Albert Pujols is still the most interesting thing in St. Louis baseball
In your face, Shohei Ohtani
“Now pitching for the Cardinals, #5 Albert Pujols,” is not really a phrase that anyone expected to hear. Let alone on a Sunday night in May. Let alone in a nationally televised game. Let alone in a game against one of the best teams in baseball. Let alone in a game where Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina became the winningest battery in Major League history. But it happened. And it just further solidifies the notion that Albert Pujols is the most interesting thing in St. Louis baseball.
Pujols’ pitching appearance wasn’t magic. He allowed four runs on three hits, a walk, and a pair of home runs. Luis Gonzalez and Joey Bart get to say that they homered off Albert Pujols.
My favorite thing about the appearance might have been the statistical notes.
Pujols was the oldest player to take the mound for the Cardinals since John Smoltz on September 30, 2009. Smoltz was older by 19 days.
Pujols has the second most career home runs for a player taking the mound at 681 home runs. Babe Ruth had 686 when he took the mound on October 1, 1933. That was Ruth’s only pitching appearance in 1933 and first since 1930. Ruth allowed 5 earned runs in a complete game 6-5 victory for the Yankees over the Red Sox.
Pujols may end up having the highest ERA of any Hall of Famer when he joins the club. His 36.00 career ERA currently tops Josh Gibson’s 21.60 career ERA.
But Pujols didn’t have the only statistically remarkable game. Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina scored their 203rd victory as a starting battery, surpassing Warren Spahn and Del Crandall as the winningest starting battery in MLB history. It is a record that will likely stand for a long time, given how free agency works in baseball these days.
One player spending 16 seasons playing for the same team is unlikely enough in the game today, two players doing it is a rarity. But I’m sure on September 17th, 1963, as Spahn and Crandall made their final start together, they figured it was going to be hard to be beat as well, even in a world without free agency. And it was for almost 60 years.
In some ways it was poetic that Pujols got to close out a game where Wainwright and Molina set that record. I can’t deny it wasn’t fun however I am disappointed that a night that should have been about those two doing something remarkable was overshadowed by Pujols taking the mound.
It does bring up an interesting point though. I wrote about some of my problems with unwritten rules earlier this season and this particular situation brings up some interesting hypocrisy.
The Cardinals had a 13 run lead and decided it was big enough that they could basically let anyone pitch and still win. Somehow this approach isn’t disrespectful, but bunting for a hit while up 13 runs because it might not be enough, is.
Makes no sense to me.
Anyway, I’m just hoping that for Wainwright’s final game in Busch, whenever that game may be, we get to hear, “Leading off and playing left field, #50 Adam Wainwright.”
Who’s Hot, Hitter’s Edition
(minimum 15 plate appearances the last 10 days, out of 318 qualifying hitters)
Brendan Donovan, 302 wRC+ (4th in MLB)
Paul Goldschmidt, 254 wRC+ (T-11th in MLB)
Juan Yepez, 173 wRC+ (T-53rd in MLB)
Yadier Molina, 169 wRC+ (T-58th in MLB)
Dylan Carlson, 132 wRC+ (T-102nd in MLB)
Who’s Hot, Pitcher’s Edition
(minimum 15 batters faced the last 10 days, out of 305 qualifying pitchers)
Miles Mikolas, .186 wOBA (36th in MLB)
Jake Woodford, .203 wOBA (T-50th in MLB)
Adam Wainwright, .248 wOBA (T-86th in MLB)
Jordan Hicks, .266 wOBA (T-99th in MLB)
Genesis Cabrera, .336 wOBA (T-193rd in MLB)
