Left field detour fine with NL rookie of year

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ It's back to have glove, will travel for Albert Pujols. Not that it seems to bother the reigning NL rookie of the year. <br><br>Last season, Pujols is believed to be the first player

Wednesday, April 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) _ It's back to have glove, will travel for Albert Pujols. Not that it seems to bother the reigning NL rookie of the year.

Last season, Pujols is believed to be the first player in major league history to start more than 30 games at four positions _ third, first base, left field and right field. Before spring training began this year, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told Pujols he'd be his everyday third baseman.

Or so he thought. La Russa changed his mind a few days before the opener, partly because Pujols made errors in three straight games. Moving Placido Polanco to third and Pujols to left, where he played in Monday's opener, helped the team on two fronts: Finding a slot for Polanco's .307 bat and strengthening the team's defense. Polanco excelled at third much of last year.

``The big problem was we were having to dislodge somebody who plays Gold Glove-type defense here,'' La Russa said. ``If it wasn't for Polanco, Albert could play third and never look back.''

Though Pujols will get only occasional duty at third for now, the Cardinals remain convinced that's where he'll eventually land for good.

``We'll gradually move him in there,'' La Russa said. ``If you were a scout and you watched him work like he worked this spring, you'd say 'What a great-looking third base prospect.'''

Of course, Pujols looks best at the plate. The Cardinals' cleanup hitter had an NL rookie-record 130 RBIs last year while batting .329 and hitting 37 home runs.

It was one of the best debuts in major league history, with Pujols also piling up 194 hits _ 47 of them doubles _ and scoring 112 runs. He picked up where he left off in the season opener, hitting a three-run double off Mike Hampton to break open a one-run game in a 10-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. He later added a second double.

``I just try to do whatever I can to help my team,'' Pujols said. ``And I'm really excited right now.''

Pujols wouldn't have made the team out of spring training last season, just his second as a professional, were it not for Bobby Bonilla's hamstring injury. Pujols, who played most of the 2000 season at the Class A level, has long since become indispensable.

Pitcher Matt Morris took note during the opener that Pujols didn't let an early failure, an 0-2 start on Monday, discourage him.

``That's what we need out of him, some patience, and it'll come,'' Morris said. ``His talent is unbelievable, so if he has some patience he'll be getting good swings.''

Pujols was caught off-guard by the move to the outfield and had to borrow a mitt from teammate Eli Marrero for the opener because his glove wasn't broken in. But he didn't mind La Russa's switch.

``I told him, 'You're the manager, do whatever you want,''' Pujols said. ``If I play everywhere again this year, hopefully I'll have another great year.

``But to me, it doesn't matter. It's what's best for the team, not what's best for Albert Pujols.''

Pujols, 22, likely won't see much if any duty in right field _ as long as J.D. Drew stays healthy _ or first base, with Tino Martinez replacing the retired Mark McGwire.

In spring training, he didn't play the outfield at all until the final two spring games. First-base coach Dave McKay has been helping him catch up, giving him a crash refresher course.

Flexibility, Pujols has learned, is the key.

``As the days go by I'm going to learn more and more,'' Pujols said. ``We'll work something out and I think it's going to work pretty good for us.''