Who would you rather have Albert Pujols or Ryan Howard?

Question

I would take Pujols because hes a proven htter with a higher average and hes been doing it longer. but you cant go wrong wth either.

Answer 1

Pujols has a longer track record. Howard has only done it for a year...maybe year and a half. Not to mention Pujols is setting a pace for an all-time greatest hitter if he continues...you can't really put anybody ahead of that. Even though I love Howard...

Answer 2

Ummm Howard is 27 too, just so you know. He was older when he was a rookie--Pujols broke in at 21.
For the person who posted that Pujols has 250 in 5 years, it's been 6, and he's never hit 50 in a season. An average of 42 a year is still extremely impressive though, and he would have more if he hadn't had that freak injury this year.
Scarier thing about Pujols though is that he stole 16 bases to lead the Cards in 05. I watched a Dodgers-Cards game and Brad Penny threw him up-and-in intentionally, and Pujols proceeded to smack the ball right up the middle, just missing Penny. Accident? The guy can do anything on a baseball field that he wants to. Jocketty locked him up a couple years ago, so he's relatively cheap right now, and he's got at least 5 yrs left on his contract.
Without question, I'd take Pujols. I really don't care about MVP voting--.332 lifetime average, 590 ABs every year, 45 HRs a year, 120 RsBI a year, very few Ks, great glove, decent speed.

Answer 3

Yeah, you have to take Pujols. Howard is so much potential with only a small taste of realization (although it was quite a taste). Pujols has the better average, gets on base more, scores more runs (read: he creates more run oppurtunities for the players around him), and he plays a superior defensive first base. And, of course, he's been almost ridiculously consistent over the course of his short career, never failing to reach 110 runs scored, a .310 average, 30 hrs, or 115 RBIs in his career, and Albert only has 100 more strikeouts in his career than Howard, despite having 2500 more at-bats. And Albert has proven that he can hit very well in the postseason with a .323 postseason average (given that Howard hasn't had a postseason series to show off his skills in the clutch). That said, Howard could be the greatest power hitter that anyone has ever seen and plays solid defensively. Both are players that you can build a club around, but at this point Pujols is the more complete player.

Answer 4

Jenn R's enthusiam is in the right place, but a little off on the stats. Pujols has been playing since 2001 (1,2,3,4,5....2006), this makes 6 seasons. Bring the avg down from 50 to a little over 41. 5 a year, which would put him in the range of about 625 for his career. But who knows Pujols could have an even more stellar year and bring the avg up. Still the baddest man in Baseball, but Howard has to be respected also. His fielding will improve (not one error by him after the All Star break of 06, so progress is in motion). On the field, I'll take Pujols' golden glove, but in Fantasy this year, its Howard. His only knock are the strikeouts, but I expect that to go down this year.

Answer 5

Albert Pujols because he is a more clutch hitter and a better defensive player than Ryan Howard. Albert Pujols just won a championship and the gold glove for first base. He also is a proven consistent hitter, and barely ever strikes out.

Answer 6

While I love Ryan Howard, Pujols is a proven hitter and defensive weapon. I have a feeling Howard has the potential to be, but as Pujols have been in the majors longer than Howard and has proven himself.

Answer 7

I'm sorry.....did that first answer says Albert Pujols is 'old'?? LOL....ok, whatever.

The answer is Pujols....best player in the game by far, no matter how much he makes. Howard is an up and comer, he was a player at Mo State and I seen him a lot while he was there, but never thought he would turn out this good in MLB. Kudos to him....but give me Pujols any day.

Answer 8

I have no idea what fisticuff is talking about...Pujols has only been in the majors 5 years. Christ, he just turned 27. I think he doesn't know what the heck he is talking about.

This is a no brainer....Albert Pujols. I pick him simply because he has staying power - he has proven that every year since going pro. At 27 he has already hit 250 home runs. If he stays in the league til he is 37, and keeps pace, he will have broken Hank Aaron's HR record!

Here's the math - over 5 years, he has 250 HR's. That's an avg. of 50 per year. 50 hr's per year x 15 years = 750 home runs.

Considering that, he would have been younger than Barry Bonds by 6 YEARS! That is incredibile. If you don't believe me - check out his stats...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4574

Answer 9

I would rather have Pujols because I know what he can do. I don't know if Howard can have a good year like 2006. I would have to take Pujols.

Answer 10

Pujols because he has a history of consistency. He's a one-of-a-kind hitter, reminds me of a young Mickey Mantle who won 2 triple crowns and could hit homers well over 500 ft on occasion. Howard has great potential. If he can hit over 50 homers again, I may make a trade.