The answer is quite simple....He's powered by the Arch. Due to the extended time away without a charge, it did take a quarter to third of the season to get him going again, but once he was charged back up he clearly started producing again.
I assume the mental aspect is the greatest factor (divorce, playing in baseball “heaven”, knowing he was done regardless). Apparently he lost 20 lbs for his final season, too… so that probably helped his plantar fasciitis. And he really dropped the huge leg lift on his foreswing.
It's VERY easy to forget he had a slash line of .182/.282/.320 **43 games** into the 109 games he played, an OPS of .601.
And just 66 games later he finished with an OPS of .895.
[Source](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=pujolal01&t=b&year=2022)
I know the upvote button is supposed to be our way of saying "thank you, good post," but this is great enough that I want to be annoying enough to acknowledge you with a written you are awesome.
It's not a big deal really. mlbcompare bot is awesome, they even have it for nfl and nhl I believe.
I generally just dm it to keep subreddit spam down and my syntax isn't always right.
Even shows the command in the bottom right
`!mlbcompare [2022 first 43 games, 2022 last 66 games]`
Tables cutoff or tough to read? Click [here](https://i.imgur.com/20Pcntd.png) to view this comparison as an image
---
Albert Pujols: [2022-04-07](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN202204070.shtml) to [2022-07-04](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL202207040.shtml) [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-2M-22D] to [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-5M-18D]
Query: 2022 - Regular Season - First 43 Games
\----------------------------------------
Albert Pujols: [2022-07-06](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL202207060.shtml) to [2022-10-04](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT202210040.shtml) [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-5M-20D] to [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-8M-18D]
Query: 2022 - Regular Season - Last 66 Games
---
**Standard**
Player|G|PA|AB|H|1B|2B|3B|HR|XBH|TB|Cycle|R|RBI|BB|K|BB/K|TOB|SB|CS|NS|SB%|IBB|HBP|SH|SF|GDP|AVG|OBP|SLG|OPS|wOBA|ISO|BAbip
:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:
[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|43|142|122|23|15|4|0|4|8|39|0|11|17|13|**27**|0.48|40|**1**|1|**0**|**50.00%**|0|4|0|3|**6**|0.189|0.282|0.320|0.601|0.271|0.131|0.202
[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|**66**|**209**|**185**|**60**|**30**|**10**|0|**20**|**30**|**130**|0|**31**|**51**|**15**|28|**0.54**|**81**|0|1|-1|0.00%|**1**|**6**|0|3|7|**0.324**|**0.388**|**0.703**|**1.090**|**0.455**|**0.378**|**0.286**
**Per Game/Advanced**
Player|G|PA/162|H/162|2B/162|3B/162|HR/162|XBH/162|TB/162|R/162|RBI/162|BB/162|K/162|SB/162|HR%|XBH%|X/H%|BB%|K%|BB-K%|TTO%|wSB|wRC|wRAA|BRuns|WPA|cWPA|RE24
:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:
[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|43|**534.98**|86.65|15.07|0.00|15.07|30.14|146.93|41.44|64.05|**48.98**|101.72|**3.77**|2.82%|5.63%|34.78%|**9.15%**|19.01%|-9.86%|**30.99%**|**-0.33**|12|-4.41|-4.03|-0.6|-0.5%|-5.2
[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|**66**|513.00|**147.27**|**24.55**|0.00|**49.09**|**73.64**|**319.09**|**76.09**|**125.18**|36.82|**68.73**|0.00|**9.57%**|**14.35%**|**50.00%**|7.18%|**13.40%**|**-6.22%**|30.14%|-0.60|**48**|**24.03**|**24.60**|**2.3**|**0.4%**|**19.1**
**Adjusted**
Player|G|AVG+|OBP+|SLG+|ISO+|BAbip+|HR%+|XBH%+|X/H%+|BB%+|K%+|TTO%+|BB/K+|wRC+
:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:
[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|43|78|90|80|85|69|97|73|99|**110**|84|**91**|130|76
[Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|**66**|**133**|**124**|**177**|**244**|**98**|**328**|**187**|**142**|86|**59**|89|**145**|**201**
^(FanGraphs/Statcast stats may lose precision)
^(N/A indicates stat was not tracked at all during the time frame, * indicates stat was not tracked consistently throughout the entire time frame)
---
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There's literally no explanation. He should not have been able to do what he did. I've spent a lot of time trying to find a player who was terrible for so long turn into a slugging beast and found nobody. And he was in his 40's! No one talks about this enough; it's insane what he did.
