The only real downside to watching Albert Pujols this spring training is that it's … well, it's only spring training.
If there's an air of anticipation about the start of the regular season next week, it's for good reason. Pujols is ready, so why wait any longer?
The newest Angel doesn't make his official debut until next Friday's season opener at Angel Stadium against the Kansas City Royals, but his dress rehearsal in front of his new hometown fans comes Monday night against the Dodgers.
Let's agree on this point: His stroke is down. Pujols on Saturday delivered a first-inning home run against the Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., drove in two and left after six innings with his spring average at .407. He ranks among Cactus and Grapefruit leaders in homers (6), RBIs (17) and on-base percentage (.450) and leads in slugging (.827).
Pujols has quietly gone about his business of preparing for the season while showing his teammates how preparation leads to perfection. Virtually every Angels teammate has watched him perform his daily ritual in the hope of taking something beneficial from it.
After 11 big-league seasons, Pujols understands precisely what he needs to get himself ready for the six-month grind. In the end, it's not about the kind of statistics you pile up in Arizona, it's about feeling comfortable at the plate and getting into game-ready shape for the summer.
Pujols is already there.
Richards optioned, Williams No. 5?
Entering Saturday's game, the most intriguing battle still remaining for Angels manager Mike Scioscia was his fifth starter. Although the team won't need a pitcher to fill that spot until the second week of the season, Garrett Richards and Jerome Williams were making impressive bids.
Richards worked six innings against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday and gave up just two earned runs as the teams played to a 3-3 tie after 10 innings. Richards retired 14 of the first 16 batters he faced, 12 on ground balls, and has a 3.77 ERA this spring.
On a minor league field, Williams threw 44 pitches over four innings to Cubs minor leaguers and surrendered three hits and one earned run. He struck out five and issued no walks.
Following the game, Richards was optioned to AAA Salt Lake, meaning Williams will most likely be the Angels No. 5, though Scioscia still has until the second week of the season to make an official decision.
Who's on third?
Third baseman Mark Trumbo was 1 for 2 to lift his batting average to .340, but he clearly still need more practice to improve his defense.
On a sharp grounder by Chicago's Joe Mather in the fifth, Trumbo let the ball get by him for a double. Trumbo wasn't able to get in front of the ball and in fact turned his body sideways in an attempt to snare it. But it skipped past him quickly and led to the Cubs' first run of the game.
Scioscia will have to pick his spots carefully for Trumbo once the season begins and will have to pull him with late-game leads or risk a misplay. Trumbo has the arm to play third, but right now he still lacks the defensive acumen to position himself correctly.
That will only come with time.
