Posted on 08/22/2006 5:09:48 PM PDT by Pharmboy
How does El Hombre match up against the Sultan of Swat? This spring, Washington University scientists, at the request of GQ magazine, put Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols through a series of tests similar to those given to Babe Ruth 85 years ago — tests ranging from finger tapping to visual responses to bat speed.
The results? Both men aced the tests, and their results were strikingly similar.
In 1921, psychologists at Columbia University put Ruth through scientific tests to try to determine what made him great. He had faster than average reflexes, steady nerves, and superior sight and hearing.
The same holds true for Pujols. At Washington University, clinical neuropsychologist Desiree White and cognitive psychologist Richard Abrams and their colleagues gave Pujols tests resembling the ones Ruth took. Both men were 26 and top hitters when they were tested.
GQ features some of the results of the Pujols tests in its September issue.
For one test, White put a piece of paper in front of Pujols. Capital letters were strewn about the page. White told Pujols to locate and cross out all of the As.
White realized she'd never seen anyone scan the page the way Pujols did. Most people scan a page left to right, the way they do when they read. Pujols visually divided the page into sectors and searched each one briefly for the letters before moving on to the next sector. When he'd searched all sectors, he returned to the first and started over. It took him four rounds and a minute to complete the task.
"I've never seen anyone scan that way, but it would be important on the baseball field," White said, noting the skill would allow Pujols to scan the field and know where everyone is without missing any action.
In another test, Pujols replicated 133 symbols in a minute — a testament to Pujols' hand-eye coordination. The test makers don't even list a score that high.
In a test of finger-tapping speed, Pujols tapped at 2.4 standard deviations faster than average — placing him in the 99th percentile.
"It just doesn't get any better than that," White said.
In fact, Pujols popped the screw right out of the finger tapper. He was contrite, even fixed the machine, tightening the screw with a fingernail.
White said Pujols' performance on any one test doesn't explain his abilities; it's the whole package that probably counts.
"My hypothesis would be that there's something special about how he puts it all together" on the field, she said.
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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com.
I think that's similar to the Evelyn Woods speed reading technique
Is Pujols the new phenom? How many has he hit out over the last 2-3 years?
Yeah, but did they give Pujols the beer and hot dog test?
All I know is I am glad he plays for my El Birdos.
He has 2 homers tonight including a grand slam.
And he just hit his second HR, a grand salami.
...but could Evelyn hit the curve ball?
Just looked the guy up and he's clearly the best offensive player in baseball today.
He'll be with the Yankees within a year or two. Will probably get $20mil/yr.
I don't put much stock in home run hitting as being what makes a great player.
Years ago, Fernando Tatis played for the Cardinals. He hit a grand slam to begin the inning. When he came up for the 2d time in the inning with the bases loaded, I walked out of the room and missed the first time in baseball history of a batter hitting 2 grand slams in the same inning.
Pujols is the whole package. Power for homers is just one facet.
Yeah...Ty Cobb, the second greatest player in history, didn't hit too many HRs. BUT, HRs don't hurt.
I'm watching the Tiger game tonight and they were saying that Al Kaline hit something like 236 home runs at Tiger stadium alone.
Even though I grew up in NYC, I always loved Al Kaline...
Delgado matched Alberto just now. We have a beisbol game, aqui...
The guy batted over .325 with 37 HR and 137RBI in his rookie year...and he consistently matches or exceeds that every year since.
This guy is the real deal.
Agreed. He is amazing.
Could be that the tests were done to stop the mumblings about Pujols
MAYBE not playing "clean".
I've no dog in this fight...I just listen to ESPN radio and there
were some rumors (NO EVIDENCE) mentioned by some guests.
Looks like Pujols might just one of those guys who won the genetic lottery.
While probably apocryphal in part or whole, I know I once heard somebody
say that the boxer Joe Louis could read the labels of phonograph records
while they were playing.
And that was in the era of 78 rpms...
I have no doubt that the guy is as good as they come. He wouldn't be where he is if he wasn't. I guess I just look at things on the whole team level.
I didn't like Pudge Rodriguez when he first came to Detroit because he behaved like a prima donna his first two seasons. Now he's settled in and helped to create a much better team.
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