Quick Hits: Pujols, Loewen, Penny,and Orioles.

Quick Hits:

• Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols is having an MVP-like year. He is hitting .359 with 32 HR in 129 games, his eighth consecutive season with 30 or more homers. The scary part behind all this is that the Cardinals nearly shut him down for surgery in January. However, Pujols is weighing surgery on his elbow in preparation for the All-Star Game in St. Louis, as well as the WBC. If he opts to get surgery the day the Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention, he would not miss nearly as much time as opposed to undergoing the procedure in December or January.
• Orioles pitcher Adam Loewen has decided to give up pitching and work on hitting. He plans to become an outfielder and will join the Orioles instruction league. H e had one good year for the Orioles, but could not fight off injuries. He plans to seek advice from Rick Ankiel, who has 25 home runs this season.
• Several injured starters have made the move to the bullpen. The Dodgers are taking the same approach and will move Brad Penny to the bullpen for the remainder of the season.
• The Orioles will look for several Type-B pitchers. Expect hurlers like Paul Byrd, Mike Hampton, and maybe Jamie Moyer to be targeted.