Jesus Creed
OK, maybe he dodged the media after the game, but he made an error — I didn’t think he had his feet ready — or was judged to have made an error and it was costly. Errors happen, even errors by the best players, and that’s part of the game. But, wow, he’s getting grilled. Pujols plays for the wrong team, of course, but he’s an exceptional player with exceptional character. Chill media.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Albert Pujols takes full responsibility for the error that led to the Texas Rangers’ winning run in the ninth inning Thursday night, but takes exception to charges he neglected his responsibilities by not discussing the play in its immediate aftermath.
“Don’t try to blame (center fielder) John Jay,” Pujols said Friday. “I took my eyes off (it). I think it has to be an error. It hit my glove, so (if) you want to blame me for that, then go ahead and blame me. I don’t care….
But Pujols, off to an 0-for-6 start in the World Series, took as much if not more grief for failing to address the media after the game.
As Yahoo.com columnist Jeff Passan points out, manager Tony La Russa seemed to cover for Pujols by suggesting he didn’t know exactly what happened on the play and Pujols’ reputation as a leader took a hit by subjecting his teammates to the media crush. Passan wrote:
“He might not say anything interesting or of import, but that isn’t the point. A leader leads through good and bad. And if Albert Pujols truly wants to consider himself as one, and the Cardinals continue to empower him accordingly, perhaps next time he’ll think twice before he leaves the kids to mop up his mess.”
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