Yankees well know power of Pujols

Yankees well know power of Pujols

Darron Cummings/AP

 Angels' Albert Pujols shows Amercan League he is still imposing presence in batters box.

Albert Pujols will make his first visit to the new Yankee Stadium this weekend, but dont expect the three-time National League MVP to be wide-eyed when he s teps into the Yankees three-year-old home with his new team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

No disrespect I look at it as just another city, another stadium, Pujols said Thursday in Minneapolis, where his Angels lost to the Twins, 10-9. I know theres a lot of history there, a lot of history in the old stadium. I dont want to disrespect the great players who played there. But, to me, I have to separate that stuff from what I need to do to prepare myself to play this game.

Pujols, then with St. Louis, played three regular-season games at the old Yankee Stadium during an interleague series in 2003, then started as the designated hitter for the NL in the 2008 All-Star Game in the Bronx. The Yankees moved to their new ballpark in 2009.
From the Yankees perspective, the addition of Pujols makes the Angels even tougher, presenting a greater challenge to the Bombers pitching staff.

I liked him when he was in the other league at lot be tter, Joe Girardi said. I had a chance to play against him, Ive had a chance to play with him, and hes just an incredible player. Very smart. You can say hes a very good player. But hes also a very heads-up player as well. Hell take advantage if you fall asleep on him.

Catcher Russell Martin, who played against the slugging first baseman for five seasons while with the Dodgers, ranks Pujols and Barry Bonds as the best hitters he has seen.

You just never feel comfortable when hes in the box, Martin said of Pujols, who is 5-for-23 as an Angel. Most hitters, you know theres a spot you can go to where they cant hurt you too much. With Pujols, its like, Where is that spot? Im still looking for it.