I mean his 30s weren’t as phenomenal as his 20s, but he was never hot garbage. A fair number of 100 RBI, 20+ HR seasons, hitting >.250.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml
His last five years before 2022 were horrendous, especially for a bat-first player. He had a .241/.290/.410 batting line for an 84 wRC+, way below league average. And again, that's as a DH, a pure offensive position. There are no other players in history who were that bad for that long go on to do what he did in 2022.
I mean okay. So he brought his BA up 30 points and hit the same number of home runs, a few more doubles, and maybe fewer RBIs in fewer at bats. And he was .244 BA/23 HR/93 RBI in 2019. It’s not like in 2022 he was back to .320 with 40 home runs. He had been declining and really pushed the boat out in his final year, with his old team. Surprising, but hardly mind boggling.
I'm sorry, I vehemently disagree. Going from a five-year slash line of .241/.290/.410, wRC+ of 84 to a slash line of .270/.345/.550, wRC+ of 151 is insane, especially in your 40's.
Let's put it this way. Adding 67 points of wRC+ is like going from an average hitter, like Jon Jay or Tommy Edman, to an MVP, like 2022 Goldy or Pujols' whole Cardinals career (he had a 167 wRC+ in his 11 years). If you prefer traditional stats, he added 55 points of OBP and 140 points of SLG, nearly a 200 point increase in OPS.
Speaking as a mid-40s guy who got divorced at more or less the same time he did, this checks out. I feel way better about myself and my life now even if dating sucks out loud.
I'm assuming you're joking, but I know lots of people have this thought. There's zero chance a 40+ year-old Pujols would start taking TRT at the end of his career and completely tank his perception in baseball.
What are the odds that the MLB juiced the balls instead? We all know theyve been playing with their balls for years, and by no means was it standard from game to game
Like, juiced specifically for the Cardinals? Goldschmidt and Arenado did have career years, but there isn't any indication that that was due to a ball change. Pujols wasn't hitting the ball harder or anything. He just barreled the ball better, which is more skill-based than ball-based.
Not juiced for the Cardinals so much as the idea that they have been keeping the balls inconsistent because having more dead vs lively balls allows them to affect the outcome of games. Big hitter is retiring soon and needs a push? Give them the juicy balls in certain games or often enough to make sure you can get the big story. They could give dead balls in the same way. Honestly the fact that they arent required to use a consistent ball 100% of the time is pretty crazy to me considering people are betting a lot on sports these days. Its like 1/3rd of the way to betting on sports entertainment like the WWE
He worked hard changing his batting stance adding a leg kick and found something that worked. For several years prior, his injured body prevented him from being old Albert.
Is it possible, in addition to the other life and approach changes mentioned, that pitchers were grooving fastballs for him? Especially when he started to get within sight of 700.
Me personally I ain’t doing shit to screw up my season stats even if that includes serving a top 3 hitter all time some meat balls. And I grew up in STL so if you didn’t have a Pujols jersey in school you weren’t shit.
I almost jokingly replied this just to see the uproar, but I mean this is actually factually proven right? Him and Judge both played in a ton of games with juiced baseballs
I wouldn't say it's proven but there's definitely some backing to this theory. Enough not to downvote you over it. There were balls going around called "golden balls" that are meant to mark achievements but there's some evidence they were part of some juice balls. There was one ball recovered during Judge's chase that was confirmed juiced and many thought the cards were getting the same balls. Both Yankees and cardinals went on almost team wide hot streaks too.
Now both teams did have a good offense last year but it's suspicious as hell that a guy who was almost entirely washed up, couldn't hit all year, magically goes on a tear as if he's 25 years old again and not until 700 was clearly within reach.
If you think Manfred isn't above juking the stats for more ratings, I have a large arch in St. Louis I'd like to sell you.
