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| Albert Pujols committed two errors at third base on Wednesday night, proving that playing him at third base is a mistake. - Photo courtesy of Getty Images |
Albert's defense played a big part in the Cardinals defeat as Pujols committed two errors that led to two unearned runs for the Nationals.
Yet despite his struggles at third base on Wednesday night, manager Tony La Russa told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he has absolute confidence in "El Hombre's" abilities at third base.
"If we had the seventh game of the World Series and it was the same set of circumstances, I'd play him at third base hoping they'd hit 27 balls to him. That's how good a third baseman he is," La Russa said. "He may not be Scott Rolen, but he's much better than average because of his savvy and his coolness."
That is quite a bold statement by the Hall of Fame manager, but La Russa is wrong in this instance. Playing Pujols at third base is a mistake. Here are four reasons the Pujols experiment at third base should end immediately.
1. Why risk the injury? Pujols has had problems with his throwing elbow for several years and had bone chips removed from the elbow prior to the 2010 season. Putting Pujols in a position to further injure that elbow makes little sense, considering how important he is to the organization. If La Russa is desperate to add offense by moving Pujols to third base, how desperate would he be if Pujols was on the disabled list with a bulky right elbow?
2. Pujols has struggled at the plate while at third base. Pujols has just two hits in 12 at bats while playing third base, good for a .167 average. Sure it is a small sample size, but why put the slugger, who has struggled at the plate for most of the season, in a situation that he is unfamiliar with? Maximizing Albert's potential will only happen when he is at first base, where he is comfortable.
3. Pujols has not even played good defense at first base this season. So what makes us think he can play well at third? On top of the two errors Pujols made at third base on Wednesday, Pujols has made five errors while playing first base this season. Only three other first baseman have made as many or more errors while playing first base this season. So how can you justify putting Pujols at the hot corner when he keeps booting balls at first?
4. Why make the Cardinals team defense worst than it already is? The Cardinals team defense has been atrocious all season. The Cardinals have made 44 errors as a team, which is tied for seventh most in major league baseball. So why weaken the defense even further by moving Pujols out of position? Is it that important to have so many offensive weapons in the lineup when the defense plays like a slow pitch softball team?
La Russa does some weird and quirky things such as hitting the pitcher eighth on occasion and playing outfielders at second base. For the most part these moves have worked out. But playing Pujols at third base is a mistake. The risk is not worth the reward.
So while its predictable that La Russa would come to Albert's defense regarding his play at third base on Wednesday night, the manager should avoid putting his slugger in that position again.
Sources:
- Tony La Russa quote
- Albert Pujols 2011 stats at third base
- Errors among first baseman in 2011
- MLB Team Defense statistics
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