Is it just me, or does it seem that Pujols is carrying the team more than usual of late?

Rant:

No. For once, he is not. Now, I say this given the circumstances of the past week (after the Cardinals terrible slide to the AL). Pitching has picked up CONSIDERABLY (the bullpen has been darn near flawless). However, being the most prolific homerun hitter over the past 6 years gives the appearance that he's carrying the team. Things like a walk-off homerun and another homerun when the game is 1-0 in the 6th gives backing to that claim.

However, consider this: The Cards have 3 of the top 12 players in the NL in batting average. When you consider that the guy batting behind Pujols is batting .331, chances are you're going to become more aggressive to the game's best player. Sure, he was IBB'd twice yesterday, but look how that panned out. Rolen smacks a bloop single and the Cards win. However, when you pitch to Pujols, he hits a walk-off homerun. Pick your poison.

I think that Pujols (or, really, and big bat for any team) outwardly seems to "carry" a team, but this really has been a collaborative effort (bear in mind that the Cards were actually playing about .500 when Pujols was injured, and then promptly started losing games left and right when he came back).

/Rant

P.S. Thank you Phil, for starting a topic I know something about. If anyone else wants to talk Cards baseball, I'd love to chat.

so how bout that wimbleton?

I an say this, Rolen batting well helps the cardinals more than any other single player would. With Rolen beating faces in, Pujols actually gets pitched to more often, since Rolen isn't exactly an easy out.

The same thing is developing with the Astros now that they have Aubrey Huff. Perhaps Berkman will see fewer intentional walks if Huff can punish some pitchers for the walk.

And I have a question, when are the reds going to start sucking again like normal? This is getting annoying.