You are 100% correct that I know nothing of the AL except the standings, so I won't presume to go there. However, you don't see Albert every day as I have for 10 years. His declined started last year, where he was totally useless after the 7th inning.
He had not even ONE GWH all year and has none this year so far. He was batting .286 with 2 weeks left in the season, and he battled to get back over .300 as he batted against rookies brought up to pitch in unimportant games by 2nd division teams. He finished 25 points below his career ave.
BTW, tonite he came up with men in scoring position 3 times with no RBI, and Berkman won the game with a walk off. Albert's 13 GIDP is the worst for a Card hitter since the 40's at this point in the season. He still leads the league in errors for a 1st baseman. You MUST be getting the picture Metal!
Pujols is batting. 269 with 7 HR and 24 RBI. Since the seasons a quarter over, he's on pace to hit 28 HR and 96 RBI. A step down for Pujols, but still a very productibe middle of the line up hitter.
A couple of seasons ago, David Ortiz, who is older than Pujols and not quite as good a hitter, had a MUCH worse slump than Pujols ever imagined. In 2009, he did not hit his first home run until the middle of May, yet he somehow rebounded. Ortiz also had an unbelievably awful start to 2010, he rebounded again, and this year, at age 35, he's fine. If Ortiz can rebound, something tells me Albert Pujols will be just fine. All players go through dry spells. Heck, Wade Boggs hit .259 in 1992 and then rebounded to his normal self. Pujols is 31 and has way too much talent, he'll be fine.
Even Lance Berkman, the new Cardinal god, had a struggle recently until this year. I wouldn't give up on Pujols yet.
