Power punch
ST. LOUIS — Hard to imagine how well Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen would be hitting if they were completely healthy.
Even though they’re banged up, they’re doing just fine for the runaway St. Louis Cardinals.
“Scott and Albert would be my two MVPs, not only on this team but in all of baseball,” Cardinals pitcher Jason Marquis said. “Everybody in baseball knows they’re two of the greatest players.”
Add in the big numbers of Jim Edmonds and it’s easy to see why the Cardinals took the best record in the majors and a 12-game lead in the N.L. Central into the weekend.
Before every game, Pujols’ first stop is the training room, where his left ankle is treated and wrapped.
Pujols has inflammation of the large tendon running along the bottom of his foot, an injury that more commonly afflicts long distance runners. It won’t go away without rest.
“I can’t tell you where it started or when it started or even how it started,” Pujols said. “But I can tell you it hurts bad, I can tell you that for sure.”
The problem bothers him most when he runs. But the first baseman is playing through the pain.
Pujols is closing in on his fourth straight 100-RBI season. He’s already reached 100 runs for the fourth straight year and was hitting .323 with 39 home runs going into the weekend.
After a slow start it’s looking like another MVP-caliber season for Pujols, the runner-up behind Barry Bonds the last two seasons. He batted .287 in April, .317 in May, .292 in June and .374 in July.
“When I cross that white line, I’m ready to play,” Pujols said. “I don’t care about what kind of injury I have. If I have to push it I’m going to push it because that’s the way I am.”
It’ll be a hard sell for manager Tony La Russa, trying to persuade Pujols to take a few days off down the stretch. Pujols said he doesn’t want to rest.
“I need to go out and play the game.” he said.
Watching Rolen, it’s easy to forget that he’s hurt, too.
Rolen had an N.L.-leading 111 RBIs through Saturday, along with 31 home runs and a .321 average. And, the five-time Gold Glove third baseman was turning in highlight-reel plays on a daily basis.
“I’m too young to have seen some of the older players that people talk about, like Brooks Robinson, but I can’t imagine anybody being better than him,” Marquis said. “I’m just glad he’s on my side.”
But Rolen is persevering through an injured left knee that likely will require off-season surgery. Cartilage damage caused bone bruises that hobbled him for several weeks and robbed him of some of his power.
Right now he feels good, as witnessed by his two-homer game last Sunday in Atlanta and a spry step on defense. But it’s a day-to-day proposition.
“I still have the same problem with cartilage but I don’t have the bruises, so I feel pretty good,” Rolen said. “I’m not limping. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to get hurt again.”
Rolen and Pujols spur each other on.
Pujols has been gaining steadily on his teammate. He’s definitely having the better August, which has put him in the running for first home run title. With 39, he was four short of his career high, set last year.
Rolen has already tied his career high with 31 homers and surpassed his previous best RBI total by one — with more than a month left.
If Pujols catches him in the RBI race, Rolen won’t mind because that will mean the Cardinals are still rolling toward their fourth postseason berth in five years.
“We don’t have rearview mirrors, we go out and try to win,” Rolen said. “I don’t compete against a teammate. I’m a professional.”
Pujols acts as if he, too, doesn’t notice.
“I ain’t here to try to catch up with anybody, I’m here to help my team to win,” Pujols said.
“You need to take advantage when you’re seeing the ball good.”