Can Pujols win the Triple Crown?

I don't think there's any doubt Albert Pujols is capable of winning the Triple Crown, but can he really do it? With all of the great players in the game today, can any player really do it? My answer is YES and I think he's going to do it this season!

That may be a bold prediction, but I'm willing to make it. Every time he steps in the batters box, he's capable of doing something great. Earlier this season I had the pleasure of seeing him play against my hometown San Francisco Giants and he single-handedly took us apart (2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 2RBI). I just sat there and realized I was watching greatness. Not only that, but I found myself rooting for him because of it. As a student of the game, I love to root for greatness. I love to see great players do amazing things. And I think this is the year that Pujols becomes the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967!

At this point in his career (29-years-old) he's already a Hall of Fame lock. With 9 straight seasons of at least 30 HR's, 99 R's, 100 RBI's, .300 BA to start his career, NL ROY ('01), 2 NL MVP's ('05 & '08), Gold Glove ('06), 8-Time All-Star, and a World Series champion ('06), the only thing left is the Triple Crown. Coming into play today he's 1st in HR's (34), 1st in RBI's (90), and 2nd in BA (.333), 12 points behind Hanley Ramirez (.345), which is certainly not insurmountable.

If there's one thing we know about Pujols it's that he's at his best in big moments. If the St. Louis Cardinals can stay at the top of the NL Central, then I think the big games in September will help put him over the top. I know it's not easy and certainly not a sure thing, but he's also probably the best hitter in baseball today. It should be an exciting 2nd half of the season!

Fantasy Impact: There are few players worth trading the farm for but Pujols is one of them. He's about as untouchable as Lincecum from my previous post.