Albert Pujols: 2010 National League MVP?
"In my heart and mind, I know I can hit anybody. I'm always relaxed. It's hard to explain. It's like playing with my kids. It feels natural." - Albert Pujols.
Albert Pujols Biography
The St. Louis Cardinal first basemen, was born January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Jose Alberto Pujols Alcantara made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2001, and has been crushing opposing pitchers for 9 seasons. Albert and his wife, Deidre, were married on January 1, 2000, and are the proud parents of four children; Isabella, Albert Jr., Sophia, and Ezra. In 2005, Albert and Deidre dedicated the Pujols Family Foundation to provide "the love, care and development of people with Down Syndrome and their families." The Pujols Family Foundation also hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money to provide doctors, dentists, and supplies to those in need in the Dominican Republic. Albert became a U.S. citizen, in 2007, scoring 100 percent on his citizens test. Albert has utilized his Christian faith to help him endure difficult times, and has credited his beliefs for his success in baseball and life. Pujols is known as "one of the good guys," and isan ambassador for Major League baseball based on his unmatched work ethic, moral character, and humanitarian endeavors.
Albert Pujols Career
In Albert's 2001 Rookie of the Year season, he used his bat as a statement to announce his arrival. Pujols put up impressive offensive numbers by batting.329, with 37 homeruns, 130 runs batted in, and 112 runs scored. Albert was voted to the National League All-Star team, won a Silver Slugger Award, and finished 4th in the N.L's. Most Valuable Player Award category. Since Albert's debut, at the age of 21, he has not shown any sign of slowing down, and has become one of baseball's most consistent hitters. In Albert's 9 professional seasons, he has hit 33 or more home runs, and driven in 103 or more runs, while posting an average of.334. For his offensive achievements throughout his career, Pujols has been awarded 3 NL MVP awards (finishing in the top three 8 of his 9 seasons), 5 Silver Slugger Awards, and been voted to the NL All-Star team 8 times. Albert was the 2003 batting champion ( hitting.359), while leading the league in total hits (with 212). Albert has 366 career hom!
eruns, and led the NL in 2009 with 47 dingers. To show that he does not deserve to be considered a one dimensional player, Pujols won a Gold Glove in 2006, and has 61 career stolen bases. It is evident that Albert offensive prowess has instilled fear in opposing pitchers, by leading the league in intentional base on balls three times in his career, receiving 44 in 2009.
Albert Pujols 2010 Season
Albert Pujols is the consensus #1 pick in 2010 Fantasy Baseball leagues all across the nation by inciting visions of a nearly guaranteed MVP season. Pujols will be expected to lead the St. Louis Cardinals in their 2010 campaign to win the World Series. By signing Matt Holliday to a $120 million contract, the Cardinals gave themselves arguably the best 3-4 hitter combination in Major League Baseball and have made themselves the front runners to win the National League Central Division. Albert will be expected to use the protection of Holliday hitting ahead of him in the lineup to put up another monster offensive season. The offensive numbers for Albert's 2010 season can be expected to be somewhere along the lines of a.325 batting average, 38 homeruns, 125 runs batted in, 115 runs, and 8 stolen bases. Personal career milestones for Pujols to reach in the 2010 season will see him play in his 1500th game, surpassing 400 doubles sometime before the All-Star break, and possibly hi!
tting his 400th career home run before the end of the year.
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