Strategy of intentionally walking Mike Trout to get to Albert Pujols has become a thing

Published Jun. 4, 2015 9:54 p.m. ET

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This is becoming a thing, opposing managers intentionally walking Mike Trout to get to Albert Pujols. 

Walking the reigning MVP to get to Pujols, who has hit 534 home runs, sounds strange indeed, but it's happening. The strategy was employed three times by three managers on the Angels' 10-game homestand that concluded Wednesday.

The Padres, Tigers and Rays all tried it, and Pujols was 1-for-3 with a walkoff hit, against San Diego. 

The Angels are learning how to deal with this situation, and it's a process.

"We're finding a way," Mike Scioscia said. "I think that's when you talk about when you're trying to get a deep lineup. Let the other manager pick his poison. Let him decide what he wants to do. Whether they pitch to Mike or Albert, we're in great shape, especially the way guys are swinging bats. We'll take either one. There's not much we can do about it. Can't affect what another manager wants to do in that situation. We're good with anything they want to do."

The first time it happened the last homestand against the Padres, Pujols hit a walkoff single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and threw his bat and stared into the Padres dugout. He didn't have any visible reaction against the Tigers or Rays when they did it, although he didn't get hits in those situations, either. 

Angels closer Huston Street said this has been a topic of conversation in the bullpen.

"Sometimes (like in Wednesday's game) it put a force at every base," Street said. "Sometimes, you really are just picking your poison, putting a force at every base or putting the double play in order so if you do get a ground ball, maybe you get two out.

"I kind of understand the strategy. (But if) you make mistakes to Albert Pujols, he's got 534 homers to his name and counting with a lot more career left. It's a tough spot to be in as a pitcher. you don't want to be in that spot. Bottom line."

Asked about the situation again when the Tigers employed it, Pujols said: "I don't think about that, dude. It's part of the game. They can do that 100 more times. That doesn't bother me. I've been on the other side, too. Obviously, I wish I would've come through right there with the bases loaded, but I got another chance in the eighth inning and I hit a two-run homer. I don't know if that's going to stop, but whether I'm hitting .500, you don't want the best player on the team to beat you. That's happened early in my career." 

Trout and Pujols each have 14 home runs this season and a combined 59 RBI. 

The Angels certainly can debate the merits of the strategy, but they can't complain. What's not to like about putting Trout on base and having Pujols, who hit six home runs in a six-game stretch on the last homestand and 12 RBI in those 10 games, come to the plate.

About the only downside for the Angels, at least, is the way it makes Pujols feel. The 35-year-old Pujols, who is tied for 17th on baseball's all-time home run list, knows the opposing manager would rather take his chances getting Pujols out than Trout. 

"It is very strange," Angels outfielder Matt Joyce said. "It's not something you would typically think about or think would happen but it has."

Trout has been intentionally walked nine times this season, but three of those intentional walks came on the last homestand.  

"I don't know why they keep doing it," Street said. "Albert is maybe the greatest hitter of all time.

I think it's going to end up working out for us a lot more than it works out for them if they continue to walk Trouty to get to Albert. It puts one more run on base. I think if they pitch to Trout  they're going to get beat a lot, too, because he's the reigning MVP. I think the advantage is to us.

"I know if you're out on the mound it really is flip a coin. Albert might be the best right-handed hitter of all time. He really is that good. You look at his numbers, what he's done, what he's doing this year, what he's done the last week. We talk about it all the time in the 'pen. Would you want to walk a guy to get to Albert? I don't know. I don't know. It's two of the best hitters in the game. I'm glad they're on my team."

Said Joyce: "I don't think that's too big of a concern for us. Any time you can have a future Hall-of-Famer go up to the plate, we're pretty confident that he's going to give us a great at-bat and more often than not come through."

Judging by the last homestand, there should be plenty of data to collect in this department.

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