Three Strikes: Albert's trifecta edition

Monday, September 21, 2009 | Print Entry

STRIKE ONE -- TRIPLE THREAT DEPT.

We regret to announce that, barring something crazy, Albert Pujols is not going to win the Triple Crown this year. He's not going to make up 24 points and catch Hanley Ramirez in the batting race. And he might not even beat out Prince Fielder in the RBI derby. (They're tied, at 128.)

But big deal. Albert is on the verge of a triple crown that's way more dazzling:

Albert Pujols

Pujols

He's about to win the National League's triple crown for the decade. And wait till you hear the other men who have done that, in any league.

But first, here's where Pujols stands:

He's a runaway leader in home runs in the '00s, with a little assist from the BALCO grand jury. It's 366 for Albert to 317 for the runner-up, Barry Bonds, who is still 0 for the past two years thanks to joblessness circumstances not entirely within his control.

 
 

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  • Jayson Stark Jayson Stark

    Jayson Stark has been a senior baseball writer for ESPN.com since 2000. His regular contributions include the newsy Rumblings and Grumblings column and his tilted look inside baseball's numbers and quirks, the Useless Information Department.

    Stark also makes regular television appearances on "SportsCenter," "The Hot List" and "Baseball Tonight." He is a regular ESPN Radio guest of "Mike & Mike in the Morning" (Wednesdays), "GameNight" (Thursdays) and the "Sports Bash" (Tuesdays), as well as numerous other shows on the network.

    Before arriving at ESPN, Stark worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer for 21 years. He was twice named Pennsylvania's sportswriter of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

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