THE WATERCOOLER

Today’s Round Two question is one I posed to a number of All-Stars just moments ago. Here’s what they had to say about El Hombre.

QUESTION: Do you think Albert Pujols has a chance to win the Triple Crown this season?

RYAN BRAUN, OF, BREWERS

If anybody can do it, Albert can. I just marvel at his consistency. I think he’s the best player in baseball. He’s like Barry Bonds in the regard that he often only sees one pitch to really hit, and you see what he does with it. I would say it’s fun to compete against him, but it seems like he always comes out on top. He’s just remarkably consistent at putting the barrel on the ball.

SHANE VICTORINO, OF, PHILLIES

I don’t second-guess it at all. He hits for power, drives in runs and hits for average. Albert is definitely a guy that does it all. And with him it’s not just hitting … he does everything else great, too. He doesn’t run a lot, but he plays great defense, obviously. Albert does it all.

JUSTIN UPTON, OF, DIAMONDBACKS

Yeah. Of course. That dude’s unbelievable. I’ll watch the Cardinals games in our clubhouse just to watch him bat. The way he approaches the game is just incredible. Of course he could win the Triple Crown. He’s the best.

JONATHAN BROXTON, CLOSER, DODGERS

No doubt he could win it. The way he swings the bat is unbelievable, hitting whatever he wants to. As a pitcher, you have to be more careful with him. Especially if you’re like me and are put out there in the ninth inning up by one run. I’m not going to let him beat me. I’ll put him on base and pitch to the next guy. If we’re up by two I might challenge him … but I’m going to be very, very careful.

ADRIAN GONZALEZ, 1B, PADRES

Albert’s a guy who’s very capable (of the Triple Crown.) Very few guys will get that kind of opportunity EVERY year. The question is if opposing pitchers will give him enough to hit to get his home runs and RBIs. But if anybody can do it, it’s Albert. He’s just a great hitter.

BRAD HAWPE, OF, ROCKIES

Albert is definitely capable. He’s the toughest in the game. An amazing talent and freak athlete. Watching him from afar I’m definitely a fan … until he plays the Rockies. Watching him reminds me of how Bonds used to always get pitched around, too. But it just took one pitch and he’d kill it. Just like Albert.

FRANCISCO CORDERO, CLOSER, REDS

His chances are great. He’s got the numbers already. He’s leading the majors, not just the National League, in home runs and RBIs and is in the top 10 in batting average. When facing him as a pitcher, there’s no way to attack a hitter like Albert. You just have to make a pitch. You can’t really pitch around him because then you get tired, make a mistake and he hits a homer. You just have to make the pitch.

AND I SAVED MY FAVORITE ANSWER FOR LAST …

ORLANDO HUDSON, 2B, DODGERS

Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! His chances at the Triple Crown for the next ten years are good. Damn good. Woo! That dude is unbelievable. He comes up and I say, “Where’s he gonna hit it out? Left field, right field, center field. He can do it all. Woo, man. He’s that player. All I can say is, “wow!”

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Besides Albert Pujols, which sluggers would you most like to see perform in the year’s Home Run Derby?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Let’s back up a moment. Actually, I DON’T want to see Albert Pujols in the HR Derby. He’s The Franchise. He has a partially torn elbow ligament. I don’t see how it makes sense whatsoever to put Pujols at risk by having him take multiple sets of maximum-intensity swings, just to give Chris Berman something to scream about on ESPN. Cardinals fans may want to see Pujols in the HR Derby; I’d rather see him play first base for the Cardinals for the remaining games on the schedule. Because if he snaps the elbow ligament, the Cardinals are doomed. Done. Finished. If the public has such an insatiable desire for homers, then give ’em what they want. MLB should turn the Home Run Derby into a showcase for the juicers. Invite Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, A-Rod, Ramirez, Sheffield and let’s have a freak show.

JOE STRAUSS
Aaron Miles, Cesar Izturis, David Eckstein, Brendan Ryan and Ryan Freel. Perhaps then the longest, most sponsor-driven night in American sport would take less time than the Game itself. This year’s selection process suggests that at least one player, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, was named to the NL All-Star team to ensure his participation in the Derby. Sounds like the tail wagging the dog to me.

JEFF GORDON
Start with the hometown kid, Ryan Howard. He would want to put on a big show, right? A pure hitter like Justin Morneau is fun to watch in an event like this, too. Josh Hamilton is a freak show. If he is healthy enough to answer the bell, that would be great fun. Evan Longoria and Adrian Gonzalez are on my fantasy baseball team, so I would rather they skip the event and save themselves for second-half statistical glory.

DERRICK GOOLD
Chiefly, Ryan Howard. It is, after all, the biggest reason he’s coming here as an All-Star — because he can flat crank with light-tower power. Howard was a manager’s pick for the National League team, a favor pick, if you will. There are more deserving bats in the NL (read: Pablo Sandoval) but there aren’t any more fitting bats for an All-Star Game than the slugger back home to hit homers in St. Louis. A duel between him and Pujols would be the Must-See TV that ESPN is certainly salivating over. You could argue that the derby should be exclusively first basemen, but others who should be in the derby, taking aim at “BIG MAC LAND” are: Ryan Braun (one of the best righthanded hitters in the league), Evan Longoria (young star on the rise), Mark Teixeira (see how he does outside of new Yankee Stadium) and … Ichiro Suzuki. Word is he can put on a show during batting practice with his pop. Time to flash that 5 o’clock power under the lights of the 7 o’clock derby.

DAN O’NEILL
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, Ted Williams, Joe Adcock, Frank Howard, Ralph Kiner, Ernie Banks, Dick Stuart, Dick Allen, Frank Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell, Jimmie Foxx, Reggie Jackson, Rocky Colavito, Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, Stan Musial and Johnny Mize.

Because with today’s bats and today’s balls, they would put on one heckuva show. And best of all, none of it would be chemically enhanced.