Albert Pujols' defensive position

[Fuzzy Bear]

Last year, young (but not as young as we thought) Mr. Pujols had a major, major coming out party, as all here know. He was lauded for his versatility; it's what enabled him to crash the big league party at age 21:makepuke: and get playing time. Now he's 22:makepuke: (or 23 or 24) and it's time to stop monkeying around with his position.

Pujols will have the most value as a player if he's stationed in RF for keeps as of now. Polanco can play 3B; he is an underrated player, in my opinion, who has a chance to be a minor star if HE stays at 3B (where he excells with the glove) and Pujols can play a position where he can use his arm without worriying if he'll grow too big or too slow for the position, then have to make a position shift in mid-career.

I hate position shifts, and I believe that most of them do more harm than good. However, a leftward move on the defensive spectrum, 3B to RF, by a player EARLY IN HIS CAREER, especially when his offense will support the move (2B to 1B switches don't work because the 2B guy usually doesn't hit enough for 1B).

Have the Cards put Pujols in RF? Are they using him at multiple positions? What's Polanco doing this spring? I'm an enquiring mind; I wanna know!:D

[RichG]

Originally posted by Fuzzy Bear
Last year, young (but not as young as we thought) Mr. Pujols had a major, major coming out party, as all here know. He was lauded for his versatility; it's what enabled him to crash the big league party at age 21:makepuke: and get playing time. Now he's 22:makepuke: (or 23 or 24) and it's time to stop monkeying around with his position.

I haven't seen notice his age is officially more than what he was saying it was. Has he had it changed or is this the same speculation that was whispered about last year?

[Fuzzy Bear]

There has been some discussion in other threads that Albert was actually 23. He's still a stud if he's 23; it's just that he doesn't have a chance to be the greatest player of all time if he's starting that late. Some of you guys following the Age-gate scandal, fill us in.

[gyb13]

I don't think his age has been changed yet....Lee?

[sweaver]

Pujols can play third, and should. He's not Bobby Bonilla squeezing into the position, he can legitimately play there. When he hits 30, he'll have to think about shifting to first.

[Fritz Buelow]

How many great hitting 3Bs are in the NL? Not many. Having him there gives the Cards an edge.

[WiredTiger]

He definitely has the most value at 3b. It would be easy for the Cards to find a decent 3b than an OF. If Puljos plays third for most of his career he has a better shot at the HOF.