Cardinals win!  3-2 in Extras.  But Albert Pujols went 0-5.  What have you done with Albert?  Who is this guy wearing #5?  Not talking much today – a win is a win I guess.

Albert Pujols will face youngster Tom Gorzelanny on Tuesday evening.  AP has never faced Tom so this could get ugly.  Tom doesn’t quite know what he’s getting himself into tonight    Hopefully we’ll have some positive stats to report after the game tonight.  Keep on winning Redbirds!

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The Cardinals won yet again on Monday afternoon vs. Ian Snell and the Pirates.  Braden Looper pitched a gem in route to a 3-0 win over the Bucks.  Albert Pujols is starting to heat up.  Pujols went 2-3 with 2 Runs, 1 2B and 1 BB.  Albert increased his average to .200 for the young season.

Albert is still the most successful hitter in PNC Park vs. the Pirates since the park began in 2001.  He simply mashes the ball there.

“Sometimes you can’t catch a break. Those two balls I hit today, probably last week they would have been right at somebody,” Pujols said. “I got off to a slow start, but I know with hard work and if I keep doing what I’m doing, it will come around.”

We know Albert – it’s only a matter of time.  Keep doing what you do!

Albert and the Cardinals take on Ian Snell and the Pirates Monday afternoon at 12:35. This one could get ugly. Albert Pujols is 4-6 with 4 HOME RUNS and 6 RBI’s in his career vs. Ian Snell. Albert has also added 2 walks. Being that Snell was a rookie last year – all of these home runs are from last season. That is just sick! Ian Snell has gotta be dreading this matchup with Albert knowing that balls are going to be flying out of the ballpark again. Some interesting tidbits.

• 4 homeruns is the most of any batter in the MLB off of Ian Snell.
• Albert had 5 home runs vs. the Pirates last year – 4 were off of Snell.
• Pujols had no more than 2 bombs off of any other pitcher last season.

VS.

Yesterday afternoon, on Easter, the Cardinals bats finally were found! Albert and the Redbirds snapped out of their hitting funk and beat the Astros 10-1. Pujols drilled his first homerun of the season and had 2 RBIs. He finished 2-5 on the game improving his average to .136 and giving the Cardinals their 2nd win. Molina, Wilson and Rolen all joined in the fun as well. That is Alberts 2nd homerun in the last two years against Jason Jennings.

Pujol’s is the king of adjustments.

“Sometimes you see the ball well,” Pujols said. “You need to make adjustments and I try to make an adjustment every at-bat. That’s what I did today — tried to figure out how they were pitching me and hopefully adjust to those things.”

On Sunday the Cardinals finish up the series with the Astros.  Let’s get an Easter win.  The game is at 1:05 and will feature Kip Wells vs. Jason Jennings.  Albert is 7-21 lifetime against Jennings with 2 HR and 3 RBI.  Last season Albert was 1-4 against Jennings with a solo home run.

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Albert Pujols went hitless again Saturday evening as the Cardinals bats seemed to disappear.  Roy Oswalt of the Astros pitched a complete game leading the way to a 5-1 victory over the Redbirds.  Pujols finished the game 0-4 bringing the season total to 1-17.  This has got to be the worst start for Albert since coming into the league.  But look on the bright side.  Once he goes 8 for his next 8, he’ll be batting .360     Gotta get that first RBI somehow to relax El Hombre!

So this leads me to the question – is something wrong with Albert?  He has said on occasion that he is not seeing the ball well.  He was saying that back in spring training as well.  If that’s the case we need to get Jocketty to arrange a meeting with the best eye doctor in St. Louis!  I’m sure once he finds his groove that eyesight will be back to normal.

First win of the season!  The Cardinals defeated the 4-2 on Friday moving them to 1-3 on the young season.  Albert still didn’t get a hit dropping his season average to .077 – not good.  He did add another walk to his stats.  Pujols will be fine – he is they type of player that can rattle off 10 hits in a row and all of a sudden be in the top 10 in hitting.  Let’s go Albert – pick it up!

Not a good start to the 2007 season. The Cardinals got routed 10-1 to get swept the opening series by the Mets.  Albert went 0-4 moving his season average to .100 or 1-10.  Don’t worry everyone – he WILL get hot.  But do the Cardinals have enough around him this year to compete?

The Cardinals lost their second straight to the Mets on Tuesday moving their record to 0-2.  Pujols did get his first hit roping one over the left fielder, Moises Alou’s, head.  Albert finished 1-4 and left 3 on base.  Hopefully they can get back on track and get the offense going tomorrow.