What will it take for Pujols to catch up?

[kemper5]

To his standard numbers. We know this is his worst start in the Majors ever. Is there something wrong with him? He's on pace for a 26 HR, 85 RBI type season. He will at least have to average 10 HR's and 25+ RBI's and a .340 pace to at least come close to his 45 HR, 130, .330 standard numbers.. May we see a very average 26 HR, 90 RBI, .275 season from him? We are at the 1/4 point in the season he should have shown a little life by now..

[Young 8]

never

This year you better don't expect from him the same numbers of the last....2/3 years

[Giambis]

I don't think he's going to get to where he was the past couple year...Just no signs of life yet, and while I think he'll eventually get going, the lineup around him is absolutely putrid, which will limit his runs and rbis...
In short, the guy is ticking me off.

Cue the always clever and appreciated "Drop him" responses.

[kemper5]

May we see a huge regression.. 28 HR, 102 RBI, .285 ish.. Im thinking maybe.. Years past at this point we were talking him being at 15 HR, 40-45 RBI levels

[jealousblues]

A trade for another good hitter in the lineup


****
and its no secret if you watch the games that this guy is just trying too hard (and people suspect he is hurting too). He is always pulling the ball. He used to never do this, but now its always pounded toward 3b, ss ect...
He is also really expanding his strike zone to make things happen.
its sad and entirely non-pujols like.

[kemper5]

Weird to think Pujols as just an average power hitter. Nothing to great.

[jealousblues]

as a Cards fan and first time Pujols owner its really, really annoying.

[roninmedia]

Pujols is Alex Rodriguez, circa 2006.

I mean we have to realize every hitter has a down year even if it isn't marred by injury. Pujol's down year might be 2007, but even Arod's down year was great for 99% of MLB hitters out there. Of course one down year shouldn't mean you drop a few spots down from say #1 to #6 and a career year slides you up far because you know that he'll repeat or better that year because it's not a career year but a trend. (Arod vs. Soriano vs. Howard).

[nebgib5]

suddenly all the "why don't you drop him" responses are gone. i think it's pretty reasonable to expect that pujols could have the kind of regression that a-rod had last year. he's far too good a hitter to hit .275, though. maybe a .295-30-105 season.

[clevername]

He won't reach career totals, but I'd look for a pretty big second half, even if the Cards are completely out of it by then (the way things are going, it'll be long before...).

That'll do just fine for H2H folks if they can get through the time in between.