Albert Pujols: The Greatest Hitter of the Post-Steroid Era

Is anyone on Earth better than Albert Pujols?

Pujols went 5-for-6 in Saturday's Game 3 win against the Texas Rangers. He had three home runs, six RBI and altogether he hit for 14 bases. In a game the Cardinals needed to win if they wanted any chance of winning the series, Pujols put up the greatest World Series performance any of us have ever seen.

He hit a bomb off of Alexi Ogando, who the Cardinals and every other team in October had not touched so far. He hit his second off Mike Gonzalez, and Darren Oliver gave up the third. 

The Rangers eventually went down 16-7 by the time Mitchell Boggs closed out the ninth inning for the Cardinals. A single effort from Pujols that matched Reggie Jackson and Babe Ruth as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game.

Albert was on fire in Game 3. He had hit 18-for-50 with two home runs in the postseason so far, and he was blasted by the media on Thursday and Friday for leaving the clubhouse before answering questions after Game 2.

He didn't care about the media, he said his only responsibility is to "God and my Family." He didn't care about the team he was facing, the Rangers had taken the bat out of his hands and kept him confused as he went 0-for-7 in Games 1 and 2.

Pujols is a player who is momentary. He forgets what happened last at-bat, much less last night or the night before. He doesn't think in the batter's box, he just sees and reacts.

"He has a mind of stone," said teammate Chris Carpenter. Pujols doesn't concern himself with what he can not control. He concerns himself rather with the plane and trajectory of his swing. He talks to hitting coach Mark McGwire between at-bats and almost every day in the offseason. 

Pujols certainly raised his free-agent price tag in Game 3. Postseason performers are hard to come by in Major League Baseball recently, and Pujols is one of a kind. 

He has a Gold Glove at first base, numerous batting titles, MVP trophies and a World Series ring. He may make it two rings by the time this series ends, and there are plenty of teams who could use someone as successful as Albert.

Pujols has set a heavy price on his services for the 2012 season, and certainly he will need to negotiate a contract that some teams may laugh at initially. That's why the New York Yankees will not be shy in opening their wallets for Pujols. 

Mark Teixeira already plays a Gold Glove first base in New York, but there's no hiding his lack of production at the plate in October. Albert would be a designated hitting masterpiece in the American League, and the Yankees could use his bat, as well as pitchers.

Pujols is going to have a hard time finding a team to pay him what he wants this offseason. But someone will, and they will have the greatest hitter of this generation on their team. He will continue to produce the ridiculous stats, the All-Star appearances, the World Series rings and probably another MVP trophy because he is always working to make everything about his game better.

Pujols is striving to improve, which is rare for someone who is already at the top.