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TEMPE, Ariz. — Tony La Russa, who managed Albert Pujols while the slugger spent his first 11 major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, can’t wait to see Pujols’ impact in the American League West.
Pujols might be in a new league, in a new city and on a different coast, but La Russa predicts nothing short of greatness. “People wonder whether Albert will feel any pressure or be any different now that he’s with the Los Angeles Angels,” La Russa said. “You won’t see any change. He’s just too strong between the ears and has so much heart and guts. Nothing will bother him.
“He’s already lived with being the best player in baseball. He already lived up to a big contract seven years ago. “This is nothing new to him at all.” Pujols, who signed a 10-year, $240 million contract in December, changes the dynamics of a division won handily by the Texas Rangers the last two years as they outscored the Angels by a combined 294 runs and won 20 more games.
“The Rangers are good, but things are different now,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter says. “They’re the champs. But Albert changes everything.”
Opposing managers such as Rangers manager Ron Washington already are plotting strategy. (Hint: lots of walks.)
Pujols, who won three National League MVP titles and two World Series rings with the Cards, says he’s as comfortable with the Angels as if he’d been around for a decade, even enjoying a night when he, Hunter and outfielder Vernon Wells took three of the Angels’ top prospects go-kart racing.
“As soon as I walked in here, these guys accepted me with their arms open,” Pujols said. “They helped me get adjusted to the process.”
That’s partially because they know what he can do.
Said Angels reliever Latroy Hawkins, who played for NL Central rivals the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs, “I just hope he does the same things for us as he did with the Cardinals. I’d love to see him with back-to-back World Series with different teams.”
Five players have accomplished the feat, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The last position player to do it was first baseman Bill Skowron of the 1962 New York Yankees and 1963 Los Angeles Dodgers.