lovebone
08-09-2004, 03:40 PM
(http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/Sports/Cardinals/story/B0BA5BF8C037AFBF86256EEB0014CFE7?OpenDocument&Headline=Pujols+might+need+offseason+foot+surgery)
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols confirmed the increasingly obvious Sunday, that he has played much of the past six weeks with a left foot so painful it causes him to wince every time it hits the bag.
"It's been bothering me a lot for a long time ... maybe six weeks," Pujols said. "Sometimes it hurts more than others. Some days it's tough to play with, but you do because you can deal with pain. Some guys might not be able to."
Pujols confirmed he had a magnetic resonance imaging of the foot last Monday. While the Cardinals' description of the injury remains a painful left heel, Pujols suggested the condition might require surgery after the season.
Without making a connection, Pujols last week contradicted an announcement listing him among major-league players committed to a November exhibition tour of Japan.
"It's only going to get better if I rest it or have surgery," said Pujols. "I'm not going to miss the rest of this season, so we'll have to see what happens after it's over."
If Pujols recently has appeared not to run out ground balls, it's because he hasn't. And that's fine with manager Tony La Russa.
Equating his first baseman's condition to last season's sprained ligaments in Pujols' right elbow, La Russa says Pujols has been told to moderate his effort because of the painful heel.
"It's like when his arm was sore last year. He's really got to play under control or you're going to hurt yourself and be out," La Russa said Sunday. "Then you're going to suffer, and we're going to suffer because you're not going to be in there.
"Fans have to understand that if he runs at less than his best - that's what he has to do."
Last summer the team told Pujols not to throw from left field in awkward positions. The sprain contributed to the Cardinals' decision to shift the NL batting champion to first base this season. Pujols has adjusted well, but his heel has taken a beating.
"Sometimes to win the game he pushes it," La Russa said. "But you can see it: He's hurting."
After contributing three hits to Friday's 6-4 win over the Mets, Pujols was hitless Saturday and Sunday. Sunday's 0 for five marked only the sixth time this season Pujols failed to reach base - and the first time it has happened in consecutive games. Pujols struck out twice Saturday for only the third time this season.
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols confirmed the increasingly obvious Sunday, that he has played much of the past six weeks with a left foot so painful it causes him to wince every time it hits the bag.
"It's been bothering me a lot for a long time ... maybe six weeks," Pujols said. "Sometimes it hurts more than others. Some days it's tough to play with, but you do because you can deal with pain. Some guys might not be able to."
Pujols confirmed he had a magnetic resonance imaging of the foot last Monday. While the Cardinals' description of the injury remains a painful left heel, Pujols suggested the condition might require surgery after the season.
Without making a connection, Pujols last week contradicted an announcement listing him among major-league players committed to a November exhibition tour of Japan.
"It's only going to get better if I rest it or have surgery," said Pujols. "I'm not going to miss the rest of this season, so we'll have to see what happens after it's over."
If Pujols recently has appeared not to run out ground balls, it's because he hasn't. And that's fine with manager Tony La Russa.
Equating his first baseman's condition to last season's sprained ligaments in Pujols' right elbow, La Russa says Pujols has been told to moderate his effort because of the painful heel.
"It's like when his arm was sore last year. He's really got to play under control or you're going to hurt yourself and be out," La Russa said Sunday. "Then you're going to suffer, and we're going to suffer because you're not going to be in there.
"Fans have to understand that if he runs at less than his best - that's what he has to do."
Last summer the team told Pujols not to throw from left field in awkward positions. The sprain contributed to the Cardinals' decision to shift the NL batting champion to first base this season. Pujols has adjusted well, but his heel has taken a beating.
"Sometimes to win the game he pushes it," La Russa said. "But you can see it: He's hurting."
After contributing three hits to Friday's 6-4 win over the Mets, Pujols was hitless Saturday and Sunday. Sunday's 0 for five marked only the sixth time this season Pujols failed to reach base - and the first time it has happened in consecutive games. Pujols struck out twice Saturday for only the third time this season.