Slumpbuster! Albert Pujols Goes Berserk, Hits Three Homers in 16-7 World Series Rout

Looks like somebody enjoyed a slump buster Friday night.

After grounding out in the first inning, Albert Pujols stepped up to the plate in the fourth and finally got a hit, nailing a single to shallow left field to finally bust out of an 0-7 World Series rut against the Texas Rangers Saturday night. The following inning, he hit another single to just about the same spot. With two on and nobody out in the sixth, he pounded a three-run shot to quiet the crowd and give the St. Louis Cardinals a two-run lead before hitting another homer worth two runs in the seventh.

Where Have You Gone, Kung Fu Panda?

Pablo Sandoval hasn't been very good lately. Panda-ish? Yes. Kung Fu-ish? Not so much.

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy even resorted to benching his third baseman in favor of Mike Fontenot for the final two NLDS games in Atlanta against the Braves after he went 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in the first two contests.

Nick Swisher Needs a Slump Buster, Pronto

Regardless of his horrendous postseason play, Nick Swisher is still upbeat, according to AP sports writer Jay Cohen, who apparently witnessed him frolicking into the clubhouse Friday, donning a chipper smile.

Swisher is hitless over his last 11 at-bats, failing to successfully reach base since his leadoff single off Los Angeles Angels starter Joe Saunders in the seventh inning of Game 2. Nevermind extra base hits, which he hasn't seen since an RBI double in the opener of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins.

Baseball Superstitions: Do They Work?

Baseball is a game with a long history of superstitions, and there are some pretty great ones out there. There's the whole not stepping on the baseline thing, the one where no one mentions the no-hitter or perfect game in progress, sporting a rally cap when your team is down in the ninth, and of course, the infamous growing of the post season beard: started by the 1908 White Sox and revived by the 2005 Red Sox. Some have a lucky bat, a special glove, or refuse to sit anywhere but the same spot in the dugout.

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

Will Big Tilde's New 'Do Change His Luck?

Some players grow beards. Some don't change their underwear. Some even lob off their luxurious locks. Will this drastic change in Magglio Ordoñez's appearance help his slumping bat? Only time and hair gel will tell.

Lookin' good, Maggs.

Hat tip to WoW's comment section. Good people.

Big Papi Needs A Slump Buster

It's not uncommon for sluggers to go through slumps, and while some last longer than others, there are a few who end up having a crappy season altogether.

"Slump" is not the word for what David Ortiz is going through right now. He's just plain awful, and even New York Yankees fans are starting to feel bad for the guy. Let's look at his previous numbers, dating back to the last three seasons...

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

Big Papi's Slump Buster Worked

Well, it took forever, but David Ortiz has finally busted his slump. We'll let you contemplate the ways.

In the fifth inning of Wednesday night's 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox designated hitter nailed a two-run shot off rookie Brett Cecil to straightaway center for his first longball of the season. The slump lasted 149 at-bats dating back to last season, which marks the longest homerless drought of his career. That's one home run on the year for Ortiz, and yes, it's May 20th.

You Call that a Slump Buster?

Jason Giambi is not afraid to show his feminine side.

The New York Yankees’ first baseman let a little secret out Saturday when the Daily News wondered how he plans out getting out of his current slump, where he is batting just .181.

He wears a gold thong under his uniform.

This story only gets weirder when several teammates acknowledged trying to wear it, too, including Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon.

"Giambi’s a little freaky," said New York Mets skipper Willie Randolph before the Subway series. "I wouldn’t go there."

Some sources believe the thong came from an actual slump buster in 2005, when the Giambino won the Comeback Player of the Year award.

[NY Daily News]

Have an Ice-Cold Slump Buster

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Tao of Ichiro in Question?

The saying "It's only Spring" sure comes in handy when you've kicked off the preseason with an 0-for-14 slump.

But Ichiro Suzuki has a perfectly good explanation for this.

"It's good to learn to pace yourself," he said.

The Seattle Mariners' sweet-swinging All Star center fielder's career-worst hitless streak came in 2005 when he went 0-for-24 -- a rare occurrence for the guy who's stacked up the most hits in the big leagues since the 2001 season, along with a couple of batting titles.

Maybe Kevin Youkilis can grab him an ice cold SlumpBuster.

[Seattle Post]

Alex Rodriguez: Swingin' Hard Lumber

The New York Yankees have hit 13 home runs in their last two games, tying a record for most longballs in a two-game span set in 1939.

Four different Bronx Bombers hit one or two out of the yard, but none of them were named Alex Rodriguez.

Not only has A-Rod not hit a homer, but he is hitless since he went deep in Kansas City last Wednesday, dropping his season average to .295.

That's 0-for-19 in one week.

What are the chances he will finally hit #500 off Jon Garland this afternoon at Yankee Stadium? Well, he's hit 2 career homers off Garland and has a .406 average after going 13-for-32 with 7 RBIs and 5 walks lifetime against the righty.

So, probably not?

[ESPN]