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Is Albert Pujols the best hitter that we’ve ever known? That is a question that has been asked hundreds of times, and the debate doesn’t look like it’s going to go away any time soon.

So that we all know who I’m talking about, I’m not going to go to players from days gone by, only from the 1980 onwards.

Players from the past such as Mays and Williams were great in their day, but the game has changed so much since then comparisons can’t really be made. Conditions and even equipment are completely different in the modern game.

Would Albert Pujols have been so formidable in a different era? How would Ted Williams have played in today’s game? These questions are unanswerable, so let’s just look at what Pujols has going for him in the modern game.

As he is still only 29, he can stay at the level he is at, or even improve further, in the years to come. The key to his success is how consistent he is, week in, week out. Here are just a few stats that other players would die for. The .334 career average of Albert Pujols is outstanding.

When you consider that you have to go way back to find a low average of .312 in the second year of his career, and his lowest since has been .327, this really is a guy to be reckoned with.

Pujols is an MLB player and has now played 9 seasons in this league. During 5 of those he has hit 40 home runs. The lowest amount he has ever hit in a season is 32; this is an outstanding stat by anyone’s standards.

As every new season starts, we hold our breath to see if Pujols can maintain his stunning form, and he never lets us down. Is he the greatest hitter of our generation? That we can only answer when he finishes playing, but I wouldn’t bet against him.

Enjoy more of this writer’s writing on subjects such as bedroom furniture headboards and wall mounted headboards on sale.

You might be surprised at the selection of garden gravel you will have. If your home and garden center does not carry a large selection, you may need to go to a gravel pit or specialty outlet for more of a choice.

Because stones vary so much in color, you may search for the type of stone you wish to match the color you have in mind. For instance, there is brilliant white marble. And yes, you will find this as one of your choices for white gravel for your garden. There are pink granites, beige lime stone, and other gold and green colored stones. You may want to mix and max, or design a walkway using several colors.

Red and black volcanic rock is widely used in Nevada and California. And it is cheaper than marble or some other gravels. You should shop at different outlets, and perhaps even on line to check out price differences.

There are pebbles, which are smoother, that can also be used decoratively as is gravel. And some are used to smother weeds under a cloth or plastic covering. If the pebbles or gravel is placed on top of the plastic or weed cloth, the weeds die underneath, and your gravel area will stay weed free.

For dry and desert landscape, gravel is used a lot in the western drier states, like Arizona and Nevada. When there is not much rain, and an irrigation system is needed, some prefer a rock garden to a lawn.

When ordering, you may be able to save a lot of money, and even order at wholesale prices for truckloads. This is if you need much of the gravel for the space you wish to cover. So, whether it is for an entire front yard, or just around the roses, garden gravel can really beautify the space you have to work with.

Carl Robison is an expert in garden improvements. If you want more information about garden gravel or are searching for a reputable garden gravel company please visit http://www.clearancepaving.co.uk

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing the Cleveland Browns for longer than any other team in the National Football League, dating back to’50. And while it hasn’t been quite that long since the Cleveland Browns won a game against the Steelers it may be starting to feel like it. On Sunday, Pittsburgh won for the twelfth straight time dating back to 2003 as they topped Cleveland by a final score of 27-13.

The good news for NFL betting enthusiasts who took the +13′ with the Browns as a road underdog is that they managed to cover the pointspread by the slimmest of possible margins. Betting against the defending Superbowl champion is a long standing handicapping concept, and this season at least its worked like a charm-the Steelers have only covered one of their first six games. Cleveland, meanwhile, evened their NFL pointspread record at 3-3 on the season. The Browns have covered three straight after dropping their first three both straight up and against the spread. The 40 combined points went OVER the posted total of 37′.

Pittsburgh dominated the game in virtually every statistical category. They amassed 28 first downs to 12 for Cleveland, held a 543 to’7 total yardage advantage and a 36:46 to 23:14 time of possession advantage. Both teams turned the ball over four times, and the Steelers led only 17-14 in the third quarter. Most of the post game talk from both sides was about a controversial spot in the first half where the Steelers were given a first down on a short yardage play when it appeared that they didn’t make the required yardage.

After the contest, Derek Anderson spoke of the frustration of continually coming up short against the Steelers. The Browns have only one once in ten games since Pittsburgh moved into their new home at Heinz Field:

“We’re not trying to lose every time we go out here. We put tons of hours in and … it’s frustrating. Every single week, it’s frustrating.”

