The game’s best hitter in June was Albert Pujols. The Cardinals star led the majors in both home runs (14) and RBIs (35) last month, when he slugged .856 in 29 games -- a mark that was 111 points higher than any other big league regular.

In the Cardinals’ final game of the month, Pujols homered twice off Randy Johnson to push his major league lead to 30 for the season. He generated all three St. Louis runs in a 6-3 loss to the Giants.

That was the story all month long for the Cardinals. Pujols beat up on pitchers in both leagues, but his team finished just 12-17 in June. The slugger’s 35 RBIs were 32.7 percent of the Cardinals’ 107 RBIs, and only two players since 1980 have collected a higher percentage of his team’s ribbies in a month. They are Atlanta’s Dale Murphy in April 1985 (29 RBIs, 41.4 percent), and Jose Guillen (23 RBIs, 32.9 percent) for Pittsburgh in September 1998.

The Cardinals remain within striking distance of first place in the National League Central, but where would they be without Pujols? That question is appropriate looking at the entire season as well.

Pujols, who also leads the majors with 61 runs scored and 77 RBIs, has accounted for 23.3 percent of his team’s RBIs on the season. He’s on pace to post among the highest single-season percentages in major league history.

Highest Percentage of a Team’s RBIs in a Season, All-Time

Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . Team. . . . . . . . . RBIs. . . . . . . . . . . Pct
Nate Colbert. . . . . . 1972 Padres. . . . . . . .111. . . . . . . . . . . 24.6
Wally Berger. . . . . . 1935 Braves. . . . . . . . 130. . . . . . . . . . . 23.9
Gavy Cravath. . . . . . 1915 Phillies. . . . . . . .115. . . . . . . . . . . 23.7
Albert Pujols. . . . . . 2009 Cardinals. . . . . . 156*. . . . . . . . . . .23.3
Babe Ruth . . . . . . . 1919 Red Sox. . . . . . . 114. . . . . . . . . . . 23.1

*projected total

There’s a long way to go, of course, but Pujols’ second-half hitting percentages over his career (.344/.433/.641) are better than his first-half numbers. It’s probably impossible to improve on the first half he’s having, but it’s worth noting that on Tuesday, Pujols became only the eighth player in major league history to hit 30 home runs before July 1. If he keeps delivering for the Cardinals, he could make a push to become the sixth major leaguer to hit 60 in a season.

Posted by Thom Henninger at 4:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The bullpen looked like the Minnesota Twins’ weak link going into the 2009 season. The team had lost its eighth-inning guy, Pat Neshek, to Tommy John surgery last fall, and the free-agent answer was Luis Ayala, coming off a poor season with Washington.

April was a rough month for Minnesota’s relievers, who collectively posted a 6.14 ERA and gave up nine home runs in 22 games. With a few starters struggling as well, the pen assumed a heavy workload at the start of May, and gave up four or more runs in four of 14 games during the first half of the month.

Then there was a rough spot in mid-May, when the pen allowed 10 runs in a five-game stretch. Since May 20, however, the relievers have been far better.

Twins Bullpen, 2009

Span. . . . . . . . . . . . ERA. . . . . OBA. . . . .OSLG. . . Sv/Opp
Through 5/19. . . . . . 5.26. . . . . .274. . . . . .462. . . . . 6/13
May 20 & Since . . . . 2.25. . . . . .211. . . . . .341. . . . .13/14

Since the magic began on May 20, Twins closer Joe Nathan hasn’t allowed a run in 15.1 innings. He’s given up just seven hits and a walk, fanned 22 and converted all 13 of his save chances. Nathan’s been terrific all year, but he’s been untouchable during the bullpen’s resurgence.

Nearly as impressive during this stretch are two right-handed relievers. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has been touched for only three runs and has a 1.25 ERA in 21.2 frames, during which he has allowed a .171 OBA. Matt Guerrier has given up just two runs in 13.2 innings, good for a 1.32 ERA, and has claimed two wins.

Meanwhile, Ayala talked his way off the team, complaining about how he was being used and stressing the importance of pitching in the setup role in a walk year. That didn’t play well with Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire, and Ayala was cut loose on June 23, despite pitching better himself during the bullpen’s turnaround.

Rookie right-hander Bobby Keppel, closing in on a decade in the minor leagues, surfaced as Ayala’s replacement on the roster, and he’s already given the Twins four innings of scoreless relief.

It can’t hurt that a few of the starters have come around after slow starts. The pen hasn’t been getting as much work in the middle innings, and that could be contributing to its improved performance.

The young starters were expected to keep the Twins in contention in 2009, even if the lineup didn’t deliver the run production usually associated with a contender. Although Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey have been dependable all spring, Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins have been inconsistent for much of it.

All three are showing signs of getting back on track, and that is critical to Minnesota staying close to Detroit in the American League Central race. If the rotation continues to deliver, it becomes equally important that the bullpen can finish off fine performances.

That’s happening more consistently at the moment, but it’s by no means guaranteed that Twins relievers will sustain their current success. Trading for a legitimate eighth-inning guy would be a big help.

There’s been talk of the Twins acquiring LaTroy Hawkins to fill that role. The veteran right-hander, who was a key piece of the Minnesota bullpen early in the decade, is having a career year for the Astros. He has recorded a 2.62 ERA in 35 games, as well as 10 saves filling in for closer Jose Valverde in May and June.

As good as Guerrier and Dickey have been for the Twins, adding Hawkins could only help in recording key outs before turning leads over to Nathan.

Posted by Thom Henninger at 2:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stealing second base with a southpaw on the mound is no easy task, but a few have made it look easy in 2009. There are four big leaguers who have stolen more than five bases off lefties, and all of them have solid steal percentages.

Most SB of Second Base vs. LHP, 2009
(does not include double steals)

Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SB. . . Att. . . . Pct
Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos. . . . . . 7. . . . .8. . . . .87.5
David Wright, NYM. . . . . . . .6. . . . .7. . . . .85.7
Scott Podsednik, CWS. . . . . 6. . . . .7. . . . .85.7
Dustin Pedroia, Bos. . . . . . .6. . . . .8. . . . .75.0

The surprise member of the group would have to be the Mets’ David Wright, who has stolen 19 bags so far this season. He’s easily on course to surpass his single-season high of 34 steals in 2007. The third baseman is batting .356 to lead all National League hitters, which is 54 points higher than he did a year ago.

His 22 doubles put him on course to set a new personal high in 2009, but otherwise he seems to be taking an approach that means more contact, a better average and fewer home runs. He has just four homers after setting a new single-season standard with 33 in 2008.

Wright certainly doesn’t have much trouble reading left-handers when he’s perched at first base. Take away his 6-for-7 performance stealing second against them, though, and he’s 13-for-20 (65.0 percent) in his remaining stolen-base attempts.

That tendency plays out for both Scott Podsednik and Jacoby Ellsbury, too. Podsednik is 6-for-7 swiping second versus lefties, but just 4-for-7 (57.1 percent) in his other attempts. Ellsbury is 24-for-29 (82.8 percent) when you look beyond his 7-for-8 performance against left-handers.

Posted by Thom Henninger at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)