Albert Pujols

TEMPE, Ariz. - Apparently Albert Pujols doesn't need his knee to hit. The Angels have gone slow this spring with their first baseman, who underwent offseason surgery on his right knee. But his swing looked to be in midseason form Saturday when Pujols crushed a majestic solo home run off Colorado's Juan Nicasio in the third inning of the Angels' 8-6 loss to the Rockies before a crowd of 9,288 at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Pujols, who has yet to play the field this spring, was making just his second start of the Cactus League season, both as the designated hitter.

TEMPE, Ariz. - With Albert Pujols limping through spring training on a surgically repaired right knee, the Angels talked the Colorado Rockies into approving a courtesy runner for Pujols if he reached base in Saturday's Cactus League contest. That soon became a moot point, though, because the only time Pujols got past first he could have crawled around the bases after hitting a majestic solo home run in the third inning of the Angels' 8-6 loss. "I wasn't going to pinch-run for him when he hit the home run. That would have been a little embarrassing," joked bench coach Rob Picciolo, who was filling in for Manager Mike Scioscia.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Albert Pujols will make his exhibition debut today about a week ahead of schedule. The Angels slugger who is recovering from October's right knee surgery will bat third as designated hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in Tempe Diablo Stadium. Pujols had been limited to batting practice, ground balls hit right at him and light jogging for the first few weeks of camp, and he was not expected to play in a game until mid-March. But after running sprints on Friday and Saturday, he was deemed fit enough to play, though it won't be at 100%.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Albert Pujols frustrated Angels fans at times last season with his aggressive baserunning, which helped the slow-footed slugger hit 50 doubles but also got him thrown out at second base a few too many times. That wasn't an issue Tuesday when Pujols, who is recovering from right-knee surgery and was limited in the first three weeks of camp, made his exhibition debut in a 6-4 Cactus League victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Tempe Diablo Stadium. Pujols started at designated hitter and was ordered by Mike Scioscia to run with a "governor" on. "The only extra-base hit he's going to get," the Angels manager said, "is going to be a home run. " The Angels got permission from the Reds to pinch-run for Pujols but allow him to remain in the game to hit. Though Pujols grounded out twice and struck out in three at-bats, the fact he played about a week before he was expected to was cause for optimism for the Angels, who hope Pujols and Josh Hamilton form one of the best middle-of-the-order tandems in baseball.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Albert Pujols has won three most-valuable-player awards and two World Series titles and hit 475 home runs over his illustrious 12-year career, but the Angels slugger still admitted to being “a little bit nervous” before his first at-bat of the spring Tuesday. “My dad always said if you're not nervous, you're not ready,” Pujols joked after grounding out twice and striking out once in a 6-4 Cactus League victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Tempe Diablo Stadium.

TEMPE, Ariz. - As he recovers from surgery on his right knee, Albert Pujols' spring-training routine hasn't changed much over 2 1/2 weeks. He is taking batting practice, fielding grounders hit at him and jogging on a treadmill. He has not run the bases and appears at least two weeks away from playing in an exhibition game. But Pujols, 33, said Friday he would be ready for the April 1 season opener at Cincinnati. Asked how many spring games he would need, Pujols said, "None. As long as my body feels good, I'm ready to go. " He was serious.

PEORIA, Ariz. — When Albert Pujols signed his 10-year contract with the Angels, the Angels had a new face of the franchise. That did not last one year, let alone 10. Mike Trout showed up one month into last season, and the spotlight has not left him. In a star-studded clubhouse — Pujols has three most-valuable-player awards, Josh Hamilton one — the 21-year-old Trout is the brightest star. That is not just media hype, as a look at the Angels' promotional schedule shows.

Josh Hamilton, the Angels' new right fielder, spent half an hour in a Tempe Diablo Stadium batting cage Wednesday, answering questions from a television reporter and taking cuts for a special camera. Albert Pujols stopped by the dugout for a quick five-minute interview, grabbed his bats and glove and retreated to a back field for batting practice. "I told Josh, 'The camera is all on you,' " Pujols said, his chuckle indicating levity but his statement ringing true. Pujols was the center of media and fan attention -- and the Angels' marketing efforts -- last spring after signing a 10-year, $240-million deal.

TEMPE, Ariz - The Angels should have plenty of firepower this season with Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout, who combined for 103 home runs and 316 runs batted in last season and have four most-valuable-player awards, two rookies of the year, 10 Silver Sluggers and 15 All-Star game selections among them. "I don't think I'll be going to the bathroom any time during the game," said ace Jered Weaver, who famously violated baseball superstition by using the restroom after the eighth inning of his no-hitter last season.