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Albert Pujols, coming off the worst season of his 13-year major league career, is feeling better and will not try to be "Superman" for the Los Angeles Angels this season.
"I want to stay healthy and play every day," Pujols told reporters Sunday. "The numbers are going to be there at the end because I know how to hit."
Pujols had a .258 batting average with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs last season -- all career lows for the three-time National League MVP. He appeared in only 99 games, also a career low, as he dealt with a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
He said he enters the year with the mindset that he doesn't have to play at first base every day and with a willingness to be the designated hitter -- or sit out -- whenever manager Mike Scioscia wants to rest him.
"I know I'll be ready for Opening Day," Pujols said. "I've been doing it for 14 years. I know not to try to do too much."
Pujols, who will bat third, between Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, is not focusing on his numbers and hasn't projected how many games he would play at first base.
"I think if there's a day I need to DH, I'll DH," Pujols said. "If I need a day off, I'll take a day off. I wish I'd have done that more earlier in my career, because the last couple of years I'm trying to be Superman and trying to play 162 games. It's cost me the last couple of years.
Source: ESPN
"I want to stay healthy and play every day," Pujols told reporters Sunday. "The numbers are going to be there at the end because I know how to hit."
Pujols had a .258 batting average with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs last season -- all career lows for the three-time National League MVP. He appeared in only 99 games, also a career low, as he dealt with a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
He said he enters the year with the mindset that he doesn't have to play at first base every day and with a willingness to be the designated hitter -- or sit out -- whenever manager Mike Scioscia wants to rest him.
"I know I'll be ready for Opening Day," Pujols said. "I've been doing it for 14 years. I know not to try to do too much."
Pujols, who will bat third, between Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, is not focusing on his numbers and hasn't projected how many games he would play at first base.
"I think if there's a day I need to DH, I'll DH," Pujols said. "If I need a day off, I'll take a day off. I wish I'd have done that more earlier in my career, because the last couple of years I'm trying to be Superman and trying to play 162 games. It's cost me the last couple of years.
Source: ESPN