Tag: Albert Pujols

Betting outcry over Home Run Derby is much ado about nothing, but MLB has some cleaning up to do

MLB might’ve dodged controversy this time around but won’t always be so lucky.

The Home Run Derby took place Monday, and it wasn’t without controversy in the sports betting community. Some of the results are being called into question, but not all of the outrage is warranted.

One of the things being questioned is Kyle Schwarber’s shocking loss to Albert Pujols in the first round. Schwarber had the second-shortest odds to win the entire event and was heavily favored over Pujols, who had the longest odds.

Because they were tied at 13 after regulation and bonus time, Schwarber and Pujols had a 60 second swing-off in which Pujols went first and hit seven home runs to reach 20. Schwarber started cold before hitting a flurry of homers in the back-half of his time and finishing with 19, just one shy of Pujols.

So what happened?

Bettors weren’t happy about a home run that wasn’t counted in that flurry, but I went back reviewed the tape, and I think ESPN got it right. The home run in question, which would’ve been No. 17, actually didn’t clear the wall. It came close, and broadcaster Karl Ravech incorrectly called it a home run, but it wasn’t. Every home run Ravech announced from there was one too many. Schwarber hit just six home runs in the swing-off, and lost fair and square to a legend.

The real blown call

The more egregious miss was in the final round when eventual champion Juan Soto was granted home run No. 15 at the end of his regulation time despite the pitch coming after the clock hit zero. That home run shouldn’t have counted, though it probably didn’t affect the outcome of the Derby. Soto was still likely to win after easily passing Julio Rodríguez’s 18 home runs with 14 seconds left to spare in bonus time. Watching the tape, he actually appeared to beat Rodríguez’s score twice after one of his bonus-time homers wasn’t counted. He only needed 19. He hit 20, as Eduardo Perez correctly pointed out on the broadcast.

One mistake was corrected by another. And that’s two too many. Even if money wagered ultimately ended up in the right hands, that can’t happen. The optics are bad. If the biggest error here is that ESPN’s cameras were unable to keep up, that’s only because pitches were allowed before previous balls landed — which officials were there to prevent.

Exhibition or not, events sanctioned for betting need to have a level of integrity necessary to maintain public trust. If rules are treated as mere guidelines to be loosely enforced, the door for controversy is left wide open. That’s what we have now. Major League Baseball has some cleaning up to do if they want to prevent more of this in the future.

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Sports bettors went wild for Albert Pujols after his improbably upset of Kyle Schwarber at the Home Run Derby

Another incredible moment for the Future Hall of Famer

Midway through his first round matchup against Kyle Schwarber during Monday’s Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium, a field full of Major League All-Stars began crowding around 42-year-old Albert Pujols during a time out.

Pujols was reeling, or so it looked, with one home run in the first 56 seconds of his at-bat. It sure seemed like MLB’s finest were getting ready to send off one of their own. Then the darnedest thing happened. Pujols start planting balls over the fence in the outfield. Again. And again. And before he knew it, he was in overtime with Schwarber, the No. 1 overall seed, tied at 13 dingers apiece.

A one-minute swing-off yielded seven more homers as Pujols sent Schwarber home shockingly early.

Albert was a +260 underdog. Schwarber was a -400 favorite. Baseball fans called the matchup a bye for the Phillies slugger.

Oops.

Bettors couldn’t believe it.

 

Pujols lost in the second round to Juan Soto (the eventual Derby champ at +470), but that won’t be remembered as much as his upset of Schwarber. What a moment for the future Hall of Famer.

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MLB All-Stars honor Albert Pujols’ final Home Run Derby with classy home plate celebration

What a way to honor a baseball legend!

At age 42, Albert Pujols is no spring chicken in baseball anymore.

During Monday’s 2022 Home Run Derby, Pujols continued his retirement tour alongside the St. Louis Cardinals with one last crack at the bat. In a thrilling first round, Pujols actually bested favorite Kyle Schwarber in a swing off to advance to the second round! Seriously!

After Pujols’ first go around, where he hit 10 home runs, the MLB All-Stars all jumped out of the dugouts and gave the baseball legend a wonderfully classy moment at home plate. The love and respect that all of baseball has for Pujols is absolutely incredible.

What a moment! Also, here’s how Pujols took down Schwarber in the final moments of an epic first round matchup.

Albert Pujols forever!

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Albert Pujols didn’t look happy when he had to correct an ump for calling him out on 2 strikes

Two strikes!

