Judge and Pujols: Something to Count in September

I guess it's a bigger story that Judge is chasing the A.L. record of 61, but I'm thinking in terms of round numbers.

judge is at 50
pujols is at 694

there are about 30 games left in the season

in 2022, pujols has hit 15 hr in 220 ab, so he's hit a home run in about 7% of his at-bats
judge has hit 50 hr in 463 ab, which is about 11% of at-bats

assuming judge plays every game going forward, if he keeps the pace, he'll hit 60
pujols is harder to figure since he doesn't play as regularly. seems like the cards will want to give him the at-bats and they do have the division lead but if the brewers start to catch up they might be more conservative with pujols. i do think he might get more favorable pitches though, especially from pitchers on non-contending teams

on the other hand, who knows

Yeah, Pujols chances would seem to be in part tied to the Cardinals' playoff status; I guess the biggest external factor for Judge will be how often teams walk him.

Pujols' WAR is 1.2...wonder if that means he'll be back next year

he has said he's retiring after this year no matter what

oh yeah I see now he reaffirmed that, usually players tend to take it back once they start playing decent again

I think they’ll both do it, Judge is locked in and Pujols seems to be reinvigorated after a decade of being one of the worst contracts in MLB history. Maybe he just needed that sweet St Louis tap water. Also kinda seems to me a lot of resurgent final seasons from vets don’t result in them changing their mind, I’m thinking it’s pretty rare. Usually they want to make sure they leave on that high note.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/26zz655tW3HLoDb8Y/giphy.gif

I think they’ll both do it, Judge is locked in and Pujols seems to be reinvigorated after a decade of being one of the worst contracts in MLB history. Maybe he just needed that sweet St Louis tap water. Also kinda seems to me a lot of resurgent final seasons from vets don’t result in them changing their mind, I’m thinking it’s pretty rare. Usually they want to make sure they leave on that high note.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/26zz655tW3HLoDb8Y/giphy.gif

51...

53, 695...I should have added "They do it on the same day" as a fifth choice.

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Votes they both fall short

I feel like pujols has this sort of “end of the road” adrenaline thing going on. (Possibly only against lefties tho)

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judge might get it next week at this rate

Barring an injury, I don’t see Judge not doing it.

it’s looking like they will both do it?

Gotta be getting up in the 90% range--Judge needs 3 in 18 games, Pujols 2 in 17. To beat Maris, though, Judge needs 5 in 18--iffier, I'd say.

As soon as the Cardinals clinch the division, maybe Pujols starts almost every day?