No matter how many Greyhounds he squeezes into.
"That's what I've done my entire career," Pujols said Tuesday morning, just before a 50-minute bus ride here for a game against the Royals. "And now, just because I'm in a new organization, I'm not going to change. I'm going to keep my same routine."
Pujols, who struck out three times but is still batting .367 with three homers this spring, is tied with Erick Aybar, Vernon Wells and Peter Bourjos for the most Cactus League appearances by an Angels everyday player (12).
"He's on his schedule," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He doesn't care where we're playing."
But it's rare for superstar players to get on a bus and travel for one Spring Training game, not to mention three in a row.
Pujols justifies it in several ways:
1. Sunday was somewhat of an off-day because the Dodgers' game was rained out after 5 1/2 innings, and the Angels have their scheduled day off coming up on Wednesday.
2. In Florida, where Pujols spent his previous 11 Spring Trainings as a member of the Cardinals, bus rides were a whole lot longer than in Arizona.
3. Going back further, in the Dominican Republic, where Pujols cut his teeth as a ballplayer, 20 Spring Training games were nothing.
"In the Dominican, you'd play all day, every day," said Pujols, who has averaged 22 Spring Training games the last five years. "Weekends you'd play in the league, but you'd practice and play intrasquad games every day. And then on weekends you'd play in tournaments and all that. I don't have a problem with [traveling for spring games]. It's what you need. If your body is tired, then you get the break you need. But right now, I feel really good."
Pujols, owner of 445 homers and 2,073 hits as he enters Year 1 of a 10-year deal, is coming off the worst season of his career -- albeit one that ended with a .299 batting average, 37 homers and 99 RBIs despite a really slow start.
He'll never admit it, but Pujols looks like a man who's trying to prove a lot of people wrong this season. Prove he isn't on a downhill path despite a gradually declining OPS the last three years. Prove it wasn't a financial mistake for the Angels to give him this kind of a contract.
Prove he's still very much the greatest hitter in this game.
"To keep yourself at this level, you have to stay strong every day and never take this game for granted," Pujols said. "And that's something that has always kept me very humble. I've had a lot of good teammates and people around me that always gave me good advice. That helps you a lot, too."
A deal as large as Pujols' is a risk for any player, not to mention one who's already 32. Pujols will, in fact, be making $28 million, $29 million and $30 million at ages of 39, 40 and 41.
But the Angels hope it's this kind of focus and determined approach to his baseball regimen -- and a little help from the designated-hitter rule -- that will allow Pujols to defy all odds, extend his prime and provide more value through the length of his deal than many naysayers believe.
It certainly wouldn't happen because Pujols didn't work hard enough.
"I know I've had good success, but I'm always thinking about having the best season I've ever had," he said. "Those are things that I focus on. And it's not just for me, it's for the whole team. In the end, that's what you play for -- to be a champion. Because all that matters is how many rings you have when you retire."