Why do baseball teams walk Bonds so much but not Pujols?

[maddogchen]

Pujols has 12 HRs already, I would walk him every time there is a free first base. Pujols is as dangerous a hitter as Bonds and this year he's way ahead. Yet I still see teams walking Bonds and pitching to Pujols.

And its not like there is no protection behind Barry, Moises Alou is a good hitter.

 

[Red Dawn]

Trust me, if he's still on this pace in June he'll be walked plenty.

 

[anxi80]

i think we will see more pitching around him now. but its tough, because his open stance and long reach gives him a lot of plate coverage.

 

[Shlong]

They will.

 

[ElFenix]

bonds has a little more history than pujols.

pujols also has had a lot more protection in the lineup than bonds has over the last year. there are (or were) a lot of guys on the cardinals that can flat out mash. walking pujols hurts when the next guy in the lineup can easily knock it over the fence.

 

[deftron]

Basically, pitchers don't want their legacy to be known as giving up
Bonds' record breaking homeruns ...


Right now, they're just delaying the record

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: deftron
Basically, pitchers don't want their legacy to be known as giving up
Bonds' record breaking homeruns ...


Right now, they're just delaying the record

:thumbsup: although i would say they are preventing the record and not just delaying it

 

[LtPage1]

Because Bonds is quite possibly the most dominant player ever (blatant steroid use or no, it's true), and no one's heard of Pujols.

 

[brunswickite]

Barry Bonds offensive numbers from 2001-2004 are unmatched in baseball history. Pujols is awesome, but I think Barry's game when he is healthy is still a notch above.

 

[hdeck]

because they are idiots.

 

[Soccer55]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
pujols also has had a lot more protection in the lineup than bonds has over the last year. there are (or were) a lot of guys on the cardinals that can flat out mash. walking pujols hurts when the next guy in the lineup can easily knock it over the fence.

I was actually about to post the same thing. This year, pitchers basically only have Alou to contend with after walking Bonds. That is far different than having to face Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen after putting Pujols on base.

-Tom

 

[brunswickite]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Because Bonds is quite possibly the most dominant player ever (blatant steroid use or no, it's true), and no one's heard of Pujols.

EVERYONE on a baseball team, knows who Pujols is. He is the arguably the second most dominating hitter from 2001-2005. (Bonds being number 1)

 

[poopaskoopa]

Historically(especially in the past 4, 5 years) Bonds' HR/AB is far superior to that of Pujols.

 

[BUrassler]

Originally posted by: maddogchen
Pujols has 12 HRs already, I would walk him every time there is a free first base. Pujols is as dangerous a hitter as Bonds and this year he's way ahead. Yet I still see teams walking Bonds and pitching to Pujols.

And its not like there is no protection behind Barry, Moises Alou is a good hitter.

I am guessing you got this question from PTI on ESPN? They asked that EXACT question on the show! lol

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: Soccer55
I was actually about to post the same thing. This year, pitchers basically only have Alou to contend with after walking Bonds. That is far different than having to face Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen after putting Pujols on base.

-Tom

and as someone who has alou on his fantasy baseball team i want to thank alou for what he is doing batting behind bonds. yesterday's homerun and 2-run single after bonds got intentionally walked twice is something i hope he can keep up for the rest of the year.

Alou, meanwhile, is hitting .327 with five homers and 17 RBIs, and much of that production has come hitting in the No. 5 spot behind Bonds.

 

[maddogchen]

Originally posted by: BUrassler

Originally posted by: maddogchen
Pujols has 12 HRs already, I would walk him every time there is a free first base. Pujols is as dangerous a hitter as Bonds and this year he's way ahead. Yet I still see teams walking Bonds and pitching to Pujols.

And its not like there is no protection behind Barry, Moises Alou is a good hitter.

I am guessing you got this question from PTI on ESPN? They asked that EXACT question on the show! lol

they did?
no I didn't see it. I got the question from listening to my local sports radio KNBR last night.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Because Bonds is quite possibly the most dominant player ever (blatant steroid use or no, it's true), and no one's heard of Pujols.

hahahaahaha no one has heard of pujols? He IS the best player today... Bonds may have BEEN the best, but no more.

People dont walk pujols because the cardinals have a good lineup surrounding him. There is no one to hit behind Bonds so why pitch to him ( yes Alou gets a hit every once in a while, but he is no Jim Edmonds.)

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: brunswickite
Barry Bonds offensive numbers from 2001-2004 are unmatched in baseball history. Pujols is awesome, but I think Barry's game when he is on roids is still a notch above.

FIXED.

Oh yeah, so what would happen if they tried to pitch around him, and he ran out of the batter's box and smashed that 50 MPH toss?

IMO, they should get rid of pitching around players. It makes a boring game even more boring!

 

[TheNinja]

I know it's an old thread but I was just going to ask this same thing. I think the reasons have been mentioned and are basically 2 fold.

1. Bonds has a better history of hitting the HR
2. Pujols has a little better protection to make people pay for putting him on base.

However if Pujols keeps this up I think he will starting getting walked as much as Bonds. Also keep in mind that both of them currently tied at #3 and have 31 BB. Yes, Barry has much fewer at bats, but the point is that Pujols is getting walked quite a bit, just not "intentionally". But you can guarentee that he isn't getting much to hit yet still is able to lead the league in HR