Big part of it was him losing a lot of weight coming into the season in shape. This allowed him to be healthy long enough to find his swing and put it into effect. When he started getting hot he was locked in and he was able to stay healthy thankfully.
Well he’s one of the best players of his generation. There was probably a mental aspect of his return to St Louis, but I would argue that he always had it in him. Legend
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Better shape, but to be completely fair, he wasn't really *that* much better. His big difference maker was doubles. He had 3 in 2021 and 14 in 2022. Being in better shape probably let him stretch more borderline plays into doubles.
To bring his 2021 season up to his 2022 slash line, he'd have needed just 9 more hits, 9 more doubles, 4 more home runs, and 9 more walks. Over six months.
An example of the Bull Durham line that the difference between .250 and .300 is one hit a week.
I believe getting out of the Angels organization fixed him. That organization is cursed. Dodgers had him and he did amazing there, came back to st louis, and he finished up great there as well.
The answer is quite simple....He's powered by the Arch. Due to the extended time away without a charge, it did take a quarter to third of the season to get him going again, but once he was charged back up he clearly started producing again.
Replace the word arch with devil magic and I think you're onto something
Cause he's The Mang!
And don’t you forget it
I assume the mental aspect is the greatest factor (divorce, playing in baseball “heaven”, knowing he was done regardless). Apparently he lost 20 lbs for his final season, too… so that probably helped his plantar fasciitis. And he really dropped the huge leg lift on his foreswing.
He really only had half of a good season. It was the last half season he knew he'd ever play. So, he emptied the tank.
It's VERY easy to forget he had a slash line of .182/.282/.320 **43 games** into the 109 games he played, an OPS of .601. And just 66 games later he finished with an OPS of .895. [Source](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=pujolal01&t=b&year=2022)
Do you have his batting stats for his last 66 games? I don’t know how to pull them in isolation
https://i.imgur.com/p1KHQOs.png
I know the upvote button is supposed to be our way of saying "thank you, good post," but this is great enough that I want to be annoying enough to acknowledge you with a written you are awesome.
It's not a big deal really. mlbcompare bot is awesome, they even have it for nfl and nhl I believe. I generally just dm it to keep subreddit spam down and my syntax isn't always right. Even shows the command in the bottom right `!mlbcompare [2022 first 43 games, 2022 last 66 games]`
Tables cutoff or tough to read? Click [here](https://i.imgur.com/20Pcntd.png) to view this comparison as an image --- Albert Pujols: [2022-04-07](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN202204070.shtml) to [2022-07-04](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL202207040.shtml) [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-2M-22D] to [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-5M-18D] Query: 2022 - Regular Season - First 43 Games \---------------------------------------- Albert Pujols: [2022-07-06](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL202207060.shtml) to [2022-10-04](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT202210040.shtml) [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-5M-20D] to [22nd Season - Age: 42Y-8M-18D] Query: 2022 - Regular Season - Last 66 Games --- **Standard** Player|G|PA|AB|H|1B|2B|3B|HR|XBH|TB|Cycle|R|RBI|BB|K|BB/K|TOB|SB|CS|NS|SB%|IBB|HBP|SH|SF|GDP|AVG|OBP|SLG|OPS|wOBA|ISO|BAbip :-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-: [Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|43|142|122|23|15|4|0|4|8|39|0|11|17|13|**27**|0.48|40|**1**|1|**0**|**50.00%**|0|4|0|3|**6**|0.189|0.282|0.320|0.601|0.271|0.131|0.202 [Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|**66**|**209**|**185**|**60**|**30**|**10**|0|**20**|**30**|**130**|0|**31**|**51**|**15**|28|**0.54**|**81**|0|1|-1|0.00%|**1**|**6**|0|3|7|**0.324**|**0.388**|**0.703**|**1.090**|**0.455**|**0.378**|**0.286** **Per Game/Advanced** Player|G|PA/162|H/162|2B/162|3B/162|HR/162|XBH/162|TB/162|R/162|RBI/162|BB/162|K/162|SB/162|HR%|XBH%|X/H%|BB%|K%|BB-K%|TTO%|wSB|wRC|wRAA|BRuns|WPA|cWPA|RE24 :-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-: [Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|43|**534.98**|86.65|15.07|0.00|15.07|30.14|146.93|41.44|64.05|**48.98**|101.72|**3.77**|2.82%|5.63%|34.78%|**9.15%**|19.01%|-9.86%|**30.99%**|**-0.33**|12|-4.41|-4.03|-0.6|-0.5%|-5.2 [Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|**66**|513.00|**147.27**|**24.55**|0.00|**49.09**|**73.64**|**319.09**|**76.09**|**125.18**|36.82|**68.73**|0.00|**9.57%**|**14.35%**|**50.00%**|7.18%|**13.40%**|**-6.22%**|30.14%|-0.60|**48**|**24.03**|**24.60**|**2.3**|**0.4%**|**19.1** **Adjusted** Player|G|AVG+|OBP+|SLG+|ISO+|BAbip+|HR%+|XBH%+|X/H%+|BB%+|K%+|TTO%+|BB/K+|wRC+ :-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-: [Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|43|78|90|80|85|69|97|73|99|**110**|84|**91**|130|76 [Albert Pujols](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml)|**66**|**133**|**124**|**177**|**244**|**98**|**328**|**187**|**142**|86|**59**|89|**145**|**201** ^(FanGraphs/Statcast stats may lose precision) ^(N/A indicates stat was not tracked at all during the time frame, * indicates stat was not tracked consistently throughout the entire time frame) --- ^(Made a mistake? Edit your comment and send me this )[^message](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=mlbcomparebot&subject=Re-Run&message=jpjh1me)^( to re-run the comparison) ^(Or delete the comparison by sending me this )[^message](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=mlbcomparebot&subject=Delete&message=jpjh1me) ^(Instructions for usage and issue tracking can be found )[^here](https://github.com/gh674055/sports-compare-bots/wiki)
There's literally no explanation. He should not have been able to do what he did. I've spent a lot of time trying to find a player who was terrible for so long turn into a slugging beast and found nobody. And he was in his 40's! No one talks about this enough; it's insane what he did.
I mean his 30s weren’t as phenomenal as his 20s, but he was never hot garbage. A fair number of 100 RBI, 20+ HR seasons, hitting >.250. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml
His last five years before 2022 were horrendous, especially for a bat-first player. He had a .241/.290/.410 batting line for an 84 wRC+, way below league average. And again, that's as a DH, a pure offensive position. There are no other players in history who were that bad for that long go on to do what he did in 2022.
I mean okay. So he brought his BA up 30 points and hit the same number of home runs, a few more doubles, and maybe fewer RBIs in fewer at bats. And he was .244 BA/23 HR/93 RBI in 2019. It’s not like in 2022 he was back to .320 with 40 home runs. He had been declining and really pushed the boat out in his final year, with his old team. Surprising, but hardly mind boggling.
I'm sorry, I vehemently disagree. Going from a five-year slash line of .241/.290/.410, wRC+ of 84 to a slash line of .270/.345/.550, wRC+ of 151 is insane, especially in your 40's. Let's put it this way. Adding 67 points of wRC+ is like going from an average hitter, like Jon Jay or Tommy Edman, to an MVP, like 2022 Goldy or Pujols' whole Cardinals career (he had a 167 wRC+ in his 11 years). If you prefer traditional stats, he added 55 points of OBP and 140 points of SLG, nearly a 200 point increase in OPS.
The same thing that rejuvenates all men in their 40s.., divorce and freedom
Why are divorce attorneys so expensive? Because they are worth it.
Speaking as a mid-40s guy who got divorced at more or less the same time he did, this checks out. I feel way better about myself and my life now even if dating sucks out loud.
Not quite 40 but went through the same. Highly recommended. Leaving the toxicity behind opened my life up to happiness I never knew was out there.
And TRT
I'm assuming you're joking, but I know lots of people have this thought. There's zero chance a 40+ year-old Pujols would start taking TRT at the end of his career and completely tank his perception in baseball.
What are the odds that the MLB juiced the balls instead? We all know theyve been playing with their balls for years, and by no means was it standard from game to game
Like, juiced specifically for the Cardinals? Goldschmidt and Arenado did have career years, but there isn't any indication that that was due to a ball change. Pujols wasn't hitting the ball harder or anything. He just barreled the ball better, which is more skill-based than ball-based.
