Albert Pujols hit 13 home runs last June. Johnny Giavotella has hit 10 home runs in his major league career.
Yet there was Giavotella batting fifth for the Angels on Tuesday, the guy on deck when Pujols bats and opponents say, “Pitch to a Hall of Famer with 569 career home runs, or pitch around him and go after the guy on deck?”
“I wouldn’t mind being that guy to come up behind him and do some damage,” Giavotella said. “If they walk him, I think they have a tough out in me.