The 137th episode of “Seinfeld,” America’s all-time greatest television sitcom (edging out “The Cape”), is titled “Bizarro Jerry.” The episode focuses on Elaine, who meets a group of friends that are exact polar opposites of the characters we had grown to love. Kevin, her ex-boyfriend who she decides to remain friends with, is the contrary to Jerry in every way, leading Jerry to dub him “Bizarro Jerry.”
Believe it or not, I bring this up for a reason. It seems that through the first 10 games of the baseball season a very similar phenomenon is taking place in St. Louis. Albert Pujols, the undisputed premier player in baseball, does not seem to be quite himself. The nine-time All Star, three-time National League MVP, and four-time “Most Debonair Goatee” Award winner is hitting a mere .150, with only one multiple-hit game and four total RBIs. He isn’t driving in runners, hitting with ease to the opposite field or flashing his famed, effortless Vorel-esque power. So far in March and April, all we’ve seen is “Bizarro Pujols.” And unlike in “Seinfeld,” Cardinals fans aren’t laughing.
It’s early yet, but this snail-paced start leaves fans with reasons for concern. Pujols has never previously hit below .340 in his first 10 games of any season, so this isn’t just a typical seasonal slump. He seems to be straining at the plate, trying to drive every ball into the seats instead of taking what the pitcher gives him. As a result, he isn’t hitting outside pitches to the opposite field, instead producing lazy grounders to the left side of the infield. This isn’t at all surprising, considering that Pujols is under more pressure now than he has ever been in his 10-year, hall-of-fame worthy career.
If you don’t live under a rock or somewhere in the Arctic, then you know that Pujols is due to become a free agent after the 2011 season. Contract negotiations with St. Louis broke down heading into spring training, and instead of providing a mid-season distraction for his team, Albert instead opted to halt further negotiations until after the season. This means that, for now, all eyes are on his on-field play, as multiple teams watch keenly and mull over the opportunity of snatching this generation’s finest hitter.
Whether this added spotlight has contributed to Pujols’ less than gaudy numbers is purely speculation, but I think it’s ridiculous to say that all the gossip and swirling rumors have not taken some kind of effect. St. Louis’ entire lineup has struggled to score runs thus far, averaging only 3.5 runs per game, so the pressure to produce and carry the team offensively could also be wearing on the Dominican slugger. Whatever it is, Pujols better snap out of it fast, because in the competitive NL Central no one team can’t afford to struggle for too long.
With all that said, Cardinals fans should step back, take a deep breath and realize that the sky isn’t falling just yet. Pujols is a career .330 hitter, and I think with all he’s accomplished the least we can all do is give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s true that he has probably never been under this amount of pressure, and he undoubtedly will be under a sizable media microscope for the remainder of the 2011 season. But at the end of the day, he’s still Albert Pujols, and that has to count for something.