Not juiced for the Cardinals so much as the idea that they have been keeping the balls inconsistent because having more dead vs lively balls allows them to affect the outcome of games. Big hitter is retiring soon and needs a push? Give them the juicy balls in certain games or often enough to make sure you can get the big story. They could give dead balls in the same way. Honestly the fact that they arent required to use a consistent ball 100% of the time is pretty crazy to me considering people are betting a lot on sports these days. Its like 1/3rd of the way to betting on sports entertainment like the WWE
You sure are pathetic
He worked hard changing his batting stance adding a leg kick and found something that worked. For several years prior, his injured body prevented him from being old Albert.
Changed his swing mid season. Went from starting the bat on shoulder to raised in the air cutting swinging time.
I was going to post this, because I heard this somewhere else. Props for answering the question.
I believe this advice also came from an old coach of his. He said it in an interview somewhere I think.
Devil Magic
The Cardinals took advantage of his platoon splits.
Correct. I just wish every manager optimized lineups for platoon splits.
He actually had to pull some of the magic from this year, which is why weve started so slow
Is it possible, in addition to the other life and approach changes mentioned, that pitchers were grooving fastballs for him? Especially when he started to get within sight of 700.
Me personally I ain’t doing shit to screw up my season stats even if that includes serving a top 3 hitter all time some meat balls. And I grew up in STL so if you didn’t have a Pujols jersey in school you weren’t shit.
It sounded like he was ready to hang it up by mid season and then the training staff got him fired up or something.
Divorce
Juiced baseballs
devil magic
Juiced baseballs
Yeah I think MLB more or less admitted to it for both without actually saying it.
I almost jokingly replied this just to see the uproar, but I mean this is actually factually proven right? Him and Judge both played in a ton of games with juiced baseballs
I wouldn't say it's proven but there's definitely some backing to this theory. Enough not to downvote you over it. There were balls going around called "golden balls" that are meant to mark achievements but there's some evidence they were part of some juice balls. There was one ball recovered during Judge's chase that was confirmed juiced and many thought the cards were getting the same balls. Both Yankees and cardinals went on almost team wide hot streaks too. Now both teams did have a good offense last year but it's suspicious as hell that a guy who was almost entirely washed up, couldn't hit all year, magically goes on a tear as if he's 25 years old again and not until 700 was clearly within reach. If you think Manfred isn't above juking the stats for more ratings, I have a large arch in St. Louis I'd like to sell you.
https://www.insider.com/mlb-used-two-balls-again-this-year-and-evidence-points-to-a-third-2022-12 Yeah exactly. For those interested
NL central is way easier than AL west.
STEROIDS.
Steroids 💉
So what if he did? Steroids make sports better.
cream and clear
Obviously this is false,his hat size did NOT quadruple! Stop spreading false narratives.
lol - his head grew when he first used around age 20
Big part of it was him losing a lot of weight coming into the season in shape. This allowed him to be healthy long enough to find his swing and put it into effect. When he started getting hot he was locked in and he was able to stay healthy thankfully.
Jeff Albert.
Well he’s one of the best players of his generation. There was probably a mental aspect of his return to St Louis, but I would argue that he always had it in him. Legend
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He absorbed the souls and talent from the youth at the ASG.
Devil Magic
I feel like participating in the Home Run Derby gave him his groove back because he started raking right after that
Better shape, but to be completely fair, he wasn't really *that* much better. His big difference maker was doubles. He had 3 in 2021 and 14 in 2022. Being in better shape probably let him stretch more borderline plays into doubles. To bring his 2021 season up to his 2022 slash line, he'd have needed just 9 more hits, 9 more doubles, 4 more home runs, and 9 more walks. Over six months. An example of the Bull Durham line that the difference between .250 and .300 is one hit a week.
Changed his style of uniform to a much better one
I am fully convinced Juan Soto gave him the secret sauce at the home run derby to put on a mammoth 2nd half.
Teams were serving him up out of respect. Pitching lefties at him willfully among other things
I believe getting out of the Angels organization fixed him. That organization is cursed. Dodgers had him and he did amazing there, came back to st louis, and he finished up great there as well.