesterday, Tony could work the rotation so as to match up whoever he wants with Greinke.
15.000.000$……………….. Tony has made two adjustments already……….the slack is gone……the knot is tied……..the die is cast………. the moose is loose………..wait a second on that last one…….thats it ….give it a moment………. BB…..we have AP……….rest easy.
BB………… Tony has limited flexibility when dealing with the rotation………….last weeks short rest start for Lynn wasn’t about winning………… it wasn’t about an extra day for Garcia……..it was about getting Lohse to lead off the Milwaukee series………also positioning him to pitch against Philly……….
the switch of Garcia and Lance in Huston, was an attempt to save his two gunslingers (Salas,Sanchez) for Friday night and spare them an appearance too close out Garcia’s game should he have went against the lefty (Happ) on Thursday…………. they may still pitch………but the probabilities are much less………you may see some Franklin late on Thursday if things go well…………. Tony is very practical…….. Salas and Sanchez are his silver bullets right now……… he knows there vulnerability if they are overused.
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