Womack: Despite decline, Albert Pujols is still an easy Hall of Fame choice
From SABR member Graham Womack at The Sporting News on September 7, 2016:
The years have not been kind to Albert Pujols, this much is certain. When he left the Cardinals following the 2011 season, Pujols owned a .328 career batting average and 445 home runs. Through his first 11 seasons, Pujols also had 64.3 Wins Above Average, third-best ever in that span per Baseball-Reference.com, just behind Rogers Hornsby and Ted Williams.
Was Pujols on-track to possibly be the greatest baseball player of all-time? It seems inconceivable to even think it now, though in 2011, Pujols at least looked like he might one day be in the discussion.
The last five years, of course, have been a vastly different story. Pujols has hit .265 as a member of the Angels. His lifetime batting average has fallen to .309 and could go below .300 by the end of the 2020 season if he maintains the level of production he’s offered so far as an Angel. If Pujols declines further, he could drop south of .300 sooner.
Read the full article here: http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/albert-pujols-is-still-an-easy-baseball-hall-of-fame-pick/1q09eyro7ukqo1gu4kvnlwgl8g
Originally published: September 7, 2016. Last Updated: September 7, 2016.