Before Albert Pujols delivered hit No. 3,320 in his amazing career on Tuesday night to move up to No. 9 on the all-time MLB hit list, he had to call out an umpire.

A few pitches before the base hit, the home plate umpire rang Pujols up emphatically. But it came on a 1-1 pitch, so there were only two strikes on the legend, not three.

Pujols immediately corrected him and didn’t look so happy about it, and I get it — that’s interrupting his rhythm I guess? But it didn’t matter. Pujols stayed focused and got that hit.

Here’s the moment and some reaction to it:

Albert Pujols made his pitching debut and got the game’s final out with a beautiful 47 mph toss

This was incredible to see.

Albert Pujols is a baseball legend and will some day go into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for everything that he has done in the batter’s box but last night he got to do something special and something I don’t think I ever saw coming – he got to pitch an inning for the first time in his career.

How’d it go? Well, he gave up four runs on three hits but he also got three outs, including the final one in the top of the ninth as the Cardinals blew out the Giants, 15-6, Sunday night in St. Louis.

For real, Pujols pitched a real inning of baseball and it was a lot of fun.

Let’s take a look at this incredible half inning of work.

Albert Pujols ambitiously tried to steal third base and MLB fans thought it was hilarious

Noted speed demon, Albert Pujols.

Play professional baseball as long as Albert Pujols has, and you’ll be known for many things.

There’s carrying the mantel for the legendary Cardinals franchise for the better part of a decade — a fact not lost on any seasoned baseball fan. There’s socking home runs (680 and counting), like each of these iconic dingers.

But for all the All-Star teams and incredible hits for power, one aspect of Pujols’ game — his speed — has never been his strong suit. And that’s probably putting it lightly.

During the Cardinals’ matchup against the Brewers (-145 favorites) on Thursday, Pujols decided to put his 42-year-old wheels to the test.

Unsurprisingly, it did not go well.

Look, Albert. Buddy. You might have the jump, but it’s 90 feet. You’re going to have a run a bit faster, I think.

Still, it seems like Pujols knew his limits before. This pick-off ended a streak of 14 successful steal attempts, dating back to 2015.

Huh, all that time on the base paths seems to have paid off for Pujols. Now, if only he were truly faster.

MLB fans on Twitter loved the ambition and couldn’t stop making light of Pujols’ best impression of Ricky Henderson.

Albert Pujols received an incredible Opening Day standing ovation in his first game back with the Cardinals

An emotional moment for Sir Albert.

When Albert Pujols first left St. Louis for the Angels over a decade ago, his place in Cardinals lore was etched in stone.

Few all-time greats — let alone any Cardinals superstars — could compare to nine All-Star selections and three MVPs. To manage such individual excellence while taking center stage as the talisman for two World Series teams in 2006 and 2011 made his accomplishments even better.

Pujols made a lot of wonderful, joyous memories in Cardinals’ red.

That’s what made his official return to St. Louis on Opening Day — as a Cardinal, not an opposing player — all the sweeter. After everything he did for the franchise, the fans inside Busch Stadium made sure to let Pujols know they still have nothing but love for him with a special gift:

A standing ovation as he came up to bat for the first time this season:

I can figuratively see the goosebumps form on my arm while rewatching that clip. Now imagine how Pujols felt, knowing that this would be his last Opening Day ever.

A legend gets his due in return to his old stomping grounds. How could you not be romantic about baseball?

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Albert Pujols made a fantastic entrance in his return to the St. Louis Cardinals

Awesome.

Albert Pujols knows how to make an entrance.

The longtime Cardinals first baseman spent the first 11 seasons of his surefire Hall of Fame career in St. Louis, and he’s running it back for one last time.

On Sunday, the 42-year-old Pujols signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Cardinals, giving him the opportunity to spend his likely final season in the city where he won three MVPs and two World Series titles.

The Cardinals waited little time to get Pujols back in Cardinals red, having him make a special entrance from the right-field gate ahead of Monday’s Grapefruit League game against the Astros in Sarasota, Fla. It was just spring training, sure, but Pujols received a massive standing ovation.

You just love to see that. The Opening Day scene at Busch Stadium should be something special too.

Pujols spent 10 seasons with the Angels before signing with the Dodgers last year. He’s not the All-Star he once was, but the Cardinals legend could end up being a serviceable bench bat and clubhouse presence in 2022.

It’s only right to see him back with the Cardinals.

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