As one of the most prolific homerun hitters in the last decade, Albert Pujols is possibly one of the most difficult hitters to get out in all of baseball. If you'll recall, by August of this year, King Albert was 7-9 with 5 bombs and 24 RBI's with the bases juiced. What's more, he was 6-6 on first pitch counts and when he was actually behind in counts. So he becomes even more dangerous when it matters the most!
Aside from intentionally walking in a run when he comes to the plate with the bases loaded - how does the "Intelligent Pitcher" get Pujols out. I am reminded of an at bat versus the Astros' Roy Oswalt. Roy was able to strike Pujols out on three consecutive perfectly placed outside fastballs. Albert didn't swing at any of the three pitches and struck out quickly. What does this tell us about Pujols?
Well, for starters, it proves that you can't make mistakes to Pujols. The pitches were perfectly located that Oswalt used to K Big Red. They were just outside enough to look like balls, and yet they were still on the black for a strike. Sorry, I know that isn't exactly easy to do, but sometimes the truth hurts.
But more importantly, this at bat gives us serious insight into the mind of big league hitters. The best hitters in the game are where they are because they are the most disciplined and selective hitters in the world. They are not like their minor league breathren who are inclined to swing much more aggressively...especially at pitches they aren't in the zone. In essence, they "help out" the pitcher when he would otherwise end up walking them or getting into "hitter's counts." The professional hitter (e.g. Pujols) will wait and wait and wait for HIS pitch. It big be an inner half fastball, or a first pitch curveball or change up out over the dish. Usually its a pitch out over the dish that they can drive. Whatever it is, the best hitters in the game, such as Albert, are good enough to let good pitches go, even for strikes that put them in pitcher's count, to allow them to get the pitch they are looking for later in the at bat. Hitter's like Albert are good enough to fight off pitches when they are in 2-strike counts until the hitter makes the mistake. Sometimes even into multiple at bats, the best hitters will wait until they get that pitch...and when they get it......they do not miss.
So back to the Oswalt encounter. The best I can say is that either Oswalt or the catcher saw something in the way Albert was approaching his at bat that tipped him off that he was looking for something off-speed or inside. Luckily, they were correct and were smart enough to not deviate from their game plan. So, in this case, three perfectly painted fastballs down and away is all it took in this instance to get him out.
As you can tell, getting Pujols out is not an easy task. The "Intelligent Pitcher" must be on his game and intuitive enough to execute a game plan to perfection...all the while hoping Albert hasn't already thought of your game plan and is there waiting with the bases loaded.
Until next time.....
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