It is definitely something to think about. Everyone says that A-rod is the best player in the game; however, purely statistically, that must be questioned.
Aside from hitting .323 in the playoffs (to A-rod's .279) with 13 homers (to A-rod's 7 - granted in fewer games) and 35 RBIs (to A-rod's 17), El Hombre has the regular season stats to challenge A-rod.
To compare the 2, I took their first 8 years (Pujols has only played 8) and compared their stats. To start with, A-rod had won 1 MVP and finished in the top four 4 times during his first 8 years. Pujols has won 2 MVPs thus far and has finished OUT of the top 4 only once!
Regarding stats themselves, A-rod only trumps Pujols in home runs. Alex has 340 through 8 years while Pujols has 319. This category win by A-rod is his only major win (other than steals), so don't get used to it.
Pujols has more RBIs, but barely (+8); however, that is where the close calls end.
Lets look at AVG, OBP and Slugging. Pujols owns A-rod in all 3. Pujols' career AVG is .334 to A-rod's first 8 years .311.
Moving on, Pujols is +43 points for OBP and +46 for Slugging.
These remarkable differentials may make up for 2 factors that would help A-rod. Early in Pujols career, he moved to first base - which everyone considers a less important position than A-rod's SS (during that period). Both are gold glove caliber players at their positions, but A-rod's is much more challenging and certainly more important.
Additionally, A-rod plays in the AL which is consistently a much harder league to play in than the NL. However, 3 of A-rod's first 8 years were played in Arlington, Texas where balls fly out like tennis balls off a metal bat. He hit 150 home runs in that period (something he has never done at any other period during his career). Busch Stadium in St. Louis is generally a middle of the pack stadium regarding home runs. Click here for proof.
The bottom line is that A-rod is likely a better all around player and hits more home runs than Albert, but Pujols is definitely a better pure hitter and certainly a better bang for the buck as he makes less than half of what A-rod makes ($13,870,949 vs. $28,000,000 in 2008).
Anyone care to comment on this debate?
Yaros
By the fact Arod is on the yankees that automatically makes him better.
ReplyDeleteHow many HR did Pujols have in the 2007 playoffs? 0 he wasnt there. How many did Arod have? More t han zero, he was there.
Thats why arod is better than pujols.
i guess they're both ok, and if either was traded to the mets, i probably wouldn't be too upset. if i had to pick one, i'd probably go for pujols, simply due to age (while ignoring the elbow injury).
ReplyDeleteone thing is for sure id take a-rods numbers over pedroia's(17-83). i mean what kind of an mvp is that. and the whole winning team garbage does'nt apply since pujols won in the nl.
ReplyDelete7 out of 8 times in the top 4 for ALbert??? Thats REDICULOUS! I'd still choose Ortiz to have up if I could have one hitter for just one spot. But I agree with yuo about Pujols.
ReplyDeleteare you looking at the best player in baseball TODAY?then if yes is your answer, why are you comparing A-Rod record for his first 8 years only? if the purpose of this article is to find the best player TODAY, then compare stats available up until TODAY despite how many years they both played.
ReplyDeleteTry and write about the women Jeter's dating....that will be much more interesting!