Justin Morneau: The American League Version of Albert Pujols?

So far this season, the Minnesota Twins have not been exactly what people expected.  Coming into the season, the Twins were chosen to contend as one of the favorites for the American League Central Division. They are contending but not at the levels Twins fans have grown accustomed to seeing.

Recently any media attention the Twins have been getting has been mostly due to Joe Mauer. Respectively so, he has been nothing short of unbelievable since coming off the disabled list May 1.  I mean honestly, hitting above .400, with 12 home runs and 30+ RBI. That's just insane.

However Joe Mauer aside, as tough as that is to say, there is another Twins player who has been the heart and soul of the lineup since he became a starter.  That other person would be the other "M" in "M&M" boys.  Yes you guessed it Justin Morneau.

It is my feeling that he does not get the credit he deserves. Yes he won MVP in 2006, but really how many times has he taken the team on his back and carried them to a win or provided the clutch hit they needed.

Justin Morneau is generally classified as a slugger around the majors, and he is. However, it is my personal belief that he is so much more then that. I think he is the unheralded American League version of Albert Pujols. 

On a consistent basis, Morneau hits for average and power. He does the little things like advance the runner or provide a sacrifice fly. Over his career Morneau has an average of .286, an OBP of .354, a slugging percentage of .657, and an OPS of 1.083.

All of that while unloading 176 doubles, 148 home runs, 573 RBI, and 302 walks in just a since his debut June 10, 2003.

Morneau has become one of the more feared hitters in the game, but yet nobody ever seems to notice his defense or the fact that the guy is made of steel.  In the span of 2005-2008, Morneau played in 140-plus games each season and looks to continue his trend this year as well. 

On the defensive side of the ball Morneau started his career a bit shaky but has been an anchor in the infield for several years now. Over his career  Justin Morneau has a great stat line fielding.

In six years, he's racked up 6,423 total chances and 5,918 total put outs.  He's also racked up 475 assists while managing to commit only 30 errors. Yes, 30 errors in six years, I think that's pretty incredible. All of that equates to a .995 fielding percentage.

While being a great player on the field is one thing, being a great person off the field is a whole different story. However in his six years or so in the spot light Morneau has been nothing less then an exceptional person.

He has really only had one incident of note and that was a minor scuffle with Torii Hunter. In Morneau's defense though that was in the heat of the moment. 

He is a leader and mentor. Just entering his prime and in my opinion deserving and a great deal more respect and attention then he gets.  If there was a player who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame at the end of his career I believe it is this man.  He contributes day in and day out both on and off the field. 

So hats off to you Justin Morneau for giving Twins fans more then they could ever ask for out of a player, local celebrity, and role model.