Pujols pummeling Cubs' Terrible Trio

Only one statistical comparison is necessary to explain why the Cardinals lead the National League Central at the all-star break and the Cubs are tied for third place.

Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Milton Bradley have combined for 24 home runs and 71 runs batted in for the Cubs this season.

Meanwhile, Albert Pujols alone has 32 home runs and 87 runs batted in for St. Louis.

If this were a game of 1-on-3, the 1 won.

The Cardinals are in first place because Pujols has been a monster. The Cubs are in third because Soriano, Ramirez and Bradley have been a monstrosity.

Pujols is the league MVP so far; Bradley might be the league FAB (Free Agent Bust). Pujols might win another Gold Glove; Soriano might win a rusty bat. Pujols is an all-star; Ramirez might be all-disabled list after being injured much of the season's first half.

In view of that it's remarkable that the Cubs are as close as they are to first place after Ryan Ludwick's 2 home runs gave the Cards a split of Sunday's day-night doubleheader in Wrigley Field.

Those Ludwick homers are huge for the Cardinals because now that he's healthy and back batting cleanup, he provides protection for Pujols.

"They'll have to pitch to Albert," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said, "(or) Ludwick will hurt them."

Is that bad news for the rest of the division or what?

The Brewers, Astros and Reds also are in the race but don't figure to prevail unless the Cubs' big hitters don't start hitting and the Cardinals' big bopper stops bopping.

So let's simplify matters and narrow the division race to the Cubs and Cards for now.

Pujols is winning the metaphorical basebrawl over the three alleged hit men the Cubs send to take him out.

(By the way, Derrek Lee is out of the equation. His assignment is Ludwick, and they pretty much are neutralizing each other in runs batted in.)

That leaves Soriano, Ramirez and Bradley to gang up on Pujols ... yet Pujols is winning.

So far this has been an unfair fight. Pujols is too good. No wonder the question has been which superhero he is, Superman or Batman.

Actually, Pujols is Michael Jordan. He dominates a baseball game, and so far a baseball season, the way His Airness dominated a basketball game and basketball season.

When handicapping an NBA playoff series, it did no good to match up an opposing team with the Bulls position by position.

Jordan was so much better than his man - and the double- and triple-teams used against him - that he skewed scouting reports.

Baseball is different, of course. It's difficult for a Pujols to have that sort of impact. Yet this season he has by beating triple-teams often enough for the Cards to remain in first place. If he keeps it up they'll probably be there at the end.

The Cubs' slumbering hitters should be embarrassed, especially considering the monetary matchup.

Pujols' contract averages about $14 million annually. The Soriano, Ramirez and Bradley contracts average a combined $42 million annually.

If Pujols cools down and Soriano, Ramirez and Bradley heat up, hey, maybe the Cubs have a shot.

Otherwise, sorry, no.