Rookie Pujols Cleaning Up for Cardinals

Since the 1957 establishment of an official standard for determining rookies, only one--Tony Oliva of the Minnesota Twins in 1964--has won a major league batting title.

In fact, according to Seymour Siwoff of the Elias Sports Bureau, Oliva is believed to be the only rookie ever to win a title.

This year, however, rookies could be a threat to win both crowns--Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners in the American League and Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National.

Although it is demeaning to the Japanese game and ridiculous, of course, to consider Suzuki a rookie given his nine years and seven batting titles with the Orix Blue Wave, the precedent was set when Hideo Nomo and then Kazuhiro Sasaki were declared rookies and eligible for rookie-of-the-year awards, which they won. There is no way to deny Suzuki, who could win a triple crown of sorts: rookie of the year, most valuable player and AL batting king.

Pujols, by contrast, is an authentic rookie.

He is a 21-year-old third baseman who has vaulted into Mark McGwire’s cleanup role with the Cardinals after only one year of professional experience in the Class-A Midwest League, in which he was the MVP.

The Cardinals are tied for the Central Division lead with Houston, and Pujols--born in the Dominican Republic and selected by St. Louis in the 13th round of the 1999 June draft from a Missouri community college--has a .357 average, 14 homers and a team-high 44 runs batted in, prompting Chicago Cub Manager Don Baylor to compare him in size and power to Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda.

The Cardinals aren’t certain when McGwire will return from his knee problem, but the heart of the order has been pumping vigorously, with Jim Edmonds batting .363 ahead of Pujols and J.D. Drew enjoying his best season with 16 homers and a .295 average behind him.

Pujols, however, is the story. He has no apparent understanding of the pressure he should be experiencing, insisting it doesn’t matter where he bats.

“It’s incredible,” Drew said. “I mean, I’ve at least got a couple years under my belt, but it’s fun watching Albert doing what he’s doing with no experience whatsoever.”

Added batting coach Mike Easler: “He’s an amazingly talented young man. To step into that spot in the lineup and do what he’s done, I know that [Manager Tony La Russa] is looking up to the heavens and saying, ‘Thank you.’ The kid has done everything you could ask.”

If the injury-ravaged Cincinnati Reds weren’t having enough problems, the atmosphere took another hit when a rumor came floating down the Ohio River that General Manager Jim Bowden--runner-up to Kevin Malone in that memorable last search for a Dodger GM--had offered four-year contracts to Danny Graves, Sean Casey and Pokey Reese, and that Casey and Reese were seeking $10 million a year.

The three acknowledged there had been an offer but called it a ridiculously low--”You don’t see anyone rushing to sign, do you?” Graves said--attempt by Bowden to show media and fans he was trying to sign them.

In addition, Casey accused Bowden of a “blatant lie” and creating a media circus by erroneously floating the $10-million figure--”People who don’t know me have to wonder what kind of greedy guy am I”--and Reese echoed the theme: “As we say in the clubhouse, you know [Bowden] is lying when his lips are moving.”

A “Cam Must Go” Web site has added to the flames licking at Pittsburgh Pirate GM Cam Bonifay amid another disappointing and injury-marred season. Bonifay didn’t distinguish himself when he went on a Pittsburgh talk show the other day and indirectly pointed his finger in every direction but his own.

“I don’t play, I don’t manage, I don’t coach,” he said, adding that if finances hadn’t forced him to break up the group that won three consecutive division titles (1990-92), “People wouldn’t be questioning [my] record now.”