Albert Pujols is a very scary hitter. He is one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball, in fact, and after a down year seems to be right back to his true talent.
↵So, of course, there will be the statements that the Rangers should just walk him as though he is a guaranteed extra-base hit or something all throughout the 2011 World Series. The fact is, as good as he is, he still gets out more often than not, and walking him is almost always going to be the wrong choice. No matter how great a hitter is, walking them will usually make it harder to win.
↵Thanks to Matt Klaussen, I don't have to give you the full breakdown. He has a phenomenal and deep article on just when and where to walk Pujols, and why. Read it.
↵The list of when, by the way, looks like this:
↵↵↵– bottom of the eighth, one out, runners on second and third, score tied or the Cardinals ahead
↵
– top of the ninth, one out, runners on second and third, score tied or the Cardinals ahead
– bottom of the ninth, none out, runner on second, score tied
– bottom of the ninth, none out, runners on first and third, score tied
– bottom of the ninth, none out, runners on second and third, score tied or Rangers up by one
– bottom of the ninth, one out, runner on third, score tied
– bottom of the ninth, one out, runners on first and third, score tied
– bottom of the ninth, one out, runners on second and third, score tied or Rangers up by one
– bottom of the ninth, two outs, runner on second OR third, score tied
There you go. That's your guide for when to be angry or okay with Ron Washington giving Pujols a free pass.