Pujols

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ST. LOUIS (AP) -- For a guy who's never considered himself a home-run hitter, Albert Pujols is setting a blistering pace.

Pujols became the fastest player in major league history to reach 19 home runs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

"I'm not a home run hitter," Pujols said. "McGwire's a home run hitter, Bonds is a home run hitter.

"I'm a line drive hitter with power, and that's it. All I try to do is just hit for average, and hopefully if I put a good swing on it the ball's going to go out of the park."

Pujols reached the milestone in his 37th game, beating Mickey Mantle in 1956 and Luis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks in 2001, by three games. Pujols added RBI singles in the first and fourth, hiking his major league-leading total to 47, and flied out to the warning track in center field in the sixth.

sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=260513124

Does he have any chance to pass 73?

[Cerrano39]

Yes he does...if teams keep pitching to him.

[McGahee]

Rolen, Edmonds, and Encarnacion to protect him. He's the most lethal hitter in the game right now. If he gets the help, pitchers will have to pitch to him...

[SlammySammy2121]

At the rate Pu-Jols is going, I think he could beat Hammerin' Hank. And in my opinion, Pujols is one of the best All-Around players I have seen in quite awhile.

[Cerrano39]

The last time I was so in awe of a player was pre-Cinci Ken Griffey Jr.

[Tarheels Reign Supreame]

check this out guys, pujols has 1 home run every 3.74 games, while barry has a home run every 3.87 games.
bonds has played 2766 career games, at the rate pujols is going he would have 739HR by his 2766 game, but considering he would be walked less, he could probablet surpass Hank (or Bonds).

[McGahee]

Why would he be walked less? Wouldn't pitchers walk him MORE if he's going to be hitting like Bonds is?

[Tarheels Reign Supreame]

not with the likes of rolen, edmonds, encarnacion hitting behind him.

[McGahee]

Encarnacion is nothing to fear, Edmonds has about 3 years left at most and has been pretty bad this year, and Rolen hasn't exactly been crushing the ball out of the park either this year.

It all depends on time. If Pujols has the same type of protection he has now for the rest of his career, he's certainly going to be walked much more often than he is now (not even a walk per game... the guy's on pace for 80 homeruns this year) but if he gets a guy that is young and can hit 35-40+ homeruns consistently, then maybe pitchers will be in a dilemna...