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Angels GM: We don't believe Pujols' unflattering analytics

Erik Williams / USA TODAY Sports

Judging by wins above replacement, a catch-all metric that distills a player's contributions into one number, Albert Pujols - the $240-million man with three MVP awards and 602 career homers - has been the worst player in the American League this season, having already cost his team a marginal win with his declining bat and struggles both on the basepaths and afield.

The Los Angeles Angels aren't buying it, though.

"We don't attach that statement to Albert Pujols," general manager Billy Eppler told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. "That is definitely not something we believe."

According to both Fangraphs (-1.0) and Baseball-Reference (-0.9), Pujols has been worse than any readily available minor-league call-up in 2017, faring more than 20 percent worse than a league-average hitter at the plate (.664 OPS; 78 OPS+) while remaining a liability on the bases (-2.3 BSR) and offering no value, defensively, as a designated hitter (-9.1 Def).

Even so, like Eppler, Angels manager Mike Scioscia was quick to defend the future Hall of Famer.

"(Pujols) is, what, fourth or fifth in our league in RBIs?" Scioscia said. "Those guys don't fall off of trees. This guy has done a good job for us."

Heading into Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pujols - now in the sixth year of a 10-year deal - was, in fact, tied for fifth in the AL in runs batted in (51).

Beyond that, though, Pujols continues to provide value in ways that can't necessarily be quantified, Eppler suggested.

"Our analysis, our viewpoint is that in Albert's case, we're seeing a guy that still has a lot of presence in the middle of the order," Eppler said. "He impacts the baseball, and he has big at-bats."

Pujols' career stats

Split Team OPS (OPS+) AVG ISO WAR/SEASON
2001-2011 STL 1.037 (170) .328 .289 6.0
2012-2017 LAA .786 (118) .264 .201 1.5

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