As Triple Crown Race Heats Up, So Do Joey Votto-Albert Pujols Comparisons

ST. LOUIS -- Because they share the same spot on the field 18 times a year, and because this season they are sharing space at the top of the National League's most important leaderboards, it is natural that people would start to do the unthinkable ...

Compare Joey Votto and Albert Pujols.

"He's right now in that class," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of Votto. "First base is a very strong position in the NL and he's right in that category of guys you point to."

Votto and Pujols also figure to be in the top spots on most MVP ballots this season, with the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez a close third. All three players have been at or around the top of the lists in the Triple Crown categories enough to generate some serious what-if discussion about a feat not achieved since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.

With the pennant race between the Reds and Cardinals dissipating amid a recent Cardinals slump, one of most intruiging storylines as the teams played in St. Louis over the weekend was the competition -- albeit a contrived, media-generated one -- between Votto and Pujols.

National League ranking in each category in parentheses. Statistics throught Sept. 5

Triple Crown Contender	AVG.	HR	RBI
Carlos Gonzalez (COL)	.337 (1)	31 (5)	95 (3)
Albert Pujols (STL)	.309 (5)	35 (1)	96 (2)
Joey Votto (CIN)	.321 (2)	32 (t3)	98 (1)

Could Votto, the unknown Canadian, unseat Pujols, the two-time defending NL MVP? Is Votto on his way to being a long-term competitor to Pujols?

It is an interesting question, and also a dangerous one.

Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, a former Cardinal, refused to even answer questions comparing Votto and Pujols. Reds outfielder Jim Edmonds, another former Cardinal, elaborated on why he doesn't like the question.

"Albert is one of the greatest hitters to ever live," Edmonds said. "The comparisons to Albert are very flattering to Joey. He's having a great season. He's staying very focused and he's well rounded. It's impressive to watch, but I don't like to compare them. It's not fair to Albert or Joey."

"Let's face it: 10 years vs. three years. That means Votto has got seven more years to go."
-- Reds manager Dusty Baker on the difference between Pujols and Votto Votto, 26, is hitting .321 with 32 homers, 98 RBI and a 1.014 OPS. Only 26 players in baseball history have hit at least .320 with a 1.000 OPS, 30 homers and 100 RBI by age 26. Could be select company for Votto.

Except that Pujols did it five times by age 26.

So, yeah, Votto has a ways to go before the comparison takes on any real significance, and he knows it.

"It's not fair to Albert considering all the things he's accomplished and how good he is," Votto said. "I'm not saying I'm not talented enough or can't perform at that level, but I'm saying he's accomplished so many amazing things and there are so few players in the history of baseball who have his achievements."

Reds manager Dusty Baker said diplomatically that Votto is "approaching that discussion. Let's face it: 10 years vs. three years. That means Votto has got seven more years to go."

Apart from the premature statistical comparisons of their careers, there are some shared traits. For example, neither one of them seems to care about this Triple Crown stuff. Both players said, as they should, that they are focused more on team goals.

"It's great because I don't have to care about my numbers," Votto said. "I just go out and play and they take care of themselves."

Votto said a few weeks ago that the only time he pays attention to the Triple Crown race is when he's sitting at a table in the clubhouse and the stats are in front of him. Of course, it's not often that Votto is sitting idly anywhere in the clubhouse. He shuttles constantly between the weight room, batting cage and video room, demonstration of a work ethic that is worthy of a comparison to Pujols.

"It's good to see the best player on the team has the best work ethic," Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes said. "He's a true professional. You see him in BP not talking to anyone, just taking his ground balls. He's in the gym. It's good to see he's not just using his God-given ability. He's trying to get better every day."

Although it may look like Votto has gotten significantly better this year, he may have had this type of season last year if he didn't miss three weeks in the middle of the season because of depression. Last season Votto hit .322 with 25 homers.

All he's done now is turn the production up a notch while staying on the field every day. The next goal, if he is to really approach Pujols, is to do it again. And again. And again.

"What's left is consistency," Baker said. "What's left is to learn patience when they start pitching around him. ... You always want to get better."

Which brings us back to Pujols, who is one of Votto's biggest admirers. It seems that Pujols is most impressed with what Votto has done with his talent, and the way he's developed in a relatively short time.

"He never took anything for granted," Pujols said. "He kept working hard and trying to get better and making some adjustments at the plate and playing great defense too. That's something, for a young player to get it right away. That's a plus. To make it in this league, where the pitchers are going to bring their A Game every night, you have to be ready to play."

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