Joe Strauss of St. Louis Dispatch
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Spillover from the Barry Bonds home run chase intersected at Albert Pujols’
locker Monday afternoon. It found the Cardinals first baseman a little terse
regarding the cloud of controversy that has followed Bonds from city to city as
he has run down Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time home run list.
Reiterating the disgust about the steroids issue he voiced last week at Busch
Stadium, Pujols said he believes Bonds has been unfairly held up for criticism.
"You (media) guys are always ragging and wiping the floor with his name. And
that’s sad," said Pujols, later adding, "I don’t ever want to be in the life
he’s leading right now."
Pujols is scheduled to appear today with the Giants left fielder for a taping
of ESPN’s "Bonds on Bonds," the slugger’s ongoing docudiary. The segment will
air later. As a prelude, Pujols pulled few punches defending Bonds and
criticizing the media swirl surrounding him.
Citing a line often used by Bonds, Pujols at first dismissed steroids-related
questions saying, "If you don’t have a baseball question, we don’t have
anything to talk about."
Pujols then relented, and said he has been tested three times this season.
"However many times Major League Baseball wants to test you is what you do," he
said. "You’re on a list. They can come today and test you." The reigning
National League MVP grew a bit impatient when asked if he has received any word
from MLB about the results.
"They don’t get back to me," he said. "Why are they going to get back to me?
They’ll only talk to me if I’m positive."
Last Wednesday Pujols spoke emphatically about his commitment to playing
“clean” and criticized those who have cast a wide net of suspicion over players
without supporting proof. Monday he suggested the matter has become a media
obsession.
“I think you guys are taking this steroids era (issue) too far. You still have
to see the ball and hit it out of the park,” said Pujols. “Are steroids going
to make you better? Who knows?”
The major league home run leader with 22 this season, Pujols is increasingly a
target of media fascination. About a dozen national baseball reporters have
followed Bonds’ chase of Ruth for the past several weeks. A number intended to
leave the Bay Area today regardless of whether Bonds hit No. 715 Monday night.
Monday’s media crush occurred in one of two major-league parks where Pujols has
played but never homered. Veterans Stadium – where Pujols did not homer in 31
at-bats – is closed. Pujols entered Monday with home runs in three consecutive
games against the Kansas City Royals but holding a career .204 average and no
home runs in 54 at-bats at AT&T Park, formerly known as SBC Park. (Pujols has
hit at least three home runs in every other park where he has taken a minimum
of 50 at-bats.
Asked about the facility as a hitter’s park, Pujols said, “How should I know? I
play here three times a year. You should go ask those guys (the Giants).”