How the mighty have fallen…

What do Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have in common? Yes, they don the same uniform, they are both easy on the eyes, and both have had multiple All-Star appearances. Both players signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after long tenors with their respective teams. Pujols spent ten years with the St. Louis Cardinals. In that time, he was a 9 time All-Star with two World Series rings under his belt. The 2001 rookie of the year signed a 10-year deal with the Angels on December 8, 2011 worth $254 million. After spending five years with the Texas Rangers, five time All-Star Josh Hamilton agreed to a five-year contract worth $125 million to join Pujols in red and white. Despite many off season issues, Hamilton was the 2010 ALCS MVP batting .350, with four home runs and seven RBI’s.

” I don’t know how anybody could ever be better than he is. Ever. No offense to Henry Aaron and all those guys. I’m sorry, Hank. Albert Pujols is really, really good.”
—Former teammate Adam Wainwright

“He has a passion for the game, a love for the game. You can see it. You can sense it. He’s got natural God-given ability. A natural baseball player. A warrior. The man is good at every little thing he does.”
—Former Cardinals hitting coach Mike Easler

Newsflash, that version of Albert Pujols stayed in St. Louis. The Angels version is a shell of his former self. Since joining the Angels, Pujols has declined in almost every category. The 2012 season was easily the worst of his career. Pujols finished the year batting .285, with a career low 30 HR’s. Once a baseball god, Pujols now looks like an old thoroughbred that has ran one of his last races. With all due respect to Adam Wainwright, comparing Pujols to Hank Aaron was premature and frankly ridiculous. Aaron played 23 years in the majors. Correct me if I am wrong, but players back than did not have the cushy digs, spa treatments, medicine and perks that players do today. To some defense to Pujols, I am aware of his plantar fasciitis. With treatment, plantar fasciitis can be managed. If his case is significant, he should be on the DL, not stinking up the field. I digress. Maybe we as fans put Pujols on a pedestal where he does not belong. No doubt he is talented, and a far above average ball player, but comparing him to the all-time greats, no thanks.

Brings me to Josh Hamilton.

“Josh Hamilton is the best baseball player to walk the planet.”
—Teammate Ian Kinsler 

“It’s amazing how many scouts say he’s the best player they’ve ever seen.”
—Rangers GM Jon Daniels
 

 “He’s got a legitimate shot at winning the Triple Crown.”
—Kinsler

 
Forgive me while I laugh out loud. Hamilton’s numbers have been inconsistent at best. Coming off an impressive 2010 season, 2011 was mediocre and 2012 just slightly better than the year before. Fast forward to 2013, Angels manager Mike Soscia dropped Hamilton to 7th in the batting order after his horrendous start. Hamilton has just 12 HR’s and 34 RBI’s a week before the All-Star breakAt this rate, Hamilton could be looking at one of his worst year’s in his brief MLB career. A far cry from winning the storied triple crown. Hamilton’s off-season issues have been more prevalent than his on field play. No one really knows if his personal issues are inadvertently affecting his play on the field, but it wouldn’t be the first time an athletes demons affected his/her play.

Pujols is signed to a contract through the 2021 season. If his plantar fasciitis is acting up now, I can only imagine how useless his skills will be at the ripe old age of 41. Hamilton’s contract is not so extreme, he is signed until 2017, then he will only be 36. But, once again, I can’t imagine his inconsistencies as a ball player will magically fix themselves.

For the sake of the Angels purse strings, I hope I’m wrong. I guess we will have to wait and see.

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