Steelers’ tight end Heath Miller said the team is happy to be where they are at this point despite not playing up to their standards:

“I think we haven’t played our best ball yet and that’s pretty comforting. We’ve gotten a few wins here without playing our best.”

The Steelers will host Brett Favre and the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. The Steelers are a -4 home favorite with the total set at 45. After a bye week, the Steelers will hit the road to play another undefeated team as they take on the Denver Broncos on Monday, November 9. Cleveland will host the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, with the Browns a +7 home underdog and the total set at 42′. They’ll head to ‘The Windy City’ to face the Chicago Bears the following Sunday and then have a bye week.

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

The Dallas Cowboys are settling into their new $1.15 billion dollar home stadium, but much of the talk in the NFL preseason has been about the massive video screen hanging directly over the field of play. There’s been a bit of a controversy about the height of the video screen, with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones rebuffing suggestions that the board was hung too low.

On Friday, the NFL Rules Committee sided with Cowboys owner Jones, indicating that the board was of adequate height. It also clarified the procedure for kicks that hit the board during play, and will revisit the issue in the off-season based on what happens during the 2009 campaign.

Jones has maintained that much of the concern is due to the sheer size of the board, which was hung 90 feet off the field of play”5 feet higher than NFL mandated guidelines.

The NFL has ruled that if a ball hit the display during play, the clock will be reset and down will be replayed. The replay official and the coaches will be able to challenge a play involving the video screen.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the situation:

“We will continue to address the particular circumstances in Dallas, giving full consideration to the competitive, safety and fan experience issues involved. The Cowboys have been fully cooperative as we have addressed this subject, and we will continue to work closely with the club on a longer term resolution.”

Cowboys owner Jones then voiced his opinion on the NFLs ruling:

“I don’t see it as ultimately an issue. You can anticipate the ball hitting the board from time to time. There’s no reason why this can’t be something for punters to deal with very similar to the way you’d deal with the wind in your face or with elements; rain, sleet or snow.”

Former Cowboys coach Jimmie Johnson also weighed in on the video board issue:

“If there’s anything wrong, it’s that people are going to watch the video board and not the game. It is so dominating, but I think it’s so cool. I think it’s great.”

Dallas will make their regular season debut at the venue on Sunday, September 20th as the New York Giants provide the opposition.

Ross Everett is a respected freelance writer specializing in travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, falconry and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.

The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves an unlikely ally in an all too close road game against the Detroit Lions: the fans. With Steelers’ fans at times appearing to outnumber Lions’ supporters, the Steelers got a late game boost from their enthusiasm. On the field, Ben Roethlisberger threw a season high three touchdown passes as the Steelers survived by a final score of 28-20. Pittsburgh improved to 3-2 with the victory, while Detroit dropped to 1-4.

NFL betting enthusiasts who backed the Lions as +11 home underdogs were rewarded with the pointspread cover. The Lions have covered two of their five games this season, while the Steelers slumped to 1-4 against the number. The 48 combined points scored went OVER the posted total of 44.

After the game, the biggest topic of conversation was the vocal support of the Pittsburgh fans. Linebacker LaMarr Woodley said that they were making so much noise that it undermined the Detroit offense’s effort:

“That worked in our favor. Those offensive linemen couldn’t hear the snap count, so they had to watch the ball just like we do.”

Hines Ward also praised the fans that made the 4 hour trip from Pittsburgh, saying it evoked memories of the 2006 Superbowl at the venue:

“It brought back a lot of memories. We had just as many fans as we did that time.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin added his praise:

“Man, they traveled awesome. It was spectacular to stand on the visiting sideline and see the fan support that we had today in this building.”

Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz took some consolation from his team’s effort in the loss:

“We didn’t always play smart in that game and we didn’t always play well, but I’m proud that we battled the whole way. There were a couple places where it would have been easy for us to give in, and we didn’t do that.”

Daunte Culpepper started at quarterback for the Lions in place of injured Matthew Stafford and echoed his coach’s sentiments:

“I still think we have a good ballclub here, but a good ballclub will look at a situation like this and use it to find a way to start winning these games. That’s what we have to find a way to do.”

The Steelers return home for their next two games. They’ll host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, with the Steelers a -14 home favorite and the total set at 38. The Lions will play at Green Bay this weekend as a +13 road underdog with the total set at 48. They’ll enjoy a bye the following weekend before hosting the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, November 1.

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer experienced in travel, poker and sports handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily free sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.