Pujols played most of spring training on a sore right hamstring. Not until Saturday did he confirm that on opening night he aggravated the right oblique that landed him on the disabled list season. He continues to receive treatment for the condition but insists it is not inhibiting his swing.
"I won't use any of the injuries I have as an excuse," he said Saturday.
I agree with Albert. I don't want to hear someone say that they're hurt every time they are doing poorly. Since when have obliques been such a problem?
He looks terrible at the plate. He's obviously not seeing the ball very well. People want to think that he's hurt, because it gives him a reason for sucking so badly right now. But I think it's just a matter of him putting too much pressure on himself.
I don't care what he says, swinging with an injured oblique affects his swing. When his swing is affected, the rest of the at bat is affected. He's trying to compensate.
Is it quasi-noble to brush off the injury as the source of his poor play? Sure.
Is the injury the only reason he's struggling? Probably not.
I think it's a big part of it, though, and may be the root of it all.
TimmyG wrote:I'd like to call up Bozied if that happens. Maybe Marrero.
Is Eli hurt? Why has noone talked about him?
He had some sort of arm injury at the end of spring training, iirc.
As far as Albert goes, I really think he's pressing too much. He seems to feel like he has to carry the team on his shoulders, causing him to be too aggressive at the plate, play through injuries, etc. That pressure is probably even greater in his mind now that Carp has gotten injured and Scott Rolen is off to such a bad start.
TimmyG wrote:I agree with Albert. I don't want to hear someone say that they're hurt every time they are doing poorly. Since when have obliques been such a problem?
He looks terrible at the plate. He's obviously not seeing the ball very well. People want to think that he's hurt, because it gives him a reason for sucking so badly right now. But I think it's just a matter of him putting too much pressure on himself.
I don't think it's either. It's a slump. People go through it. Move on with your lives. It's made into a much bigger deal on here then anywhere else. I don't even hear it discussed anywere else. Not ESPN, not the radio, not nothing.
I haven't seen every AB he's had thsi season but nearly everyone I have seen (maybe 20-or so) he's swinging at pitches out of the strike zone and seems to want to start his swing early and get out in front...
I don't know if that's a result of some oblique problem or not seeing the ball well or both..
In either case you tend to want to start your hands a little early and in so doing the chances of staying back and hitting the ball where its pitched are slim and none..
Once he gets back to hitting the ball hard to right center and taking his customary number of walks then we'll know he's back..
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