ST. LOUIS -- This isn't how it was supposed to go for Albert Pujols. His glove wasn't supposed to be the biggest story surrounding him when All-Star festivities came to his town.After an 0-for-3 in the All-Star Game, which followed a modest performance in the Home Run Derby, there wasn't much to say about Pujols' work at the plate.
Obviously, there was a bit of a spotlight on Pujols this week. And, obviously, that doesn't make it any easier to perform.
"You have the Home Run Derby and also have to catch a pitch from the U.S. President, and oh yeah, you have a game to play as well," Pujols said. "I won't use the word stress. I wish it can be like this for the rest of my career, this stressful."
When Pujols got to the microphone following his exit from Tuesday's game, he faced three questions about one catch he made that wasn't even in the game. Pujols caught President Obama's ceremonial first pitch, reaching down to keep it from hitting the ground.
"I scooped it up a little, but I think I was going to catch it in the air," Pujols said. "It was a great pitch."
Once the game began, Pujols glove was the story again. He made an error on Mark Teixeira's first-inning grounder, contributing to two American League runs.
"The ball was hit between second and first and I kind of got lost a little bit," he said. "It handcuffed me because it went through [Joe] Mauer's leg a little bit, and I kind of lost that pitch. That's an error you don't want to make early in a game like that. It cost us two runs."
Pujols has made seven errors so far this season, tied for most in the National League. He also won a Gold Glove, in 2006. He showed both sides of his defensive ability in this game. In the fifth inning he made a nice stop to his right of a grounder by Derek Jeter, throwing to second to force Ichiro Suzuki. Then he ended the inning with a diving stop on a Teixeira grounder.
"That was the best thing I did all week," Pujols said of the defensive inning.
Second baseman Chase Utley said Pujols doesn't get enough credit for his defense.
"Every time we play him, he comes up with a big play," Utley said. "He's a big guy, but he reacts like a small infielder."
MLB All-Star Game Photos
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets National League All-Star Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals after throwing out the first pitch before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Albert Pujols;Barack Obama
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama throws out the first pitch before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: U.S. President Barack Obama walks onto the field before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: Sheryl Crow sings the National Anthem before the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sheryl Crow
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians congratulates American League All-Star Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees after the American League team won the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mariano Rivera;Victor Martinez
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: A general view of Busch Stadium during the pregame ceremonies of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Jessica Foster/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Victor Martinez #41 of the Cleveland Indians tags National League All-Star Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies out after dropping the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Victor Martinez;Ryan Howard
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Carl Crawford #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays catches a ball off the bat of National League All-Star Brad Hawpe #11 of the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carl Crawford
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: National League All-Star Miguel Tejada #10 of the Houston Astros turns a double play against American League All-Star Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers in the sixth inning of the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Hamilton;Miguel Tejada
MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. LOUIS, MO - JULY 14: American League All-Star Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins throws to first base during the 2009 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium July 14, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The American League beat the National League 4-3. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Mauer
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-15-2009 @ 3:36PM
andybo429 said...
I hope all of the steroid talk goes away surrounding Pujols. He is such a great player, and it is a shame that people want to associate his accomplishments and talents with PEDs.
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