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Albert Pujols channels Joe Pesci character after being insulted by Mike Trout comparison

Albert Pujols channels Joe Pesci character after being insulted by Mike Trout comparison

There's an old story about actress Shelley Winters, when she was in her 60s, showing up to a reading with a director who wanted her to audition for the part. Instead of talking, she sat down, reached into her purse and pulled out one of the Oscars she had won, and plopped it on a desk. Then she pulled out the other Oscar statue and set it down.

"You still think I need to audition?" it is said Winters famously asked.

Earlier this spring, slugger Albert Pujols alleged to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, another reporter came to him at Los Angeles Angels camp and asked the following question:

Are you motivated to put up the same numbers as Mike Trout?

Pujols stares ahead in disbelief.

Pujols' answer dripped with incredulity, as if the reporter had never seen Pujols' play, or was unfamiliar with his resume — which includes this tidbit: He's the only player in major league history to bat at least .300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in his first 10 seasons. (Sure, RBIs are passé, but so are 8-tracks. You can still listen to the music, though.)

Imagine Pujols responding like a stunned Joe Pesci:

"Can you imagine someone saying that to me?" Pujols tells USA TODAY Sports in recalling the question from a reporter. "I felt like saying, 'Come on, are you serious? Are you really asking me that? Check out my numbers. I know what Mike Trout has done in his first two years is pretty special, but will you look at my numbers. I've been doing this for almost 14 years.'

"The only guy in baseball who can match the numbers I've put up is Barry Bonds, and someone is actually asking if I can put up numbers like Mike Trout?

"Are you freaking kidding me?"

The only question: Was Pujols' response more like Pesci in "Raging Bull" or in "Goodfellas"? Was it more like his best friend asking a taboo question about his wife, or more like an average Joe shocked that old prejudices hadn't died a long time ago?

Both of these scenes are NOT SAFE FOR WORK, but feel free to compare them at your leisure.

Raging Albert: "How could you ask me that? That's a sick question."

GoodPujols: "Can you believe that? In this day and age."

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David Brown edits Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rdbrown@yahoo-inc.com and follow him on Twitter!

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